3-056-980 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Scott's last letter from the Antarctic, 1912. 'My dear Barrie, we are pegging out in a very comfortless spot. Hoping this letter may be found & sent to you. I write a word of farewell. It hurt me grievously when you partially withdrew your friendship or seemed so to do. I want to tell you that I never gave you cause. If you thought - or heard ill of me…it was unjust. Calumny is [?] to the fore. My attitude towards you and everyone connected with you was always one of respect and admiration.' Scott's last letter was addressed to his friend JM Barrie, the author of Peter Pan. Scott begins with typical understatement, and goes on to express his sadness that there had been some cooling in their friendship, and assures Barrie of his continued affection. Scott and his party died on the return from the South Pole, having discovered that Amundsen had beaten them to the Pole thirty-five days earlier.