Ferdinand von Mueller

17/6/90

It was very gratifying for me, dear Dr Nansen, to receive your kind letter and the printed account of your propositions for a new arctic expedition.

1

See F. Nansen to M, 23 April 1890; printed document not found.

Undoubtedly your plan is the most feasible, to pass across the extreme polar region, though the perils and privations, to accomplish this will be very great.

2

Nansen had announced a plan to reach the vicinity of the North Pole by taking advantage of a supposed drift current flowing from east to west across the Arctic Ocean, in a ship purpose-built to withstand being crushed by the ice. He later successfully undertook the journey, 1893-6, in Fram , reaching latitude 86°13.6'N.

Every geographer will be sure, to give your views the fullest support, and all mankind must admire your sagacity and the courage of yourself and your brave followers. Under particularly favorable circumstances you may get quicker across polar extremities, than calculated, and perhaps you may be so fortunate, to determine the northern limits of Greenland, of Franz Joseph's Land or Group and of Bennett's Land, should that be more than an island.

3

Bennett Island, discovered by the American, G. W. DeLong, in 1881.

Let me share your hope, that you will at some future time visit also these far southern shores and be able to proceed from there to the antarctic continent for its exploration by land, glacier-covered as it is. To our geographic Society it is a source of deep regret, that we failed, to obtain sufficient subsidies for Baron Nordenskiolds intended expedition towards the south-pole.

4

See Home et al. (1992).

In January 1891 if divine providence grants me life and health I have to proceed to New Zealand in my present capacity of President of the Austral Assoc. for advancement of science, to instal then my successor, Sir James Hector for 1891.

5

The third meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science was held in Christchurch, NZ, 15-22 January 1891. M attended as planned and, having been President at the previous, Melbourne meeting in January 1890, he presided over the opening meeting of the General Committee in Christchurch and installed Hector as his successor.

That will be a very apt opportunity, to urge again the speedy resuming of antarctic exploration as well for geographic purposes, as also for new technic resources, New Zealand through reaching so far south and lying under meridians of the great antarctic Gulf, being more even than the other Australian Colonies interested in the contemplated enterprise.

Rest assured, that I shall watch with the deepest concern the preparations and the commencement of your grand exploit; — and hopefully anticipating that you will bring it to a glorious conclusion, I remain