Beschreibung:

ROBERT FALCON SCOTT (1868-1912)
ROBERT FALCON SCOTT (1868-1912)
ROBERT FALCON SCOTT (1868-1912) Autograph log as midshipman on HMS Euphrates, Boadicea, Royal Adelaide, Liberty, Monarch and Rover , 8 September 1883-5 August 1887, in a volume printed in log-book form by Clarke & Son, illustrated with 20 hand-drawn charts, 41 drawings and watercolours of coastal scenes, buildings and ships, 7 diagrams of shipboard instruments and gear, and 7 decorated title-pages, mostly interleaved; an addendum in the final three pages lists remarks on his conduct made by each of his captains between July 1883 and August 1895, approximately 482 pages, folio , half black roan (extremities rubbed). THE PRIMARY SOURCE FOR THE YEARS OF SCOTT'S NAVAL APPRENTICESHIP between the ages of 15 and 19, recording voyages to the Cape via St Vincent, to St Helena and Ascension, along the coast of West Africa, the South African coast, in British waters, to Gibraltar and back, and to the West Indies via Madeira and the Canaries. The log book -- an endeavour expected of a midshipman -- is in one sense a very conventional production, recording the statistics of the day's voyage (wind strength, course, barometer, thermometer), and the formal events of naval life -- manoeuvres, refitting, drills, inspections, the few fatalities in shipboard accidents -- and providing meticulous charts of the ship's progress. The assessments of Scott by his captains, summarised on the last 2½ pages, continue the impression of the competent conformist -- his actions rated 'With sobriety and to my satisfaction', his abilities 'very good' ('exemplary' was the top rating). Other facets of the volume -- the adept watercolours, and in particular the playful, quietly witty title pages which preface each change of ship -- give some indication of the imaginative sensibility which lay at the back of Scott's character. Of the single most important incident of the period however, Scott provides no record: this was on 1 March 1887, at St Kitts, when Scott won a race in cutters between midshipmen from various vessels in the Training Squadron, and in doing so attracted the attention of Clements Markham; of a further encounter at dinner a few days later, Markham later wrote 'My final conclusion was that Scott was the destined man to command the Antarctic expedition'. Scott joined the Navy in 1881 at the age of 13 as a cadet in the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. In July 1883, he passed seventh in a class of 26, and on 14 August was rated midshipman. The log records the beginning of his sea-going service three weeks later.