One of the most extraordinary expeditions
of all time occurred in 1854
when a group of explorers left London
on a bright summer’s day in July in
search of nothing. The leader of the expedition
was Sir Roland Whisper, a man
who had investigated nothing for longer
than any other person alive. For years
he had pored over maps and charts
with this great task in mind. He gathered
around him a team of fearless adventurers and
London’s finest journalists signed up to
Sir Roland’s team on the off chance
that they might be the first writer to send
back to London the report that a great
Englishman had discovered nothing.
of all time occurred in 1854
when a group of explorers left London
on a bright summer’s day in July in
search of nothing. The leader of the expedition
was Sir Roland Whisper, a man
who had investigated nothing for longer
than any other person alive. For years
he had pored over maps and charts
with this great task in mind. He gathered
around him a team of fearless adventurers and
London’s finest journalists signed up to
Sir Roland’s team on the off chance
that they might be the first writer to send
back to London the report that a great
Englishman had discovered nothing.
And so, with their eyes fixed on the
distant horizon, the plucky little expedition
boat sailed out of the Pool of London.
On quayside, wives, friends and well-
wishers bid them godspeed, hoping and
praying that the expedition would be
a success. The sails of the boat
disappeared from view, expectation
was high and though one or two of those
waving goodbye might have been beset
with the occasional doubt, none could
have predicted that not a single member
of the expedition would ever return.
As a result, no one knows whether
Sir Roland’s expedition force did or
did not achieve the great prize of
finding nothing.
distant horizon, the plucky little expedition
boat sailed out of the Pool of London.
On quayside, wives, friends and well-
wishers bid them godspeed, hoping and
praying that the expedition would be
a success. The sails of the boat
disappeared from view, expectation
was high and though one or two of those
waving goodbye might have been beset
with the occasional doubt, none could
have predicted that not a single member
of the expedition would ever return.
As a result, no one knows whether
Sir Roland’s expedition force did or
did not achieve the great prize of
finding nothing.
