370 THE RENEWAL OF ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION. 



To deteriniue the nature and extent of the Antarctic coutinent; to 

 penetrate into the interior; to ascertain the depth and nature of the 

 ice-cap 5 to observe the character of the underlying rocks and their 

 fossils; to take magnetical and meteorological observations both at sea 



islands which have heeu hastily visited. Your scheme of havinj^ the ships kept at 

 work, souiuliDg, dredging, etc., while the laud parties are exploring the land, is the 

 most practical and econouiical way of carrying on such an expedition. It has always 

 seemed to me such a waste of time and mouej to have the ships and their crews wait 

 on thelandsmeu." 



Prof. Ernest Haeckel writes;' " I have heard with great interest that England 

 has the design of setting on foot a great scientific expedition for the exploration of 

 the Antarctic Ocean. The task is iu fact as interesting as it is pressing and impor- 

 tant. It is remarkable how much money and how many lives have been offered by 

 Europe and North America for North Polar expeditions, while the much less known 

 South Pole has seemed almost forgotten since Ross's time. And how many great 

 and important problems await solution there ! The British nation seems to me called 

 upon before all others to carry out this great task, and to send a ship for several 

 years (including wintering at a station) to the South Polar Sea. The fruits of such 

 an expedition would certainly form a worthy sequel to those which yon have attained 

 through the incomparable C'/m/^cHr/er expedition with its wealth of results. It would 

 lay the foundation for all time. I hope and wish from my heart that the Engli.sh 

 Government views it iu this light, and will grant the large su})plies necessary for 

 this expedition. I send you my best Avishes for the speedy comiiletion of the con- 

 cluding volume of the great ChalJcnger work. This 'standard work' will remain 

 for all time the foundation for all biological and thalassographical investigations, 

 in relation to Plankton and Benthos alike, especially of the deep sea. The thorough 

 investigation of the Antarctic Ocean with its fauna and flora seems to me a necessary 

 suii])lement to the Clialleiiger work.'' 



Prof. F. E. Schultze writes:* " You wish for my opinion on the sul)ject of a more 

 extensive exploration of the Antarctic region. I believe I shall be in agreement, 

 not only with all representatives of physical geography, Ijut especially witli all the 

 biologists in the world, when Isay that there is no region of the surface of our globe 

 which is so little known, but so much deserves a thorough investigation as precisely 

 thia of the Antarctic. Allow me also to call your attention to the fact that, of all the 

 oceans, the soutliern and central part of the Indian C^ceau has hitherto been, least 

 exj^lored, and that therefore it mightbe advisable, if o])pnrtnnity offered — say, during 

 a winter — to make an excursion to the central part of the Indian Ocean. In the hope 

 that to the great C/m??eH(/er expedition maybe added one similar and equally rich in 

 results for the exploration of the Antarctic, I wish success to this important under- 

 taking from my heart." 



Prof. .J. Thoulet writes: * "There is only one Avay in which to answer the letter 

 you have been so good as to write to me, namely to send you my warmest encour- 

 a"ement to continue the great and noble task of discovering the secrets of the Ant- 

 arctic regions. May you succeed in accomplishing this glorious work, which is not 

 ouly scientific but also humanitarian. - - - All who are occupied on science iu 

 the whole world earnestly wish for your success. To tell you the truth, I have never 

 been very enamoured of Arctic exjteditious; the North Pole is continental, and is iu 

 consequence the domain of irregularity, and in my opinion its con<iuest isuot worth 

 the efforts which it has already cost. But it is quite otherwise with the Antarctio 

 regions, which are oceanic, and therefore subject to rule. The Arctic phenomena 

 are complications or exceptions; the Antarctic are general phenomena, and their 

 discovery la bound to conduce to the formulation of natural laws — the final aim of 

 science.'' 



" Trauslation. 



