XXXIX 



The Rev. J. B. Woollnough, in support of the view that such 

 expeditions nourished a spirit of adventure and made hardy men, 

 referred to the fact that France used the shores of Iceland as a nursery 

 for her marine, both commercial and fighting. 



The resolution was then amended (o read : " That in the opinion of 

 this Society it is desirable in the interest of science and commerce 

 that the exploration of the Antarctic regions should be continued, and 

 that Tasmania should co-operate with the other Australian colonies in 

 the despatch of an expedition for that purpose, and that the council 

 communicate this resolution to the Premier. 



The Chairman, in putting the resolution, said his name having been 

 mentioned in the early part of the paper, he might be pardoned if lie 

 indulged in some reminiscences connected with the return of the first 

 expedition under Captains Ross and Crosier. It seemed that he enjoyed 

 tile distinction — if it be a distinction — of being one of the only two remaining 

 members of the original Tasmanian Society, founded by Sir John Franklin ; 

 the other member being our esteemed honorary secretary and vice-president, 

 Dr. Agnew. He had the privilege of i-itting next to the distinguished 

 commander of the expedition at the hospitable board of Sir John Franklin, 

 and hearing from bis own lips the account he gave of the discovery of a 

 ■volcano on Mount Erebus — an appropriate name — 12,400 feet above the 

 level of the sea, in active eruption, and Captain Ross described it as a 

 magnificent spectacle ; and at a distance of about 20 miles there was also 

 an extinct crater on Mount Terror at an altitude of 10,000 feet. The ships 

 sailed here along a wall of ice fully 150 feet high for nearly 500 miles, when 

 further progress was stopped by a complete barrier of ice. The description of 

 these discoveries had left an indelible impression on his mind. Referring to 

 the Society, the Chairman designated it as unique in its character, as the 

 members were not called upon to make any contribution to its funds, but 

 the whole expense, including the printing of its transactions, was defrayed 

 fry the generous liberality of its President and his noble-minded lady ; and, 

 mdeed, the Society had a rosy time of it, as its members were entertained 

 at Government House monthly at dinner before adjourning to the library 

 for the reading of papers. Of course the number of members was then 

 °nly a handful, or rather "table-full." Those papers are contained in the 

 Tasmanian Journal of Science," and many are of first-rate excellence, and 

 well worth reading at the present time. The Chairman then referred to 

 the excellent and exhaustive paper which had been read by Mr. Sprent, and 

 expressed his full concurrence in all that had been advanced in support of 

 the projected expedition, and especially agreed with the remarks of Mr. 

 Morton that such an undertaking would commend itself to the people of 

 New South Wales as one worthy to celebrate the centenary birthday of 

 Australasia. In conclusion, he hoped that the expedition would be 

 successfully carried out in the interests both of science and commerce. 



The resolution was then agreed to. 



The Rev. Geo. Clarke moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Sprent for 

 the very able and interesting paper he had read for their instruction. 

 He hoped Tasmania would always take a part in such matters, and 

 never again incur the disgrace that attached to her for not being 

 represented at the Colonial Exhibition. There were special reasons 

 w hy Tasmania should cooperate in the movement, for Hobart would 

 be the probable point of departure. 



The Rev. T. M. O'Callaghan seconded the motion, which was carried 

 by acclamation. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



_ A woodcut engraving of Sir John Hooker, the botanist of the Erebus, 

 ln his study at work, was handed round for inspection. 



The Secretary drew attention to some specimens of Fijian pottery 



