Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-08-31
The woodruff Scientific Expedition.

The Woodruff Scientific Expedition
around the world has received such de-
gree of encouragement and patronage as
to enable the directors to announce defin-
itely that 1t will start on the proposed voy-.
age October Isl. 1t is not at all a matter
of wonder that a sufficient number of
young men should be easily found TO avail
themselves of the benefits of this floating
university. 1t will afford a two-years'
course of study aud ex perence such as was
never before enjoyed and may not he offer
ed again for generation. BY the purchase
Of a large and commodious steamer the di-
rector, Mr.. James o. Woodruff, has been
enabled 10 extend the opportunity to a
larger number than was at first intended
and TO reduce the cost 10 each student 10
$500 for the entire trip. Considering what
this is TO pay for, the expense is Temarka-
bly, small, far less than many young men
spend for the same length OF lime at col
lege or in foreign university. The facul-
ty of the expedition includes some of the
most eminent scientific scholars in the
country. There is 10 be on board an am
pie library of such works as will be useful
to the student and travellers in prosecuting
their studies and investigations; apparatus
and appliances necessary for their purposes
will be supplied, and every attention paid
to facilitating the scientific objects Of The
expedition. 1t will have the advantage of
Government recognition, and will be COM
mended by letters from the Secretary of
State 10 the representatives OF the United
States abroad, and 10 the courtesy and good
offices Of foreign nations. Every branch
OF science the study of which can be aided
by travel and observation will receive at
teniion, but students are at liberty to select
any specially, or to devote themselves TO a
number, or TO all. They can take part in
any of the explorations carried on under
nf ehnx
make excursions Of their own at their own
expense wherever a sufficiently long stay
Is made to permit II. In Short as much
freedom is TO be allowed as possible without
interfering with the general plan.
A brief outline of the route will give
some faint suggestion OF what Is in store
for them. The Ontario will leave New
York October l, and proceed directly to St.
Thomas and the Barbados, where few
days stay will be made. 1t will then sail
for the Island of Marajo at the mouth of
the Amazon, where explorations and col
lections will be made. From there the ex-
petition will go to Rio Janeiro and Monte
video and thence to the Straits of Magellan,
arriving in December. This place is little
visited and stops will be made along shore
for observation and study. The next i'm
portant point win be Valparaiso, and from
there the vessel will proceed in February
next TO the Society and Navigator Islands.
Some weeks will be spent in exploring the
various islands of the Southern Pacific and
Australia will be reached about May. Az
ter few weeks spent in that country, a Sc
ries OF excursions will he undertaken
through the islands of the East Indies and
the great empires of Japan and China and
the Kingdom of Siam. The field for scieu-
tic inquiry in this region is almost with
out limit, and it will he February, 1879,
when the expedition has abandoned il and
reached Calcutta. After excursions in In
dia aud the adjacent islands a voyage will
be made up the Persian Gulf, allowing Wis
its TO Bagdad aud the ruins OF Babylon and
Nineveh. The course will then be TO the
Red Sea aud Arabia, the Suez Canal will be
passed, and a visit made 10 The marvels of
Egypt. After a stay at Alexandra for the
Egyptian excursions, the vessel will cross
to Jafia and give opportunity for trips to
Jerusalem and other parts Of Palestine.
The coast OF Europe will be touched for the
first time in the summer of 1879, when in
teTesting excursions will be made in Greece.
Thence the expedition will coast along the
northern shore of the Mediterranean, stop
ping at all points of interest, pass the Straits
of Gibraltar, visit Cadiz, Seville, Lisbon,
Cherbourg and Plymouth, England, the
vessel remaining at the last named port I'M
Ill October l, 1879, when it will start for
home by way Of the Azores. This outline
is TO be filed in by all that the scientific
men in charge of the expedition can devise
for the profit of the students and the ad-
vancemeut of know ledge. 1t Is impossible
TO calculate the pleasures and benefits which
those whose good fortune it may be to ac-
the expedition will enjoy at an
expense far smaller than will be incurred
by thousands in Improbable idleness at
Globe.