HC Deb 27 April 1875 vol 223 cc1687-8
MR. W. PRICE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If he will inform the House what scientific gentlemen have been selected to accompany the Arctic Expedition; what branches of science they respectively represent; whether any one accompanying the expedition is a competent geologist; and, whether the two persons in Holy Orders appointed to the expedition in the capacity of Chaplains are Chaplains holding Commissions in the Royal Navy, and whether they possess and have been selected as possessing any scientific attainments?

MR. HUNT,

in reply, said, the appointment of scientific officers to the Expedition devolved upon the Royal Society. They had selected two gentlemen; Captain Feilden, who was skilled in zoology, and Mr. Hart, who was skilled in botany. Several officers of the Expedition had a fair knowledge of geology, and two had a special acquaintance with it—namely, two medical officers of the Expedition. The Chaplains had not been selected in consequence of their possessing any scientific attainments. One of them had held a commission in the Royal Navy, and the other had been specially appointed to this Expedition.