Description | Written from 10 Porchester Square, Hyde Park, W. Is obliged to Gregory for his kind expression in his letter, and Kempe is sorry that his efforts on Gregory's behalf proved abortive. As Kempe stated publicly at the Anniversary Dinner at the Royal Geographical Society, there can be no doubt that the scientific results of the Expedition must be the poorer for Gregory's absence from it. He is bound, however, having had his fight, to be in agreement with the conclusions of the rest of the Committee of six who were called upon to adjust the difference which had arisen between the two Societies.
Kempe states they were unanimous in coming to the conclusion that the question of wintering was one which must be left to the discretion of the Commander, and they were equally unanimous in coming to the conclusion that if the ship did winter, the Commander, as the person responsible for the lives and safety of the members of the Expedition, must retain the general command. But they took care to provide that the Commander should be obliged to furnish Gregory with all needful facilities for Gregory's work, and much regretted that Gregory could not accept this as sufficient. Kempe cannot but think that if Gregory had been in England, Gregory would have seen that what they proposed would not have affected Gregory's freedom to do his own scientific work and direct that of the others in the way Gregory might think best. He ought to add that the attitude of Sir George Goldie and Mr Mackenzie towards Gregory was certainly not hostile. |