AVERTED INTEREST 
343 
the Royal Geographical Society early in 1869 “ O11 Ant- 
arctic Discovery and its connection with the Transit of 
Venus in 1882.” He pointed out that while the names of 
the Arctic discoverers were familiar to all, scarcely any- 
one knew those of the heroes of the Antarctic, and but for 
the approaching transits of Venus which could best be 
observed in high southern latitudes he believed the Ant- 
arctic might remain neglected for another century. 
Davis suggested that as the weather in the Antarctic re- 
gions when fine was so gloriously clear it would be worth 
while to arrange for an expedition to go out in the south- 
ern summer of 1881-82, if not in 1873, to Victoria Land 
and try to establish an observing station on Coulman 
Island, or failing that on Possession Island where a land- 
ing could certainly be effected. There was a discus- 
sion in which the Arctic officers who had supported 
Airy’s suggestion of the year before reiterated their 
views, but nothing came of the proposal beyond kindly 
expressions and congratulations on the previous serv- 
ices of the pleader. The transit of Venus, though not 
neglected by astronomers, had no longer the power to 
stimulate exploration in the way it had done when 
Cook set out on his first voyage of circumnavigation. 
The opportunity was lost. From what quarter the first 
throb of steam power came to the Antarctic seas will 
appear in the next chapter. 
