"(8) Should any accident happen to you, Mawson is to be in charge of the party.
"(9) Trusting that you will have a successful journey and a safe return,
"I am, yours faithfully,
"(Signed) Ernest H. Shackleton.
"Commander."
In addition to these instructions, I also wrote to the Professor:
"Dear Sir,—If you reach the Magnetic Pole, you will hoist the Union Jack on the spot, and take possession of it on behalf of the above expedition for the British nation.
"When you are in the Western Mountains, please do the same at one place, taking possession of Victoria Land as part of the British Empire.
"If economic minerals are found, take possession of the area in the same way on my behalf as commander of this expedition.
"Yours faithfully,
"(Signed) Ernest H. Shackleton.
"Commander."
This letter was dated September 20, 1908, and on that same night we gave a farewell dinner to the Northern Party.