10 DECEMBER 1948, Page 17

SCOTT OF THE ANTARCTIC

SIR,—I was somewhat irritated by the description of your film critic, in ' her notice of Scott of the Antarctic, of Scott's effort as a " glorious and, to my mind, purposeless mission." Surely a mission which is glorious can scarcely be purposeless—it would be merely foolish, if purposeless. However, I would point out that Captain Scott was a distinguished scientist, and his expeditions had definite scientific purposes. It is one of my treasured recollections that, when I was a student at the University of Manchester, I heard Captain Scott speak on one of his expeditions and its results, and I think that I am correct in saying that he afterwards received the degree of Doctor of Science from the University.—Yours