| RefNo | MS/547/13/3 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Printed copy of letter from Sir Clements Markham to Sir William Huggins |
| Date | 2 April 1901 |
| Description | Letter concerning instructions for the Antarctic Expedition. Markham summarises the reasoning behind the decision to send only a single ship that would winter in the Antarctic. The funds raised for this, including the Government Grant, were for Antarctic exploration, and simply landing Dr [John Walter] Gregory's party before leaving the Antarctic for the winer would not be 'in accordance with the objects for which the fund was raised'.
Concerning the Instructions, Markham argues that the Commander must have freedom to execute the expedition's objectives as he sees fit, as the Societies cannot know the local conditions he will encouncer in the Antarctic. Markham names several experts who agree that wintering is safe and necessary, so that the entire expedition staff can carry out observations and objectives, which would not be possible with just a small landing party. Markham complains about Gregory's demands for a landing party and the Joint Committee 'destroying the carefully thought out work' that had gone into the Instructions in order to accommodate this. Markham concludes by listing a number of paragraphs in the in the current instructions that should be altered or omitted. |
| Extent | 4p |
| Format | Printed |
| Notes | First of two printed letters - see MS/547/13/4 for the second. Likely printed for sharing at a Council or Committee meeting. |
| AccessStatus | Open |
| RelatedRecord | MS/547/13/4 |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7951 | Markham; Sir; Clements Robert (1830 - 1916); geographer, explorer and writer | 1830 - 1916 |
| NA7376 | Huggins; Sir; William (1824 - 1910); astronomer | 1824 - 1910 |