The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-01 00:00:00

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.

(From the London New Price Current of this day.)
SIGAIL—To. day West India Sugar was held for previous
prices, the quantity on offer not being equal to last week,
but refining and grocery sorts were operated in with cau-
tion. At auction, Barbadoes went rather cheaper ; fine
yellow at 37s 6d to 38s 6d, middling to good 34s 6d to 375,
and low 32s 6d to 34s ; 22 tierces and 7 barrels Demerara
crystallized sold at 35s to 37s 6d for ord to mid yelolow..
REFINED.—To-day refined sugar
at a further reduction, stillthe ho wasme not
demandtradetobe bta obtained
not better—brown lumps are 44s to 445 6d, and low to fine
grocery 44s 6d to 47s per cwt. Crushed sugar met with
little notice for shipping, and easier rates accepted for
British and foreign.
MAIIRITITIS.—This afternoon Mauritius sugar was only
in limited request, andin most cases the rates taken were
26 to 27 b t bags
were per cwt ender those of Friday. At auction 3,500
were sold—low brown at s s, e ter sorts 27s 6d to
31s 6d, low to mid yellow 32s o 34sr and good 31s 6d to
35s 6d per cwt.
EAST INDIES.—This afternoon white Benares met with
a limited demand, and at auction 800 bags went at barely
previous prices ; ordinary to good at 36s to 38s per cwt.
In other sorts of Bengal little done privately, and sales
can easily be made at previous rates.
TEA.—In congou extensive purchases have been made
by home dealers, and large speculative contracts have been
concluded ; prices are still advancing, and rule 1d to 14(1
per lb above those current two weeks back. They closed
to-day foz low to good ord at is Oid to is Id, rather black-
ish leaf to blackish blackish Is lid to is 20, strong to
Pekoe sorts is 3d to 2s 4d, and fine new crop 2s 6d to 2s 7d.
The qualities from is 2d to is 8d most in request. In green
tea the increase in operations is considerable, both for con-
sumption and speculative purposes ; prices are also on the
advance for all sorts.
COFFEE.—To-day holders of plantation Ceylon displayed
firmness, and offered none at public sale. Privately several
parcels were disposed of at full rates to a small advance for
coloury. Native is much wanted at 45s for good, and
at which there are no sellers. At auction 250 bags were
partly disposed of at 455. for real good ordinary unclean.
There is a better demand for Foreign Coffee, and the par-
cels of Brazil and Costa Rica sold privately were at full
prices. Mocha continues to attract little notice, still sales
are not pressed.
SPIRITS.—To-day brandy was less in request, and
Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1851 can be obtained
at 8s 5d to 8s 7d per gallon. For rum the market is inac-
tive, proof leeward at 2s 7d to 2s Bd, East India 2s 7d,
and Demerara at 3s 6d to 3s lld for 32 to 42 per cent. over
proof.
TALLOW.—There hasbeeu a further decrease in operations
in Russian for all purposes, and prices compared with this
day week show a decline of Is 6d to 2s per cwt. Transac
tions have been limited 56s 9d to 575 on the spot, for
first sort P.Y.C., at 56s to 56s 3d for delivery up to the
close of the year ; and 57s to 57s 3d for spring months.
Town tallow is not more plentiful, still prices declined and
rule at 58s cash. Other sorts of Tallow aro cheaper by
is 6d, and transactions
OlLS.—Transactions in Seal have decreased, and there is
a decline ; pale selling at 371 lOs to 381 10s, straw and
tinged 341 to 361105, and dark 331 to 341 per tun. The
market has assumed a quiet appearance for Cod, 3115 s to
341 10s, accepted being a decline. The value of low to fine
southern is 391 to 421, and stock is still in secend. hands.
Sperm attracts little notice, and prices incline downwards.

