33B SIEGE OF THE SOUTH POLE 
instead of being far remote, as in the time of all pre- 
vious explorers they were, have, since exploration was 
last attempted there, been actually brought within a few 
days’ sail of a great commercial mart, with its stores, its 
supplies, and resources of all kinds. The advantages 
and facilities for Antarctic exploration are inconceivably 
greater now than in the days of Cook and others. They 
are greatly enhanced by the joint system of national co- 
operation for the purpose of searching out the mysteries 
of the sea, now recognised and practised by all maritime 
nations. In this beautiful and beneficial cooperation, 
officers of the different nations have learned to pull and 
work together for a common good and a common glory. 
This habit would be carried to the South Pole by co- 
operation among the different nations concerned in 
sending out vessels for exploration there. Nay, that 
great unexplored area lies at the very doors of one of 
the Powers that is most renowned in this field of dis- 
covery.” 
But the words were wasted. The British Association 
took no action, and we do not know what reply was sent 
to Washington. Probably there was no reply, for months 
before the letter had passed through diplomatic channels 
to repose in the quiet haven of the archives of the Par- 
liament of Science, Maury had resigned his commis- 
sion as Superintendent of the United States Hydro- 
graphic Department and thrown in his lot with the 
Southern States. Those who knew the intensity of his 
devotion to the work of his office and who understood the 
unique position he occupied as the centre of the world’s 
maritime research could alone estimate the strength of 
that sense of duty to his native State which tore him 
away from all else he cared for. In the great convul- 
