17/8/96
The wondrous success of the brave Dr Nansen,1 dear Mr Macdonald, calls forth our admiration particularly in the RGSA, and I would suggest that we hold early a Council-meeting, to testify our delight at these grand achievements and our hope for succour to the Fram.2
You will doubtless share my sentiments and call early a meeting of our Colleagues.3
With regardful remembrance
your
Ferd von Mueller
The Arctic explorer Fridtjof Nansen had just miraculously returned from an attempt to reach the North Pole, during which he and his companion reached a latitude of more than 86 degrees, several degrees more than had previously been achieved.
Nansen's specially designed ship, which had continued its planned drift towards the North Pole while Nansen and his companion attempted an overland journey.
At the Council meeting of the Society held on 20 August 1896, on the motion of the President (i.e. M), it was resolved to send a letter of congratulations to Nansen (Transactions of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia,Victorian Branch, vol. 14 (1897), p. 16). The letter draft, signed by the members of the Council, was published; see M to F. Nansen, 20 August 1896 (B96.14.06).
Please cite as “FVM-96-08-17,” 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