200 Dr. Carpenter's Report on Deep-sea Dredgings. [Dec. 17, 



the Admiralty ; and that a sum, of not exceeding £100, be advanced from 

 the Donation Fund to meet the expenses referred to in Dr. Carpenter's letter. 

 The following draft of a letter to he written by the Secretary to the Secretary 

 of the Admiralty was approved : — 



My Lord, — ITani directed to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords 

 Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the President and Council of the Eoyal 

 Society have had under their consideration a proposal by Dr. Carpenter, Vice- 

 President of the Ro} T al Society, and Dr. Wyville Thomson, Professor of Natural 

 History in Queen's College, Belfast, for conducting dredging operations at 

 greater depths than have heretofore been attempted in the localities which they 

 desire to explore — the main purpose of such researches being to obtain informa- 

 tion as to the existence, mode of life, and zoological relations of marine animals 

 living at great depths, with a view to the solution of various questions relatin 

 to animal life, and having an important bearing on Geology and Palaeontology. 

 The objects of the operations which they wish to undertake, and the course 

 which they would propose to follow, as well as the aid they desire to ob- 

 tain from the Admiralty, are more fully set forth in the letter of Dr. Carpen- 

 ter to the President, and that of Professor Thomson, copies of which I herewith 

 inclose. 



The President and Council are of opinion that important advantages may 

 be expected to accrue to science from the proposed undertaking ; accordingly 

 they strongly recommend it to the favourable consideration of Her Majesty's 

 Government, and earnestly hope that the Lords Commissioners of the Admi- 

 ralty may be disposed to grant the aid requested. In such case the scientific 

 appliances required would be provided for from funds at the disposal of the 

 Royal Society. 



1 am, &c, 



W. Shaepey, Sec. R.S. 



Lord II. Lennox, M.P., Secretary of the Admiralty. 



From the Minutes of the Council of the Royal Society for Octobei* 20, 



1868. 



Admiralty, 14th July, 1868. 

 Sm, — In reply to your letter of the 22nd* ultimo, submitting a proposition 

 from Dr. Carpenter and Professor Thomson to investigate, by means of dredg- 

 ing, the bottom of the sea in certain localities, with a view to ascertain the 

 existence and zoological relations of marine animals at great depths, — a research 

 which you and the Council of the Eoyal Society strongly recommend in the 

 interests of science to the favourable consideration of Her Majesty's Govern- 

 ment, for aid in furtherance of the undertaking, — I am commanded by My 

 Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you that they are pleased to 

 meet your wishes so far as the Service will admit, and have given orders for 

 Her Majesty's steam-vessel 1 Lightning' to be prepared immediately, at Pem- 

 broke, for the purpose of carrying out such dredging operations. 



I am, Sir, 



Your obedient Servant, 



W. G. ROMAINE. 



To the President of the Hoyal Society. 



The Society then adjourned over the Christmas Recess to Thursday, 

 January 7, 1869. 



