PAST AND COMING THAN SITS AND ARCTIC EXPLORATION. .277 
these remarks to the Royal Geographical Society, and to take 
the sense of the Society on the question, whether it is not desir- 
able, if other scientific bodies should co-operate, that a represen- 
tation be made by the Royal Geographical Society to Her 
Majesty’s Government on the advantage of making such a 
reconnaissance of the Southern Continent as I have proposed ; 
primarily in the interest of astronomy (referring to my official 
responsibility for the importance of the examination at this 
special time) ; but conjointly with that, in the interests, per- 
haps ultimately more important, of geography and other sciences 
usually promoted by the Royal Geographical Society.” 
