1868.] 



on Deep-sea Dr edgings. 



197 



pedition in the first instance, the perseverance with which he subsequently 

 carried through every arrangement that could promote its scientific effi- 

 ciency, and the considerate kindness with which he provided all that was 

 needful for our welfare and comfort. Our cordial thanks are also due to 

 Staff-Commander May for the heartiness with which he threw himself into 

 the work, and the thoughtful consideration he uniformly showed, alike 

 for the objects of the Expedition and for our personal convenience ; and 

 to Sub-Navigating- Lieutenant Tooker, by whom Captain May's exertions 

 in both these respects were zealously and efficiently seconded. 



We would also record our sense of the friendly reception which we met 

 with on the part of His Excellency the Governor of the Faroe Islauds, who, 

 although we were not in any way accredited to him, did his utmost not 

 only to promote the Scientific objects of our visit, but also (with the aid of 

 his accomplished Lady) to render our stay at Thorshaven agreeable to us. 



APPENDIX. 



From the Minutes of the Council of the Royal Society, June 18, 1868. 



From Dr. Carpenter, V.P.R.S., to the President of the Royal Society. 



University of London, Burlington House, W. 

 June 18th, 1868. 



Dear General Sabine, — During- a recent visit to Belfast, I had the op- 

 portunity of examining some of the specimens (transmitted by Prof. Sars of 

 Christiania to Prof. Wyville Thomson) which have been obtained by M. Sars, 

 jun., Inspector of Fisheries to the Swedish Government, by deep-sea dredgings 

 off the coast of Norway. These specimens, for reasons stated in the enclosed 

 letter from Prof. Wyville Thomson, are of singular interest alike to the Zoologist 

 and to the Palaeontologist : and the discovery of them can scarcely fail to excite, 

 both among Naturalists and among Geologists, a very strong desire that the 

 zoology of the deep sea, especially in the Northern Atlantic region, should be 

 more thoroughly and systematically explored than it has ever yet been. From 

 what I know of your own early labours in this field, I cannot entertain a doubt 

 of your full concurrence in this desire. 



Such an exploration cannot be undertaken by private individuals, even 

 when aided by grants from Scientific Societies. For dredging at great depths, 

 a vessel of considerable size is requisite, with a trained crew, such as is only 

 to be found in the Government service. It was by the aid of such an equip- 

 ment, furnished by the Swedish Government, that the researches of M, Sars 

 were carried on. 



Now as there are understood to be at the present time an unusual number 

 of gun-boats and other cruisers on our northern and western coasts, which will 

 probably remain on their stations until the end of the season, it has occurred to 

 Prof. Wyville Thomson and myself, that the Admiralty, if moved thereto by the 

 Council of the Royal Society, might be induced to place one of these vessels at 

 the disposal of ourselves and of any other Naturalists who might be willing to 

 accompany us, for the purpose of carrying on a systematic course of deep-sea 



