To John Scott Keltie   1 December 1895

Private

Sunday, 1/12/95¹

Your letter and the printed article from the "Times", dear Mr Keltie, reached me by last weekly mail,² and a similar communication came somewhat earlier from the honored President of the R G.S.³

To the latter, so I learn, a reply has already been forwarded by the Reverend W. Potter, FRGS., to the Times direct.⁴ As the subject is mainly one between the Rev Gentleman, who acted honorarily as Agent for Capt Kristensen in geographic subjects here, and Mr Borchgrevink, it does not seem, that the antarctic Committee here is directly concerned in this more particularly personal dispute. I have therefore forwarded also your sending to Mr Potter, and if after his letter to the Times he thinks it necessary, he will doubtless communicate with you early.⁵ I am reluctant to be involved in this public discussion, more especially so, as I am only an ordinary member of the antarctic Committee, altho' I was the mover of the resolution by which it was appointed, and could by virtue of this have been its Chairman But as I was already Pres. of the Vict. Branch of the RGSA., I desired Capt Pascoe, whose Grandfather was an junior flag-officer at Nelson's ship at Trafalgar, to be President of the antarctic Committee, he being the Senior here of the R.N.

If it becomes necessary to elicit statements from the antarctic Committee, then doubtless the venerable Capt Pasco, who is still quite bright in thought and physically robust will stand up in this case also for the antarctic Committee.⁶

As for myself I have shown the greatest attention due to Mr Borchgrevink here, but we must all feel, that Capt Kristensen, as the Commander of the "Antarctic" could not be ignored.

I gave Mr Borchgrevink introductions to Sydney, provided him with particularly valuable maps and helped him [o]n so far as I could consistently with the great objects of the science of geography.

We published in our transactions the lectures of Mr Bull and Mr Borchgrevink along with Capt Kristensens account.⁷ What astonishes me most is, that Mr Bull and Mr Borchgrevink are no longer befriended, as they were in such intimate alliance on the expedition-cause before.

Of The Account of the Expedition with map & illustrations was an early proof advance-impression sent on to you before we knew that Mr Borchgrevink who was then with Mr Bull lecturing in N.S. Wales, would attend the geographic Congress.⁸

I had a letter direct from Mr Borchgrevink telling me of his good prospects in London, to which I gladly replied.⁹ It seems to me, that for him the best field for operation would be the ice-plateau, as he is accustomed to traverse the icefields of Norway on snow [shoes] and as his constitution is such as endures great cold, he moreover being a Gentleman of education and a keen observer. That the glaciers of Vict. Land can be ascended as I predicted a dozen years ago, we now know positively. It should not cost much to charter a Norwegian or Scotish Steam-Whaler for about a year, so as to provide not only for a summer-tour toward the magnetic pole but also for winter quarters through one season in the recently discovered harbour. The Admirality would during the present politic disquietude not likely be willing, to grant means for a large expedition, but two of the smaller and older ships might perhaps be told off at [comparatively] insignificant expense expense, particularly if — what telegraphically might be arranged, the British far southern possessions would contribute. I advise to interest Lord Loch also. I wrote to his Excellency while he was Governor of S. Africa¹⁰ on the facility of reaching Enderby Land as a basis of operation, with open sea more than once seen southward from that Locality. His Exc. brought the subject before his Ministers, who seemed not at all unfavorable to give some help, especially as the revenue was overflowing from Diamond and Gold-Discoveries; but the tide of adversity set soon subsequently in at several of the Australian Colonies, so that further antarctic exploration, in which Britain should not be forestalled, could not be advanced substantially from here. In any [i]nofficial conversation with the Right Hon. Mr Goschen use could be made of my name, as very many years ago I stood in some slight business-relation with one of the firm, of which he was then one of the Principals.¹¹

Perhaps our illustrious President Markham can see the first Lord of the Admiralty¹² for some few moments at some fête, to plead for an expedition of one or two seasons duration on a not very expensive scale, and so timely dispatched that Britain becomes not forestalled. Sir Henry Barkly would be sure to use as well his influence also as Lord Loch.

Very regardfully your

Ferd von Mueller.