8 British Antarctic Expedition. 
Immediately after my lecture the following 
resolution was moved :— 
“The Sixth International Geographical Congress, 
assembled in London in the year 1895, with reference 
to the exploration of the Antarctic Regions, expresses 
the opinion that this is the greatest piece of 
geographical exploration still to be undertaken, and 
in view of the addition to knowledge in almost every 
branch of science which would result from such a 
scientific exploration, the Congress recommends that 
the various scientific societies throughout the world 
should urge, in whatever way seems to them most 
effective, that this work should be undertaken before 
the close of the century." 
Upon being put to the meeting the resolution was 
carried unanimously. 
Ten years previously that resolution had been 
carried in my mind, but not so clearly did I then 
realize those difficulties which, from unexpected 
quarters, arose out of the mist-like ice-pack to delay 
the pioneer-work which I, however, was destined to 
accomplish. 
It was up a steep hill I had to roll my Antarctic 
boulder ! 
For a number of years my Antarctic work had 
been limited to that of «private correspondence—a 
correspondence which, however, grew so rapidly, 
that in 1892 I was enabled to give that thought 
to the cause which gave birth to my independent 
Antarctic expedition plans. 
First, in 1894, I visited Victoria Land and com- 
pared my theories with reality, and in 1895 I 
delivered my first lecture in the Town Hall of 
