Xlll. 



been more plea.'-:e<^I to have been present that evenin*^ than on 

 any occasion during the past year, but, unfortunately, serious 

 iUness detaincni him in the North. He was rapidly recovering, 

 however, and ho trusted soon to see him amongst them once 

 more. The present was one of the most auspicious meetings 

 that the Hoyal iStjciety had held for many years, as they were 

 v/elcoming amongst them one who had done a most illustrious 

 and noble feat, one who had done what no one previously had 

 succeeded in doing. (Applause.) It was easy from the ac- 

 counts that had rea^-hed them to imagine the hardships and 

 hard work that Captain Amundsen had gone through, and the 

 perseverance he had shown, in successfidly rea-ching the South 

 Pole. (Applause.) He had accomplished this feat as the re- 

 sult of hard work, a thorough knowledge of the work he had 

 undertaken, and a thorough det-ermination to succeed. From 

 what they had read, they all knew that Captain Amundsen had 

 been brought up in endeavouring to do feats of this sort, and 

 one could realise, fi-om what ho had done in getting through 

 the North-West Passage, that such a man would succeed in 

 getting to the South Pole, if anyone could. In welcoming him, 

 the Royal Society felt proud that it was the first Society that 

 Captain Amundsen had been able to honour with his presence. 

 (Applause.) This Society was a very old one. It was started in 

 1843 by another great explorer, whose name they all hon- 

 oured and revered, Sir John Frinklin. (Applause.) Sir John 

 Fianklin was here when the exploring ships Erebus and Terror 

 started from Tasmania to go as far South as Captain Amund- 

 sen had done, but it was many vears before that great work 

 was accomplished. He was sure every member of the Royal 

 Scciety would feel proud that it was the first to welcome 

 Captain Amundsen on h»s return. Of the work he had done 

 they had only heard a smattering, but he understood that 

 Captain Amundsen would publish a lxx)k, which would give 

 them far more knowledge than they had at preseiit, and he was 

 sure they would look forward with the greatest pleasure to 

 reading it, and becoming thoroughly acquainted with the diffi- 

 culties and hardships that Captain Amundsen had undergone. 

 They knew that there were other expeditions to the South 

 Pole, and no doubt there would be many more, and they could 

 a.ssure every one of these explorers of a hearty welcome, and 

 of hearty good wishes if Tasmania had the honour of sending 

 them off. (Applause.) Hobart had been the ix)rt of depiirture 

 for several expeditions, but now we had the honour of welcom- 

 ing Captain Amundsen on the accomplishment of his very 

 arduous task. (Hearty applause.) 



Dr. Mercer said that he felt it a gre«t lionour to be called 

 on to say a few words as representing the citizens of Hobart 

 and his fellow-memlx^rs of the Royal Society. In Hobart we 

 were supposed to be next door to the South Pole, and to see 

 very few people, but, as a mattei- of fact, he was convinced 

 that there were very few cities, other than the greater ones, 

 through which more people of eminence passed in the course of 

 each year. It was astonishing how many people he had got 

 to know since he came to Hobart, whoni he would never have 

 known had he been in more ix>pulous parts of the world. Al- 

 though Hobart was far removed from the great cities of the 

 world, it enjoyed unique opportunities of seeing many people 

 whom it was well worth while to know, not the least of these 



