The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-05 00:00:00

els, the c...send diet every French•
Ch"...▪
„"h,„ may pain by on the river, or visit oar great navel
•-7▪ ...1. would see that we had paid to our larnente I friend
• ,gire highest compliment in our power, awl th it our
was • pledge to be for ever before us, and that we
▪ o prliptillibie that mutual good-will which so
• 'atheist.. between the two nations. Lastly, the con-
hog to repressthat no one will abstain from
;sent' bine under the idea that more money will be c -
-yea thin can be epproprietely disposed of; since any sur-
ge widl jean iously distributed among the family of the
offerieg to the bereaved relatives a whinn-
ies an addition to the pension
eel cokes of English rioted,
lime French Ewe, ror.
g,rj. leiteileu, on non-: to move the first resolution,
follows—Sir Itede rick Murchison, ladies and gen-
o_."-e-es. I gladly obey the id the chair. and I rise for
t7;"tperpose of moving the first resolution. You have
idea is touching, though in a foreign, language, the s-n-
-tween es of the French minister regard to the distim
": oeeel officer to whom we are about to offer a teetttueutel.
L.& our native lantenaee of simplicity and perry, shall
to lay before you what are, I am convinced, the
•12..:ie, me of that gallant profession with which for a short
hoe I am -
."- officially connected; and, it I mistake not, the
me lonia I am about to move, embodies the teelin.e, not
M;rio this see able, willl ot the nation of whie% it is
puflioS.ll.4 be neces.ery for me, after
elie•
o:tere-ting and eleborote deeds which the chairman
hype„ nerd tl to the meeting, to go into any long description
oo •
,eo et rcientihe exploits of the dietineuished
hse told you, and has told you truly.that this is
oreeemn. I agree with Lord Ellesmere in the
so a•
ria sti
oa oriels be has tepee...tie that our meeting t- -.ley is
anned in the spirit of notional benevolence and peace,
0,1 bare therefore peculiar pleasure in appearing before
a. (Cheers.) It was a remarkable circumstance in the
life of Lo utenant Balm that his services in the early part
of tie Weer in the navy of his own country were constantly
se o -.gel with the gallant Cervices of the British wavy.
pee hear.) You have heard Low he conducted himself
is Ilto de la Pieta; you have heard how in that greet and
sob:. service, the e.,gpression of the Piave trade on the
mina toot of AlfiCA, in the Straits of Madagascar, he
distinguished himself. But there was also a period
to which my freed in the chair shortly adverted, and whe.h
memorable in the life or Lieutenant Ballot. lie served
i• tie at a moment when • passing cloud of notional
difference eomewhat overhung the relations between
lulu,' end }ranee, and it is remarkable that
at that very oment. when perhaps something of jealousy
or angry tooling might have pervaded the sailors of those
two great maritime powers, Lieutenant Bellot was distill-
potted is the British navy, and by the officers with shoos
ee was then amociated, by the distinctive appellation of
L Mei des Anglais." (Choirs.) Now, hapi ilv, all such
daintier. are at an end; that cloud has passed away; it
lima es-lowness to a French officer to be called " the
kind of the Enelieh," for Franco hermit' is the ftiead of
Taalsed. (Loud Orem) I miy be permitted to tell you
that tor the last four monthe during which, in the interests
ge peen. and with an 'amen desire to preserve the tran-
quillity oh the world, the fleets of France and England have
bees lyisa side by side, from the admiral on the de tic to the
lowest cabin boy below, not one single instance line arisen
of
say (panel plonking of a national character. (Cheers.)
Fronelehip and cordiality have marked both ser-
vices. and I regard this as • happy omen of
that peace which we sincerely dente, of that peace which
hem perennial source of the prosperity of nations and the
rest mainspring of the progressive improvement and hap-
pens of mankind. (Cheers.) Now. gentlemen, the next
SW la the lift of Lieutenant Ballot has heen alluded to by
ter chairman—hie distinguished and disinterested services
is aid of the noble efforts of Laity Franklin, made in the
cameo hope that by her own personal endeavours, front
her awn Minh!, means, some trace might, of the extstence,
the prolooged ex.stence, of her late lamented hueban.l. It
war the glory of Lieutenant Bello.' to assist Lieutenant
Kennedy gratuitously in those serene@ of which his own
daring and skill were the mainsprings; and I am
well informed that at the clue.: of the expedition,
when those with whom he hail &wonted parted
host him, among the gallant English sailors—who
hail s d with him—there was a U•Itli1111,W1 feeling
that if Lieut. Bellot should be appointed the commander of
sae sigh expedition, they would most cheerfully volunteer
to serve under him. Now, I hove alluded to the transiest
eseumstance of my Oficial position, which makes it, per-
kips, not inopportune that I should appear here to-dey.
lit I ant about to narrate to yen a circumstance which
made it peculiarly • duty on my part to come and bear tes-
timony to the meritorious conduct of Lieut. Bellot. Whoa
last year it was determined to moot small expedition under
the command of that distinguished officer—no longer Com-
mander, but Captain Inglefield—(cheers)—to the Anti*
sem. the steamer selected was not a large one. The vole
ken who crowded to serve under Lieutenant bo
/Wield were numerous—both officers and men, the
complement was at once filled up, and there wee
o difficulty with respect to any spare accommo-
dation. Lieutenant Bellot pressed to be admitted se a
volunteer. On that oecasion his application was made to
me. in the first instance by himself. I resisted it. I was
afraid that considering the crowded state of the ship and
boa rank in the French navy, accommodation such as the
Admiralty would wish to att. ird, could not be given, aid
that inconvenience and discontent would probably be gene-
rated in the ship. Lieutenant Bellot pressed his applies,
lion notwithstanding my refund in the first instance. He
even sought to bring to bear upon me official influence
Others seek favours in the shape of official appointments.
bet the favour that he sought was only that he might be
*Sowed lain to enter • British ship, and join his British
comrades in encountering dangers. With no reward is
veer, nothing but honest fame being his object, he me
Sally persuaded the French ambassador to request almost
as a serious,' favour that he might be permitted to go.