COURSE OF EXCHANGE-MIS DAY.
Amsterdam ............ 11 15 'O'b-sitar ........ ....
Ditto, three months .. 11 16% Leghorn .. 30 10
Rotterdam ...... • . .... 11 17 Genoa .. .. •• .. 25 50
Antwerp .............. 25 27% Milan ..
Brussels ........ 25 27% Venice ....
Flamburgh ............ T 3 6% Naples .... .••• • . • . 42
Altona ................ • Palermo .. . • 125%
Paris ........ •• • • .... 25 2% Messina 125%
Ditto, throe months •• 25 34) !Lisbon .• • . 53
Marseilles. • • .. .. 25 32% !Oporto . • .... 53%
Bourdeaux ............ !Rio Janeiro ... .
Frankfort-on-Blaine .... 119%;Buenos Ayres...... ..
Berlin ................ INew York, 60 days' sight
Vienna .. • • ............ 11 30 Philadelph la ........

Trieste ............ ••..11 32 t PRICES 0; B-13.1.1.1.0 N. : .I`:ER 02.
Petersburgh.. •• •• .. .. .. 37% Foreign Gold in Bars £3 17 9
Madrid ................ 53 Portugal Gold Coin OO o
Cadiz.................. 504 Mexican Dollars 0 0 0
8arce10na.............. New Dollars 0 0 0
Seville ...........'..... Silver In bars .. 0 0 0

DISCOVERY OF TILE NORTH-WEST

PASSAGE.

