Record

MS - Manuscripts General
- 591 - Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition 'Discovery'
  - 3 - General correspondence on the meteorological observations from the National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904

RefNo	MS/591/3/3
Level	Item
Title	Copy letter from W N [William Napier] Shaw, Meteorological Office, 63 Victoria Street, to Sir Archibald Geikie, Royal Society, Burlington House
Creator	Shaw; Sir; William Napier (1854-1945)
Recipient	Geikie; Sir; Archibald (1835-1924)
Date	10 November 1908
Description	Copy of letter [for original, see MS/591/4/13]. Shaw describes Scott's letter as 'painful reading', and he believes it goes beyond ordinary criticism. 'It is based upon misconceptions which I will endeavour to remove'. The letter refutes Scott's protests point by point, with page references in the margins referring to specific pages in Scott's letter [see MS/591/4/5]. He states that his duty was to prepare the records for publication on behalf of the Royal Society and not for Scott, but contends that Expedition members were consulted on the work. When he had doubts about data, Shaw referred these to Lieutenant [Charles William Rawson] Royds as he was the officer in charge of meteorology on the expedition, stating that it was up to 'Mr. Royds to refer to his colleagues if he thought it necessary'. Shaw provides copies of correspondence at the end of the report [see below], which he refers to as proof that instructions were given for the instruments and there were ample opportunities to practice using them. The lack of an official diary or official narrative of the Expedition made it difficult for the Meteorological Office to correlate the data, particularly when working with records from the various sledging expeditions. Shaw regrets that the review in 'The Times' was an attack on the Expedition, but this is unrelated to Shaw's preface. However, Shaw does note that there were many 'unconventionalities of the work of the 'Discovery' Expedition' which any meteorologist would recognise, even if Scott and his staff were unaware of this. Shaw argues that being transparent about these shortcomings ensures that meteorological science can make the best use of the data collected. Shaw points to several issues with thermometer and barometer readings, and the misuse of the automated recording instruments, which limit the value of the data. Shaw also critcises the 'wholesale destruction of apparatus' which means readings cannot be interpreted with direct reference to the instruments they came from. Regarding readings of pressure and winds, in his preface Shaw only summarises the work of Captain [Melville Willis Campbell] Hepworth and [Richard H] Curtis. He has therefore referred the question, concerning the wind readings being true or magnetic north on one particular sledging journey, to Curtis. Shaw notes that there was a lack of clear instructions for readings taken on sledging expeditions. Shaw says that he and Scott are in agreement that data on the rise of the Barrier surface would be valuable, and the purpose of raising this is to consider whether future efforts could be directed towards this. It was not intended to reflect on the work of the 'Discovery' Expedition. Shaw concludes by stating that Scott's letter does not do justice to the work of meteorologists analysing the data. The observers on the expedition have been recognised for their heroism, and their work is being treated 'as a seirous contribution to Natural Knoweledge deserving immediate consideration'. Shaw believe his office deserves 'something better than a letter of angry reproach'. With copies of five letters appended regarding the use of instruments, as follows: 1. Letter from Scott to Shaw, dated 2 June 1901. Scott offers to send someone to learn about the use of the sunshine recorder. 2. Letter from Scott to Sir William Wharton, dated 10 June 1901. Scott has arranged for [William] Shackleton to go to the Meteorological Office to practice with the Dines anemometer and sunshine recorder. 3. Letter from Wharton to Shaw, dated 19 April 1901. Directing Shaw to send instruments to Kew Observatory so that expedition members can practice with them. 4. Letter from [Charles] Chree to Shaw, dated 23 July 1901. Noting that the expedition members had not made much use of the opportunity to learn how to use the instruments. With a list of instruments sent to National Physical Laboratory at Kew by the Meteorological Office. 5. Letter from [William] Shackleton to Shaw, dated 14 June 1901. Asking questions about the possible use of certain instruments.
Extent	25p
Format	Carbon
Notes	It is noted that Captain Scott's letter was returned as an enclosure [see MS/591/4/5]. A note in the margin on page 1 reads '3 copies' - one is present here and a second copy was sent to Scott [see MS/591/4/12], but the fate of the third copy is unclear.
AccessStatus	Open

Fellows associated with this archive

Code	PersonName	Dates
NA6174	Geikie; Sir; Archibald (1835 - 1924); geologist and historian	1835 - 1924
NA7142	Shaw; Sir; William Napier (1854 - 1945); meteorologist	1854 - 1945

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