CONDlTlOIf OF THE FLOOR OF T3E OCEANS". 327 



It demands rather a steady, continuous, laborious, and sj^stematic 

 exploration of the whole southern region with all the appliances of the 

 modern investigator." 



At the same time I urged further that these explorations should be 

 undertaken by the roj^al navy in two ships, and that the work should 

 extend over two winters and three summers. 



This scheme must now be abandoned, so far at least as the royal 

 navy is concerned, for the government has intimated that it can spare 

 neither ships nor officers, men nor money, for an undertaking of such 

 magnitude. The example of foreign powers — rather than the repre- 

 sentations from our own scientific men — appears to have been chiefly 

 instrumental in at last inducing the government to promise a sum of 

 £45,000, provided that an equal amount be forthcoming from other 

 sources. This resolve throws the responsibility for the financial 

 administration, for the equipment, and for the management of this 

 exploration on the representative scientific societies, which have no 

 organization ready for carrying out important executive work on such 

 an extensive scale. 1 am doubtful whether this state of matters should 

 be regarded as a sign of increasing lukewarm ness on the part of the 

 government toward marine research, or should rather be looked on 

 as a most unexpected and welcome recognition of the growing impor- 

 tance of science and scientific men to the afi^airs of the nation. Let us 

 adopt the latter view, and accept the heavy responsibility attached 

 thereto. 



Anyone who will take the trouble to read, in the Proceedings of 

 the Royal Society of London, the account of the discussion which 

 recently took place on "the scientific advantages of an antarctic 

 expedition," will gather some idea of the number and wide range of 

 the subjects which it is urged should be investigated within the 

 antarctic area; the proposed researches have to do with almost every 

 branch of science. Unless an earnest attempt be made to approach 

 very near to the ideal there sketched out, widespread and lasting dis- 

 appointment will certainly be felt among the scientific men of this 

 country. The proposed expedition should not be one of adventure. 

 Not a rapid invasion and a sudden retreat, with tales of hardships and 

 risks, but a scientific occupation of the unknown area by observation 

 and experiment should be aimed at in these days. 



I have all along estimated the cost of a well-equipped antarctic 

 expedition at about £150,000. I see no reason for changing my views 

 on this point at the present time, nor on the general scope of the work 

 to be undertaken by the proposed expedition, as set forth in the papers 

 I have published on the subject. There is now a sum of at most 

 £90,000 in hand, or in view. If one ship should be specially built for 

 penetrating the icy region, and be sent south with one naturalist on 

 board, then such an expedition may, it will be granted, bring back 



