Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Exploration, Education, Oceanography, Ornithology, Geology, Physical Geography, Botany, Meteorology, Comparative Philology, Societies, Patronage

    Argues that the purpose of the HMS Challenger voyage is to inculcate interest in topography and a greater appreciation of 'round the world' expeditions. Describes the places to be visited and the tasks to be completed during the expedition. In most cases, the task is related to the place. For example, the ship will explore 'the seas that wash the coasts' of Sweden and Switzerland, it will dredge the Atlantic, 'German', and other oceans, and will visit the Canaries 'for the information of the ornithologists of the party'. It will visit Australia to procure 'tinned meat and kangaroo soup' and 'explore the mountains which are believed to project from the bottom of the Antipodean Sea'. It will explore the Gulf of Carpenter, 'out of respect' for William B Carpenter. On its return journey, it will investigate 'the Fauna and Flora of the various Pacific Oceans', attempt to explore the Gulf Stream 'and its influence on the weather and conversation', and to determine whether the 'Bight of Benin' is dangerous or not. By the time it returns the expedition will have 'mixed in best Arctic Circles' and dredged the Spanish Main for galleons and the Cape for 'warm clothing'. The author attributes any inaccuracies that may have crept into his account of the expedition on his lack of the latest edition of Alexander K Johnston's atlas. Remarks that several learned institutions, including the Royal Society, Zoological Society, and the Admiralty, consider the most important part of the expedition to be the 'acquisition of a Sea Serpent and capture of a live Mermaid'. Believes the cost of the voyage can be met from the sale of 'stuffed remains' of creatures to learned institutions, such as the British Museum and the Royal College of Surgeons.