ANTAECTIC EXPLORATION. 239 



1891, ill which the Baron says: — " Your Excellency, — On 

 account of a letter from the Australian Antarctic Exploration 

 Committee to the Royal Academy of Sciences, which letter 

 has been communicated to me, and in which regrets are 

 expressed that the projected Antarctic Expedition in no way 

 can he ready to start next year (1892), I beg once more to 

 call your attention to the fact that an Expedition like this, in 

 order to be successful in a way corresponding to the sacrifices 

 made, must necessarily be prepared and fitted out with the 

 utmost care. Consequently, and owing to the experience I 

 have gained in fitting out several former Expeditions, I am 

 of opinion that it is absolutely necessary not to hasten the 

 departure of the Expedition. I think it most convenient to 

 calculate the departure in such a way as to make the Expedi- 

 tion arrive in September, 1893, at its last coahng port and 

 starting-point in the Southern Hemisphere ; from thence the 

 Expedition ought to go direct to its destination." 



The Committee at once admitted the reasonableness of 

 Baron Nordenskjiild's views, and sent a reply to that effect, 

 and also to say that immediately on the receipt and approval 

 of the promised business details of the Expedition the amount 

 raised by the Committee would be placed at the command of 

 the Academy of Sciences. 



Your Committee desire to record their high appreciation of 

 the untiring zeal, supported by the clear conception of the 

 needful requirements of the Expedition, with which the noble 

 and erudite President of the Victorian Branch of the Royal 

 Geographical Society of Australasia (Baron Sir Ferdinand 

 von Mueller) has seconded the efforts of the Antarctic 

 Committee throughout the year. 



We must emphatically press on the attention of the 

 Australasian Association that another season will be lost 

 unless in the earliest part of 1892 the fund required can 

 approximately be completed ; because ships fit for so arduous 

 an enterprise that are available during the Northern winter 

 (and amongst which is the celebrated steam yacht Pandora) 

 will be all under new engagements for the North, unless the 

 needful funds be speedily forthcoming for securing one or 

 another of these vessels. 



CRAWFORD PASCO, R.N., 



Hon. Secretary Australasian Association Antarctic 

 Committee. 



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