| RefNo | MS/591/4/12 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Copy ltter from the Secretary of the Royal Society [Archibald Geikie] to Captain [Robert Falcon] Scott, H M S Bulwark, Channel Fleet |
| Creator | Geikie; Sir; Archibald (1835-1924) |
| Recipient | Scott; Robert Falcon (1868-1912); Royal Navy officer; Antarctic explorer |
| Date | [c.10] November 1908 |
| Description | Enclosing a copy of [William Napier] Shaw's reply to Scott's criticisms of the preface for the Antarctic Meteorological Volume [see MS/591/4/13]. Geikie is convinced that Shaw has no grudge against Scott or the Expedition, and his preface recognises the difficult conditions faced in the Antarctic. In Shaw's view, the data collected on the Expedition is 'below the standard of fulness, precision and accuracy to which he is accustomed', and as a scientist he was bound to point this out, but this was not intended as an attack on the staff of the Expedition.
Geikie agrees that Shaw should have discussed the work directly with Scott when these doubts arose, which in Geikie's vies 'is the only valid ground of complaint which you can bring against him'. Geikie recommends that Scott lets the matter drop to avoid prolonging the controversy, to avoid it becoming public. This would likely bring up the old arguments over the initial organisation of the Expedition once more, 'a subject best left in deserved oblivion'. |
| Extent | 3p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA6174 | Geikie; Sir; Archibald (1835 - 1924); geologist and historian | 1835 - 1924 |