Notes

Abstract

WE believe that a reply has been received from the Government on the subject of the Arctic Expedition, which goes far to justify all that was said in our leader last week on the subject; for although the Government does not refuse absolutely to comply with the wishes of the deputation, all action will, unless strenuous efforts are made, be postponed for a year. We repeat that the deputation did not represent Science so broadly as it ought to have been represented; and we add, that if the Government thought so, it was, in our opinion, perfectly justified in refusing the demands made upon the national purse. To a certain extent, what happened in the case of the Eclipse Expedition of 1870 has been now repeated. Our readers will recollect that on that occasion the mere personal application of the Astronomer Royal was at once very properly refused, while a proper representation by the leading Societies was at once as promptly acceded to.