1869.] on the Scientific Exploration of the Deep Sea. 



401 



Royal Society. With regard to the appliances which Her Majesty's Go- 

 vernment may be asked to provide, the experience of the previous expedi- 

 tion will furnish adequate guidance, whenever the general scheme may be 

 approved. It has appeared to the President and Council, that if the ship 

 required for the proposed service could be provided by the temporary em- 

 ployment of one of Her Majesty's Surveying Vessels now in commission, 

 anything beyond a trifling outlay on the part of the Government would be 

 rendered unnecessary. " I remain, 



" Your obedient Servant, 



"Wi Sharpey, M.D., 

 " The Secretary to the Admiralty:' Sec. U.S." 



Resolved, — That a Committee be appointed to consider the Scientific Ap- 

 paratus it will be desirable to provide for the proposed Expedition. The 

 Committee to consist of the President and Officers, with Dr. Carpenter, 

 Captain Richards, Mr. Siemens, Dr. Tyndall, and Sir Charles Wheat- 

 stone, with power to add to their number. 



That a sum of =£200 from the Government Grant be assigned to Dr. Car- 

 penter for the further prosecution of Researches into the Temperature 

 and Zoology of the Deep Sea. 



March 18, 1869. 



An oral communication was made by the Hydrographer to the effect 

 that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty had acceded to the request 

 conveyed in Dr. Sharpey's letter of Feb. 18 ; that H.M. Surveying-vessel 

 * Porcupine ' had been assigned for the service ; and that the special 

 equipment needed for its efficient performance was proceeding under the 

 direction of her Commander, Capt. Calver. 



April 15, 1869. 

 Read the following Letter from the Admiralty : — 



" Admiralty, 19 March, 18G9. 

 "Sir, — With reference to previous correspondence, I am commanded 

 by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you that Dr. 

 Carpenter and his Assistants, who have been deputed by the Royal Society 

 to accompany the Expedition about to be dispatched to the neighbourhood 

 of the Faroe Isles for the purpose of investigating the bottom of the 

 Ocean by means of deep-sea soundings, will be entertained whilst embarked 

 on board the ' Porcupine ' i the Government expense. 



" I am, Sir, 



" Your obedient Servant, 



" W. G. ROMAINE." 



" The President of the Royal Society." 



June 17, 1869. 

 Read the following Report : — 



"The Committee appointed Feb. 18, 1869, to consider the Scientific 



