| Reference number | MS/257/1/301 |
| Alternative reference number | Sa.301 |
| Previous numbers | ES1/48/301 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from William Benjamin Carpenter, 56 Regents Park Road, Burlington House to Edward Sabine |
| Date | 2 November 1869 |
| Description | Carpenter remarks that their deep sea research has ‘excited’ the public interest, and every MP that Carpenter has spoken to has attested to their support for such endeavours. Discusses the question of bringing scientific opinion to the Ministry, and notes that personal influence is often more valuable than official representation. Carpenter suggests if Sabine could invite Mr Lowe and Mr Childers to the meeting of the Royal Society on 18th November, as ministers tend to be in ‘town’ for the Lord Mayor’s dinner and hold cabinet councils. Carpenter recommends inviting the Duke of Argyle and other Fellows of the Society who are also members of the Cabinet, and if all can attend it may be useful for representatives from each department to give a brief sense of the valuable work they do.
Carpenter describes his plan for conducting a survey after consultation with Captain Richards. Carpenter discusses using [‘HMS Porcupine’], and that preparation should be made for a three year circumnavigation expedition. The expedition should be devoted to the physics and zoology of the deep sea, and that no other research can be carried out during the expedition. Carpenter refers to the plethora of information yet to be gleaned from undiscovered depths of regions of which ‘next to nothing is known’.
Carpenter refers to the Swedish and American zoological enquiry in their marine surveys, but gathers that they are ‘now a long way ahead of them’.
Reference to ‘lightning expedition’ [reference to ‘HMS Lightning’ and the deep-water dredging survey in the north Atlantic in 1868], and muses what regions would be beneficial to pursue research.
Carpenter suggests having a scientific department at the admiralty within the hydrographic office or parallel to it.
Carpenter writes about himself, his early year struggles, his work, sacrifices, and publications. Most importantly he references his passion for original scientific discovery, and his intention to devote his remaining time to the circumnavigation expedition should it be approved by the government. |
| Extent | 16p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| Physical description | Ink on paper |
| Access status | Open |
| Related records in the catalogue | MS/257/4/104 |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | Name | Dates |
| NA2869 | Carpenter; William Benjamin (1813 - 1885); naturalist | 1813 - 1885 |
| NA8279 | Sabine; Sir; Edward (1788 - 1883) | 1788 - 1883 |