Pièce 34 - Letter from John Herschel

3 pp

JH to meet Captain Ross and probably [Humphrey?] Lloyd on the 5th November to discuss the South Polar voyage expedition. A statement will 'be handed to Government in our official interview with Lord Melbourne'. WW to tell Peacock of this preliminary meeting, which JH thinks it 'desirable' that at least one of them should attend. 'PS a note just in from Lord Minto is much in the nature of a wet blanket on the whole concern...Are you fully prepared to declare the objects proposed are really worth a great material undertaking involving much expense and to defend the expenditure tooth and nail?'