[Enclosure]⁶

(Private.)

The great abundance of remarkable marine animals in the Mediterranean has for many years past induced Naturalists desirous of investigating Invertebrate Anatomy and Embryology to visit its shores, each generally carrying with him his own apparatus and library, and pursuing his studies under many disadvantages.

A well-known Naturalist, Dr Anton Dohrn, has conceived, and in great measure carried into effect, a plan for uniting these isolated efforts by establishing a sort of Zoological Observatory, to be of the same service to the Biologist as an Astronomical Observatory, or a Physical or Chemical Laboratory, to the students of other branches of Science. To this end Dr Dohrn has obtained from the Municipality of Naples the grant of a space of ground on the Villa Reale, on which he has erected a large and handsome building, comprising working Laboratories capable of accommodating thirty investigators, and a large Aquarium. He has also collected a large and valuable Scientific Library for the use of the Institution, which is called Stazione Zoologica.

The building with its fittings has cost in one way or another about £9700. Of this sum more than half is represented by Dr Dohrn’s private fortune, and a large sum presented by his father, both sunk in the undertaking. £1500 have been given by the German Imperial Government. The remainder either stands as a debt to the contractor (as part security for the goodness of the work), or has been raised by loan, and must be repaid within the next four years.

Dr Dohrn undertook this work without the least expectation of any commercial return for the labour and money which he has invested in it.

To pay working expences he looked to two sources of revenue. First: Rent for places in the Laboratories. Second: Payments by the Public, to whom the large Aquarium was to be open at a moderate admission fee.

As regards the former source of income his expectations have been fulfilled, places for investigators having been taken, for various periods, by sundry Continental States and Universities, and by the University of Cambridge in this country. At the present moment eight or nine Biologists (three of them from England) are pursuing their investigations in the Laboratories of the Station.⁷

The bankruptcy of the contractor has however created difficulties and delays in the finishing of the Station, and especially of the large Aquarium, and has thus largely interfered with the second source of revenue on which Dr Dohrn counted and has brought him into a position of much difficulty.

Dr Dohrn, in whose honourable character we have the fullest confidence, has appealed to some of us to assist him in borrowing about £1000 in England. This sum, together with about another £500 which he expects to be able to obtain in Germany, will, he considers, meet his difficulties, and place the Station in a satisfactory position.

We are, however, of opinion that the best course to pursue would be, if possible, to present Dr Dohrn at once with the £1000 which he requires. Some of us are unable from various circumstances to subscribe and others have not yet determined on the amount of our subscriptions, but we all earnestly desire to see the Station started on an adequate scale. Should you be willing to give assistance in any way, will you please communicate with Dr Michael Foster, Trinity College, Cambridge, who will be responsible for the transmission to Dr Dohrn of the sums subscribed.

Subscriptions may be made payable either directly to Dr Foster, or to Messrs Foster, Bankers, Cambridge, or their London agents (Messrs Prescott, Grote and Co.), to the account of The Naples Zoological Station Fund.

GEO. J. ALLMAN, F.R.S., F.Z.S., &c., Emerit. Prof. Nat. Hist. University Edinburgh.

GEO. BUSK, F.R.S., Pres. Anthropological Institute.

WILLIAM B. CARPENTER, F.R.S., F.Z.S., Corresp. Memb. of the Institute of France.

CHARLES DARWIN, F.R.S.

M. FOSTER, F.R.S., Prælector in Physiology, Trin. Coll. Cambridge.

T. H. HUXLEY, Sec. R. S., Prof. Nat. History, Schools of Science, South Kensington Museum.

CHAS. LYELL, F.R.S.

JOHN LUBBOCK, F.R.S.

ALFRED NEWTON, F.R.S., Prof. of Zoology, and Comp. Anat. in the University of Cambridge.

GEORGE ROLLESTON, F.R.S., Professor of Anatomy and Physiology at Oxford.

P. L. SCLATER, F.R.S., Secretary to the Zoological Society of London.

SUBSCRIPTIONS ALREADY PROMISED