1848 SCIENCE AT SEA 53 



Not that there is any active opposition — quite the reverse. 

 But it is a curious fact, that if you want a boat for dredging, ten 

 chances to one they are always actually or potentially otherwise 

 disposed of; if you leave your towing-net trailing astern in 

 search of new creatures, in some promising patch of discoloured 

 water, it is, in all probability, found to have a wonderful effect 

 in stopping the ship's way, and is hauled in as soon as your back 

 is turned; or a careful dissection waiting to be drawn may find 

 its way overboard as a " mess." 



The singular disrespect with which the majority of naval 

 officers regard everything that lies beyond the sphere of routine, 

 tends to produce a tone of feeling very unfavourable to scientific 

 exertions. How can it be otherwise, in fact, with men who, 

 from the age of thirteen, meet with no influence but that which 

 teaches them that the " Queen's regulations and instructions " 

 are the law and the prophets, and something more ? 



It may be said, without fear of contradiction, that in time of 

 peace the only vessels which are engaged in services involving 

 any real hardship or danger are those employed upon the various 

 surveys; and yet the men of easy routine — harbour heroes — the 

 officers of regular men-of-war, as they delight to be called, pre- 

 tend to think surveying a kind of shirking — in sea-phrase, 

 " sloping." It is to be regretted that the officers of the survey- 

 ing vessels themselves are too often imbued with the same 

 spirit; and though, for shame's sake, they can but stand up for 

 hydrography, they are too apt to think an alliance with other 

 branches of science as beneath the dignity of their divinity — the 

 " Service." 



P. 112: 



Any adventures ashore were mere oases, separated by whole 

 deserts of the most wearisome ennui. For weeks, perhaps, those 

 who were not fortunate enough to be living hard and getting 

 fatigued every day in the boats were yawning away their exist- 

 ence in an atmosphere only comparable to that of an orchid- 

 house, a life in view of which that of Mariana in the moated 

 grange has its attractions. 



For instance, consider this extract from the journal of one 

 of the officers, date August 1849 : — 



" Rain ! rain ! encore et toujours — I wonder if it is possible 

 for the mind of man to conceive anything more degradingly 

 offensive than the condition of us 150 men, shut up in this 

 wooden box, and being watered with hot water, as we are now. 



