350 



Anniversary Meeting. 



[Nov. 30, 



of those germs that ever come to maturity, has often been a subject of 

 comment. I venture to remark that a prodigal waste no less conspicuous 

 is to be seen in the long rows of volumes on our shelves containing 

 meteorological observations which doubtless contain vast numbers of scien- 

 tific germs, but germs not destined to fructify. It is without doubt one 

 of the most serious difficulties that attend our efforts at progress in this 

 science to determine what records to make, what to keep, what to publish. 

 So long as our knowledge is so rudimentary, we cannot properly judge 

 what is essential and what unimportant. Like many other difiiculties, 

 this, I presume, must be left to time for its solution ; at all events, I shall 

 not attempt it. 



In concluding my observations on this subject, I would further im- 

 press upon all interested in it that it is to well-directed thought on the 

 physical connexion between the many closely related atmospheric pheno- 

 mena which are now so clearly presented to the student in the publi- 

 cations of the present day, that must look for real progress in the 

 science — and that it will almost certainly be found that it is rather 

 through an examination of the better-known recurrent phenomena, 

 viewed broadly, that success will be secured, than by a laborious search 

 after deviations from what is of common occurrence. 



The most important scientific incident of the year is unquestionably 

 the return of the ' Challenger ' from her voyage round the world and 

 three 3^ears and a half of persevering exploration. It is, moreover, one 

 in which the Eoyal Society has taken the deepest interest, having (as the 

 Lords of the Admiralty ofiicially state) originated it, and having been 

 called upon by the Grovernment to take a very active share in advising as 

 to its organization and equipment. 



The ' Challenger' left Sheerness on the 17th of December, 1872, and, 

 after a voyage of 69,000 miles, arrived at Portsmouth on the 24th of May 

 last with all her officers (with the exception of Captain Nares, who "was 

 called home to command a more perilous enterprise, and the lateWillemoes- 

 Suhm, who died at sea) in excellent health — their labours crowned with 

 complete success, their collections in perfect order and preservation, and the 

 scientific staff eager to work out the results of their long and arduous inves- 

 tigations. The success of this expedition is the more gratifying, as it is 

 the first and only enterprise of its kind which has been undertaken by 

 any nation for carrying out a thorough and purely scientific investigation 

 of the great oceanic areas, under adequate superintendence and with full 

 appliances. 



It is impossible for any one who has not taken an active part both 

 in the organization and conduct of such an expedition as this of the 

 ' Challenger,' to estimate the number and value of the factors that 

 have mainly contributed to its success. Eoremost among these were 

 the wise liberality of the Ministry, which gave orders for its outfit being 



