52 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



younger workers, sagacious in counsel and highly valued by 

 a wide circle of scientific friends in this country, in America, 

 and on the Continent. 



The important question now to be considered is, how 

 has the " Challenger " expedition, which we owe mainly to the 

 inspiration and the energy of Sir Wyville Thomson, advanced 

 the science of the sea ? This may be answered under various 

 heads, and many leading authorities in different branches 

 of Oceanography have given their answer during the forty 

 years that have elapsed since the expedition took place. 



To take Hydrography first, it must be remembered that 

 every contribution to our knowledge of the ocean currents 

 and their character, the ocean floor, its nature and depth, the 

 prevalent winds and meteorological and magnetical conditions 

 is an addition to the safety of the sailor, to the ease and speed 

 with which a voyage may be accomplished, and to the inter- 

 course of nations. " Every Briton is proud of Britannia's 

 navy ; but let us remember that it is something more than 

 our Empire's fighting machine, that it has been in the past, 

 and will be still more in the future, the servant of the world, 

 and a most potent agent in the peaceful union and advance 

 of all its peoples." 



Captain Tizard, Avho was the Navigating Officer on the 

 " Challenger " during the expedition, tells us that the naval 

 officers on board, equally with the scientific men, were all 

 animated with the idea that it was their business to make 

 the expedition a success, and we understand that while each 

 member of the staff had his own work-room, in which he 

 could pursue his own subject uninterruptedly, they all com- 

 pared notes and got suggestions from one another in the 

 smoking circle after dinner ; a function which, we are told, 

 was always well attended, and where the events and work 

 of the day were freely and amicably discussed. 



