448 Arctic and Antarctic Exploration [part 11 
time' came for the selection I consulted Captain (now 
Admiral Sir George) Egerton, an Arctic officer with a wide 
knowledge of men and much experience in the service. 
He sent me several names, but Scott's was first, and he 
had excellent testimonials. As a torpedo lieutenant he 
had gone through a special course of training in surveying, 
and he wrote the whole section on mining survey in the 
Torpedo Manual, and suggested all the instruments to be 
used. He had a thorough knowledge of the principles of 
surveying and of surveying instruments, as well as of 
electricity and magnetism. Seven of the ships in which 
he had served were masted, and frequently under sail. 
Scott was now just the right age for a leader of a 
polar expedition, and admirably adapted for such a 
responsible post from every point of view. He was 
recommended very strongly by Captain Egerton, by his 
Admiral, and also by the First Lord and the First Sea 
Lord of the Admiralty. Yet there was long and tedious 
opposition from Joint Committees, Special Committees, 
Sub-Committees and all the complicated apparatus which 
our junction with the Royal Society involved, harder to 
force a way through than the most impenetrable of ice- 
packs. But we got through and I had the pleasure of 
signing Scott's appointment on the 9th June, 1900. On 
the 30th he was promoted to the rank of Commander, 
the numerous committees were gradually got rid of, and 
Scott took command. 
Albert Armitage, a Worcester boy and a very efficient 
P. and O. officer, who had served throughout Jackson's 
expedition and was with Jackson on his long sledge 
journey round Alexandra Land, was selected by me as 
Navigator and in charge of magnetic observations at sea, 
and was approved by Captain Scott. 
Some years before, on June 14th, 1892, 1 was in a river 
steamer going down to Greenhithe to see the boat-race be- 
tween the Conway and Worcester cadets. I saw on board a 
young Conway cadet who bore a remarkable resemblance 
to Wyatt Rawson, the gallant Arctic officer in the expedi- 
tion of 1875-76. The boy, Charles Royds, was his nephew, 
and I found that he was most anxious to get into the 
navy. He succeeded in July, 1892. His career was meri- 
torious and he won golden opinions from his captains. He 
