28 A. LIVERSIDGE. 



expedition on the scale contemplated would do very little in the way of 

 scientific investigation and would have to be regarded simply as a pioneer 

 of future more complete and costly expeditions. In view of this testi- 

 mony and of the many other pressing calls for imperial aid which they 

 have felt it necessary to refuse, my Lords do not feel thab they would be 

 warranted in asking Parliament to provide the proposed contribution. 

 They arrive at this conclusion, however, with sincere regret, and would 

 have been glad to have co-operated with the Australian Colonies with an 

 enterprise having something more than a merely commercial purpose. 

 Perhaps however my Lords may be allowed to regard the present proposal 

 as an indication that if any like expedition be undertaken hereafter by 

 the Imperial Government, some of the British Colonies more closely 

 interested in it might not be unwilling to contribute towards its cost. 



(Signed) C. G. BARRINGTON. 

 The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. 



Report of the Committee of the Royal Society of London — The 

 Committee appointed (October 27th) to consider and report upon 

 the letter from the Colonial Office having reference to the question 

 of an Antarctic expedition embodied their report in the follow- 

 ing draft reply : — 



Sir, — Your letter of August 27th with enclosures relative to a proposed 

 Antarctic Expedition has been carefully considered by the President and 

 Council with the assistance of a committee consisting of Fellows of the 

 Society especially qualified to form a judgment on the matter and I am 

 directed to reply as follows : — 



Many observations of great scientific value might be made in the 

 Antarctic Regions, and it would be very desirable in the interests of 

 science to embrace an opportunity of making them. 



(1) Hydrographical observations, especially with regard to the dis- 



tribution of open sea. 



(2) Meteorological observations especially with regard to the baro- 



metric pressure and the direction of the winds, to which may 

 be added observations on the Aurora Australis. 



(3) Magnetic observations, more particularly with a view to deter- 



mine the changes which have taken place in the magnetic 

 elements since the expedition of Sir J. Ross in 1839-43. 



(4) Observations on the temperature of the ocean and on ocean 



currents. 



(5) Soundings and dredgings and observations on the nature of the 



sea bottom. 



(6) Collections and observations on the marine fauna and flora. 



(7) Should land be anywhere discovered, geological and biological 

 observations thereon would be of exceedingly great value. 



