AN EXPEDITION TO THE ANTARCTIC.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] BIR,—The interesting article on the above subject in your issue of October 8th last is very reassuring to those who advocate such an undertaking from this country ; and while they agree with you that if it is " worth undertaking," it should be done efficiently, still the utilitarian element in an Australian com- munity rather aims at the promotion of commercial interests ; and if science can be advanced at the same time, well and good.
But in view of the vast expenditure in the endeavour, as history informs us, to find a North-West passage to India, with- out any return for the outlay, the Colonial Exchequer would be closed against any scheme minus a guaranteed profit as would be a scientific expedition pure and simple. The aim, therefore, of the committee in this Colony has been, as set forth in their published propositions, to induce some enterprising Arctic whalers, where the game seems to be nearly played out, to come South, and on certain conditions, advantageous to a limited number of scientific men to be embarked, to be subsidised on a scale encouraging the exploration of high latitudes. It is imperative that two fortified steam whalers should be in company for mutual support, under an experienced commander.
Seeing that the voyage from Tasmania or New Zealand would be less than two thousand miles, it is contemplated that the three summer months, between November and February, would suffice to furnish ample information to prove the desirability of resuming the work in future seasons, without incurring the risk of wintering under less advantageous circumstances than are familiar to Arctic experience.
This pioneer trip, which I will not despair of seeing ac- complished in the summer of 1838-89, we may confidently hope will win its spurs and laurels by a valuable display of Antarctic produce, in the shape of oil, whalebone, sealskin, &c., in the Centennial Exhibition which will then be open in Melbourne.
A simple means by which to overcome the difficulty of exploring beyond the barrier of ice which set a limit to Ross's examination, is proposed by the distinguished President of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, in Melbourne (Baron Sir F. Mueller, K.C.M G.), by the ascent of a captive balloon of a few hundred feet only, by which the nature of the continent south of Mount Erebus may be ascertained and mapped.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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