ANTAKCTIC KECONNAISSANCE 861 



genius, on his part. To conclude, Wedgwood's life has yet 

 to be written, but it must be with the aid of a competent 

 potter, as well as an artist. 



The Holloway College, near Egham, was but a few miles 

 from the Camp, and for many years Hooker used to come 

 over in the summer time and deliver to the students a peri- 

 patetic lecture on the trees in the spacious College grounds. 

 On Commemoration days also he was a frequent visitor, 

 that of 1895 in particular being now chronicled. 



Some big-wig minister was to have spoken, but was 

 prevented by the resignation ; and Lady Frederick Cavendish, 

 almost on the spur of the moment, undertook the duty, and 

 in all my life I never heard anything so apropos, and so 

 charmingly delivered — it was the perfection of unstudied 

 eloquence, with feeling galore. The words dropped from 

 her mouth like pearls from a crystal goblet, every one to 

 the purpose, of friendly advice and encouragement to the 

 girls. 



Through these years interest in the unsolved problems 

 of the Antarctic was slowly growing, both in Australia and, 

 thanks especially to Sir Clements Markham, at home. From 

 time to time an appeal was made to Hooker's experience. 

 Thus he writes : 



To Asa Gray 



November 15, 1887. 

 I am kept busy about the Australian Antarctic Expedi- 

 tion, for which the Colonials have asked our Government 

 to subscribe £5000. The Government has applied to the 

 U.S. to know its opinion as to the scientific results to be ob- 

 tained, and I have at its request drawn up a Memo, embody- 

 ing my views, which are, that before any attempt is made 

 to explore beyond the pack, a pioneer ship should circum- 

 navigate the globe between 60° and 70° South and determine 

 the position of the ice in every longitude, for that,. in my view, 

 the pack moves in enormous masses, leaving open sea here 

 and there for uncertain periods. I am convinced that if 

 Wilkes had pushed on a few miles to the East he would have 

 vol. n 2 a 



