May 24, 1858.] 
OBITUARY— BEAUFORT. 
241 
friend and companion of Wollaston, of Young, and of Davy placed 
at the head of the Scientific branch of the Navy' — not as a mere 
servant of a Board, but as a man with mind and energy to think 
and act for himself. Nor was it long before proofs of his influence 
and activity became visible. Seconded by an able staff of surveyors, 
proud to serve under one so competent to appreciate their labours, 
he soon gave them occupation. FitzRoy, worthy pupil of such a 
master, was despatched to complete the survey of South America ; 
Belcher, Kellett, and Wood were sent to examine the south coast of 
Central America and of Mexico ; Yidal, Denham, Skyring, and 
Arlett were charged to complete the west coast of Africa ; Black- 
wood and Owen Stanley, names dear to every lover of science, 
undertook the survey of the north-east coast of Australia and of New 
Guinea. Sulivan went to the Falkland Isles and the river Plate, 
Stokes and Drury to New Zealand, Bate to Palawan, Belcher, 
Kellett, and Collinson to China, Owen and Barnett to the West 
Indies, Bayfield and Shortland to the St. Lawrence and Nova 
Scotia, Graves and Spratt (the pupils of Mediterranean Smyth) to 
the Greek Archipelago, Hewett to the North Sea, Beechey to the 
Irish Sea, while many others spread their labours over different por- 
tions of the coasts of the United Kingdom. Forbearing on this 
occasion to expatiate on the merits of the many distinguished and 
zealous surveyors who carried out these researches in various quar- 
ters of the globe — men whose names have been often mentioned in 
our volumes, and some of whom have obtained our highest honours 
—I have no hesitation in affirming that the master mind of Beaufort, 
which directed such noble efforts during a quarter of a century, did 
more for the advancement of maritime geography than was effected 
in the same time by all the surveyors of other European countries 
united. Nor was it seamen only — but all men of science, as well 
as every traveller and geographical explorer of unknown lands, 
whether native or foreign, who always obtained from him the clearest 
information, which was communicated in the heartiest manner. 
Indefatigable in the transaction of business, and not trusting to 
others what he could do with his own compass and pen, there was 
no public servant who more uprightly served his Sovereign and 
his country. 
By his official labours he brought up maritime surveying to the 
state of improvement it now exhibits. Beginning with our own 
shores at a period when all knowledge respecting them was fear- 
fully inaccurate, he originated that series of works which, as I have 
