25/2/94
Yesterday afternoon, dear Mr Macdonald, I went in the Customs Boat out to meet the Antarctic with Mr Potter,1 but neither of us ventured to climb up in a rather rough sea; but in proceeding thus far we did all that could be expected from us. Mr Griffith2 and Consul Gunderson3 however went on board. I think we ought to have within the next days a meeting of the antarctic Committee or at all events of the geographic Council, so as to decide early, in what manner we are to honor the geographic event of the voyage of the first whaling and sealing steamer under our longitudes.
What is your opinion. I dislike dinners and I mentioned to Mr Potter, that I would far prefer some small conversazione, in which Ladies could participate.
With regardful remembrance
your
Ferd. von Mueller
Your old messenger was here last evening and seemed very ill.
Under M's leadership, the Victorian Branch of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia had for several years been a principal advocate of the exploration of Antarctica. The first fruit of their advocacy was a whaling voyage into high southern latitudes by the Norwegian steam whaler Antarctic under Captain Leonard Kristensen during the 1893-4 southern summer, at the end of which the ship docked in Melbourne on 24 February 1894. During the following summer, In the course of a second voyage southwards, Kristensen made the first landing on the Antarctic continent.
G. S. Griffiths.
i.e. Gundersen.
Please cite as “FVM-94-02-25,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on