1012] FAREWELL LETTERS 603 
Letters to his Mother, his Wife, his Brother-in-law (Sir 
William Ellison Macartney), Admiral Sir Lewis Beaumont, 
and Mr. and Mrs, Reginald Smith were also found, from 
which come the following extracts : 
The Great God has called mc and I feel it will add 
a fearful blow to the heavy ones that have fallen on you 
in life. But take comfort in that I die at peace with the 
world and myself — not afraid. 
Indeed it has been most singularly unfortunate, for 
the risks I have taken never seemed excessive. 
... I want to tell you that we have missed getting 
through by a narrow margin which was justifiably within 
the risk of such a journey. . . . After all, we have 
given our lives for our country — we have actually made 
the longest journey on record, and we have been the first 
Englishmen at the South Pole. 
You must understand that it is too cold to write much. 
. . . It's a pity the luck doesn't come our way, because 
every detail of equipment is right. 
I shall not have suffered any pain, but leave the world 
fresh from harness and full of good health and vigour. 
Since writing the above we got to within 11 miles of 
our depot, with one hot meal and two days' cold food. 
We should have got through but have been held for four 
days by a frightful storm. I think the best chance has 
gone. We have decided not to kill ourselves, but to 
fight to the last for that depot, but in the fighting there 
is a painless end. 
