 On 15 March 1899 Bruce wrote to Sir Clements Markham at the RGS , offering himself for the scientific staff of the National Antarctic Expedition , then in its early planning stages . Markham 's reply was a non @-@ committal one @-@ line acknowledgement , after which Bruce heard nothing for a year . He was then told , indirectly , to apply for a scientific assistant 's post . On 21 March 1900 Bruce reminded Markham that he had applied a year earlier , and went on to reveal that he " was not without hopes of being able to raise sufficient capital whereby I could take out a second British ship " . He followed this up a few days later , and reported that the funding for a second ship was now assured , making his first explicit references to a " Scottish Expedition " . This alarmed Markham , who replied with some anger : " Such a course will be most prejudicial to the Expedition [ ... ] A second ship is not in the least required [ ... ] I do not know why this mischievous rivalry should have been started " . Bruce replied by return , denying rivalry , and asserting : " If my friends are prepared to give me money to carry out my plans I do not see why I should not accept it [ ... ] there are several who maintain that a second ship is highly desirable " . Unappeased , Markham wrote back : " As I was doing my best to get you appointed ( to the National Antarctic Expedition ) I had a right to think you would not take such a step [ ... ] without at least consulting me " . He continued : " You will cripple the National Expedition [ ... ] in order to get up a scheme for yourself " . 
