148 



Messrs. Carpenter and Jeffreys on [Dec. 8, 



is of opinion that the results of our last year's work throw an entirely new 

 light), may be cleared up. 



" ' Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys is prepared to undertake the scientific charge of 

 this part of the expedition ; and if Prof. Wyville Thomson should not be 

 able to accompany him, it will not be difficult to find him a suitable 

 assistant. 



" ' The ship would probably reach Gibraltar early in August, and there 

 I should be myself prepared to join her, in place of Mr. Jeffreys, with one 

 of my sons as an assistant. We should propose first to complete the sur- 

 vey of the Straits of Gibraltar, if that should not have been fully accom- 

 plished previously ; and then to proceed eastwards along the Mediterranean, 

 making stretches between the coasts of Europe and Africa, so as to carry 

 out as complete a survey, Physical and Zoological, of that part of the 

 Mediterranean basin as time may permit. Malta would probably be our 

 extreme point ; and this we should reckon to reach about the middle of 

 September. 



" c It is well known that there are questions of great Geological interest 

 connected with the present distribution of Animal life in this area ; and we 

 have great reason to believe that we shall here find at considerable depths 

 a large number of Tertiary species which have been supposed to be extinct. 

 And in regard to the Physics of the Mediterranean, it appears, from all 

 that we have been able to learn, that very little is certainly known. The 

 Temperature and Density of the water, at different depths, in a basin so 

 remarkably cut off from the great ocean, and having a continual influx 

 from it, form a most interesting subject of inquiry, to which we shall be 

 glad to give our best attention, if the means are placed within our reach.' 



" Considering the success of the two previous Expeditions, and espe- 

 cially that of the * Porcupine 5 last year, the Committee are persuaded that 

 no less important acquisitions for the furtherance of scientific knowledge 

 would be gained by the renewed exploration as now proposed ; and they 

 accordingly recommend that a representation to that effect be made to the 

 Admiralty, with a view to obtain the aid of Her Majesty's Government as 

 on the previous occasions. 



" The Committee approve of a proposal made by Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys to 

 accept the services of Mr. Lindahl, of Lund, in the expedition as unpaid 

 Assistant Naturalist. 



" As regards scientific instruments, the Committee have to report that 

 those employed in last year's voyage will be again available for use ; and 

 Mr. Siemens hopes to render his electro-thermal indicator of more easy 

 employment on ship-board. 



" The Committee, having learned that Dr. Frankland has contrived an 

 apparatus for bringing up the deep-sea water charged with its gaseous con- 

 tents, have resolved to add his name to their number ; and they request 

 leave to meet again in order to complete the arrangements and make a final 

 report to the Council." 



