INCEPTION OF THE EXPEDITION 21 



unique, unconquerable personality that the expedition became 

 a living fact. 



As a result of the discussion on Sir John Murray's paper 

 in November 1893, it was suggested that the Government 

 should be approached with a view to sending out an expedition 

 consisting of two ships. This proposal was supported by 

 many eminent men of science, including the late Duke of 

 Argyll, Sir Joseph Hooker, and the late Sir William Flower, 

 and by such naval officers as Admirals McClintock, Vesey 

 Hamilton, Hoskins, Colomb, Markham, and Lord Charles 

 Beresford. It was on this occasion that the Duke of Argyll 

 remarked on the incongruity of the fact that we knew more 

 about the planet Mars than about a large area of our own 

 globe. 



The Council of the Royal Geographical Society therefore 

 appointed a special Antarctic Committee. In a lengthy 

 report the Committee enumerated the objects to be gained by 

 such an expedition, and concluded with the following words : 

 ' Apart from the valuable scientific results of an Antarctic ex- 

 pedition, great importance must be attached to the excellent 

 effect that all such undertakings, in which our country has 

 been prominent, have invariably had on the Navy by main- 

 taining the spirit of enterprise.' 



To the appeal which followed this report in 1896 the 

 Government opposed the existing state of public affairs, which 

 made it inconvenient for the Navy to undertake such a task 

 as was proposed ; but in a later letter the Lords Commissioners 

 of the Admiralty expressed their sympathy with the objects 

 desired, and signified their willingness to assist any expedition 

 that might be despatched. 



Failing Government assistance, in May 1897, it was 

 resolved by the Council of the Geographical Society that 

 every effort should be made to start an expedition on a proper 

 scale under its own auspices, but it was soon seen that this 

 was a task of such magnitude that the assistance of all who 

 were interested in the scheme would be required. 



During the early months of 1898 the Royal Society was 



