| RefNo | MS/591/3/6 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Copy letter from A [Arthur] Mostyn Field, Hydrographic Deparment, the Admirality, to Sir Archibald [Geikie] |
| Creator | Field; Sir; Arthur Mostyn (1855-1950); naval officer and hydrographer |
| Recipient | Geikie; Sir; Archibald (1835-1924) |
| Date | 7 December 1908 |
| Description | Copy of letter [for the original, see MS/591/5/5].
Field has read the correspondence regarding the preface of the Meteorological Volume and he believes Dr [William Napier] Shaw's remarks are justified. Shaw has answered Captain [Robert Falcon] Scott's criticisms and provided documentary evidence. 'Captain Scott is evidently unable to realize the standard of the work which was expected of his staff and has no right to complain when its shortcomings are pointed out'. Field does agree that it would not have been possible for the expedition to collect data on the slope of the barrier surface, as Shaw suggests in the preface.
The errors Scott pointed out in his letter of 23 November [see MS/591/5/1] show how poor the record keeping was on the expedition, though Field regrets that Expedition members were not consulted about these incomplete records before publication. Scott's offiers were clearly 'imperfectly trained in the scientific duties of the Expedition'. This led to errors with the collection of data, and the last of scientific expertise among the officers means they may not have realised 'that the results may be open to legitimate criticism'. Field hopes his impartial judgement might dissuade Scott from making the controversy public. |
| Extent | 5p |
| Format | Carbon |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7126 | Field; Sir; Arthur Mostyn (1855 - 1950) | 1855 - 1950 |
| NA6174 | Geikie; Sir; Archibald (1835 - 1924); geologist and historian | 1835 - 1924 |
| NA7142 | Shaw; Sir; William Napier (1854 - 1945); meteorologist | 1854 - 1945 |