(Chien.) I could not resist such an application. (Cheers.)
I laid the ease before Captain Inglefield; and that officer
" By all means, let him come as a comrade ; we shall
mjelee in his society." Lieut. Bellot said, " Give me but a
plink to likupon, • corner wherein to pat my clothes ; I
Mk so more.' The officers said, " Let us have him as an
sowisee." And I believe I may my that Capt. Inglefield
abridged somewhat his accommodation, and that the other
acres all abridged theirs, and that, except Captain Ingle-
fied himself, Lieut. Bellot had the best accommodation in
the ship. (Cheers.) Well, now, what was his conduct
under such circumstances ? What are the real character-
lifts of a distinguished naval officer? I should sum
them tip in assiduity in the discharge of his duties,
gallantry in the hour of danger, and obedience
to command. Now, what does Captain Inglefield
riport ander each of these heads ? With respect to assi-
duity, Lieutenant Bellot was au example to all on board
the Plton. Late and early he was employed in scientific
pursuits. The dip of the needle occupied his attention by
day, and in that almost rayless region, where what is night
with ue would almost be accounted day, solar observations
were pursued by him unremittingly. With respect to gal-
Isetry, there n was an occasion on which danger was to
be braved or difficulty to be confronted when he was not a
To-Antler, His life was lost in a service of danger for which
be was not a volunteer—(hear, hau)—and before I sit
dews I shall have strictly to narrate to you the CiT(11111-
'trees which closed his honourable career. Well, now, I
Ina give you • specimen of his obedience to command. He
won under no direct control, because be was a vo-
trainee and a visitor, but such was the nicety of his feelings
that Captain loglefield assures me there was no officer
mere mady to ansicipate his wishes than Lieut. Bellot. '
(Hear, hear.) Perhaps what I ea. about to mention may
appears trifling circumstance, but trifles illustrate cha-
meter. (Hear, hear.) You are aware that in that northern
region the dog of the Esquimau: Is the companion of the
iaativeia his danger. It is an animal of peculiar sagacity,
mad remarkable for the assistance it affords in those dam
genus pmts. Naturally those on board with their eyes I
frequently turned towards home, wish to bring bock some
living trophy of those regions, and there is generally a
rest desire felt to bring home animals of this description.
Different officers had obtained deg., I believe to the flam-
bee of eight for that purpose, and Captain Inglefield was
forced to prohibit any more being brought on board.
It trampired that Lieutenant Bellot, recollecting also his
native land, and wishing to take home some little trophy
of his services, was desirous of having a dog of this descrip-
tion. When Captain loglefield heard that such was his
desire, he called Lieutenant Bellot into his cabin and told
kiss that any prohibition with respect to the increase of the
member would not apply to him, mid begged him to consi-
der himself exempt from its operation. Such, however,
was Lieutenant Depot's nicety of feeling that, though his
well bad been strong in the matter, he obeyed t§e order
to the letter, and no animal was brought on board by that
odor. (Cheers.) Well, now, it is my duty. I think,
Meetly to describe to you the concluding write of Ms life.
Comma Inglefield had left the ship himself de•
Unused to brave the greatest danger,endeavouring to open
a communication with Sir E. B;lcher by • journey over
the ice in fact. He bad left the ship to Captain Pullen.
Csptain Pullen, in his absence, was anxious to make •
communication to Captain luglsfield. It was a dangerous
*mediums ; Captain Inglelield's bright example was not
easy to follow in that trackless region. Lieutenant Bellot
rilunteered for that service. His offer was accepted; and
16 left the ship with four British sailors, • sledge, and •
eight India-rubber canoe. Very shortly after his leaving
tbe ship wee that fatal storm of the 18th of August which
destroyed the Breadalbante, which was in company with
the Nieman. The ice closing is upon her in a gale of wind,
such as bad hardly ever been known in those arctic
regime, the Breadalbane was crushed in a mo-
ment. The Phmnix was in the greatest danger. The
strong deck of that ship bulged under; her main-
Mahon were strained to an extent which endangered bar
very existence. In that fatal storm in which one ship
was lost and another all but lost, Lieut. Bellot and hie
lin followers had to encounter the frightful gale. The
first effect of that gale wee to sever the ice from the hem*.
Lieut. Bellot immediately when he saw that the floe os
which he then was was drifting from the shore, has coed
to send two of the four men who were with him in the
small Canes to the main !and. They succeeded in effect-1
ing a landieg; but to return became impossible. The floe
drifted rapidly away, and the danger of there two men
sad of the gallant French officer became imminent and ap-
parent. Observe, he was not the first himself to go in the
canoe to dry land (Hear, hear.) Ile saw the full cense
of thedasger. When the storm which was raging hid I
almost destroyed himself with the two remainim
Englishmen, he expressed the joy which be felt
that the two other men were saved, and that
be win with the two sailers who were still exposed
to doggie. Snow was 'kenneling in large quantities. Ho
taught them how to Abetter themselves on rte floe, by se-
esuriaitine the snow into something in the shape of a hut.
They remained hutted. Ile twice went forth to see is
which direction the floe was being drifted. A third time
he went forth, and he returned no more. I should tell
you, %dies and gentlemen, that his exhortations to these
two met have been narrated to British officers and British