TESTIMONIAL TO LIEUT. CRESSWELL, R.N.
( Abridged from the Lynn Advertiser.)
It is not detracting from the well-earned laurels of Lieut.
Cresswell to say that to him the discovery of the north-
westhono npraasnsadggeoro.tdseflfortiusnneoutndtooubbteedllyscbriebloedng. gs reat
honour
M'Clure' as commander of the vessel, and his claims to dis-
tinction for such service have already been acknowledged
by a deserved promotion. But a large share in the dis-
covery is due to our gallant townsman, as one of the most
active participators in the explorations ; and what is still
more to the purpose, he is the only man, of all those who
have ventured their ives in the enterprise, who has com-
pletely accomplished the circuit of communication, by
passing from one ocean to the other, and thence returning
to his native country, as the confidential messenger of his
superior officer, and bearing full details of the progress of
the expeditions. In his case we have not as yet the satis-
faction of recording, as in that of Captains Inglefield and
M'Clure, an official demonstration of the national grati-
tude ; and this a further and more cogent reason why such
a humble tribute of congratulation and esteem as can be
offered by a provincial town, not distantly connected with
the greatest naval hero England ever produced, should not,
be withheld.
Conceiving that the share taken by Lieut. Cresswell in
the events connected with the Arctic Expeditions to which
we have referred, must reflect, through him, no little
honour on his native town, we have noted with much
satisfaction the rapid growth of public interest in the sub-
ject. Perhaps in reference to no single event has there
been a more complete unanimity of feeling amongst our •
townsmen than has spontaneously manifested itself in the
desire to render fitting honour to the subject of these
remarks.
The discussion by the Town Council of the mode of ex-
pressing their congratulations resulted in the adoption of
an address, in lien of the ancient compliment of presenting
the " freedom of the borough," now rendered impracticable
by a provision of the Municipal Corporations Reform Act.
The substitution is not one which need cause any regret,
the honour conferred by the address being quite equal to
that of the " freedom" and far more significant and ex-
pressive of the intentions of the presenters. The inhabi-
tants generally, independent of their local legislative coun-
cil, having at first determined on a separate congratulatory
demonstration, some fears were excited, in consequence of
the great variety of means suggested, that the attempt to
crowd together too many forms of compliment, would tend
to deteriorate the whole procedure ; but this was obviated.
by the committee of inhabitants having ultimately deter-
mined, in addition to the provision of a public banquet, to
concur in the same address which had previously been
agreed to by the Town Council. The address then be-
came that of " the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses," and
by this obviously desirable unanimity, additional prestige
was imparted to the occasion.
The day selected for the demonstration was Wednesday
last, the third anniversary (as appears by an entry in Com-
mander AP Cl u re's log) of the ascertainmen t of the existence
of the north-west passage. The scene chosen was the Town-
hall, which, though sadly deficient in area, was the
largest available building, as well as the most appropriate,
from its ancient official connection with the public business
and interests of the inhabitant. On the doors being opened
a dense crowd rushed in, and soon occupied every available
inch of space.
The north end of the hall was almost completely covered
by flags, gracefully displayed—conspicuous in the centre
being the national standard of old England. Theie were
surrounded and relieved by laurels arranged in wreaths,
Ste. The lowen portion beneath the flags was covered with
festooned scarlet and white drapery, in the centre of which
were placed the initials " S. G. C.," constructed in dahlia
flowers of various colours, surmounted by a large laurel
wreath, having in its centre a handsome bouquet.
Amongst the ladies present were the mother of Lieut.
Cresswell and the Hon. Mrs. Frank Cresswell, And by far
the greater number of the ladies of the town.
At three o'clock the Mayor entered in his robe, preceded
by the sword and mace bearers, bearing the regalia, and
accompanied by Lieutenant Cresswell in his uniform, Lord
Stanley, Admiral Sir Edward Parry, F. Cresswell, Esq.,
M. J. West, Esq., Recorder, the Aldermen, the Town
Councillors, the Town Clerk, and the Treasurer. The
Mayor took his seat in the centre of the raised platform,
havinc, Lieutenant Cresswell and Admiral Sir E. Parry on
his righte hand, and Lord Stanley on his left. The hall was
densely crowded in every part, and the utmost excitement
and enthusiasm appeared to prevail.
The MAYOR rose, and taking the address in his hand,
said—Lieut. Gurney Cresswell, I am requested by the cor-
poration of this borough, and by the inhabitants assembled.
in this hall, to present to you this joint address, and to con-
vey to you their sincere and heartfelt congratulations on
your safe return to your native country, and upon the suc-
cessful termination to your late arduous and protracted
voyage through the Arctic regions. Sir, since the time when
the gallant Parry first steered his barque into those icy
regions, ship after ship, and expedition after expedition,
have left the shores of this and other countries, all eagerly
bent upon, all jealously alive to the honour of, first disco-
vering the north-west passage. We, as Englishmen, feel
proud to think that upon an English ship, and upon Bri-
tish seamen, has this great honour at last fallen. Sir, I say
as Englishmen we feel justly proud of this ; but we in this
hall assembled have another occasion for joy and pride. We
feel proud to think that a fello w-townsman of our own held
a rank in that gallant band which, amdist dangers the most
appalling, amidst difficulties the most unparalleled, achieved
this great work, solved the great problem of a north-west
passage, added another triumph to the British navy, and
encircled another wreath of unfading brightness, another
wreath of imperishable glory around the flag of England.
(Cheers.) Sir, this ancient borough boasts many bright
pages in her history. Kings have revelled at her board,
and in our regalia we point to the gifts of some of her
earliest monarchs. Many of the best and bravest heroes of
England stand numbered amongst our freemen. These are
bright spots in her history ; henceforth one of its brightest
pages shall be that one of her sons went forth on this great
enterprise, that, having faced difficulties unparalleled,
after three years passed in those dreary regions, and when
hope was almost extinct in the breasts of even the most
sanguine amongst us, he was the first to return to the
shores of old England, to gladden the hearts of his friends,
and spread the glad, but startling news, that at length the
great question was successfully determined. Sir, we con-
gratulate you upon these things, and we rejoice to think
such great duties have fallen to your lot, and that you have
so ably and efficiently performed them. And now, sir,
allow me to say, all youa fellow townsmen—l may say
more than that, one and all in this vast assembly greet
your return with affectionate delight. (Applause.) Long
may you live to be an ornament to your profession ; and
whilst you receive the weighty and well-merited honours
of the state, we trust you will not the less value and esteem
the simple and heartfelt offering of your fellow townsmen.
I shall now call upon the Town Clerk to read the address ;
and allow me to say I feel highly honoured at being made
the medium of its presentation. (Loud applause.) •
The TOWN CLERK then read the address which was en-
grossed on a sheet of fine vellum, having attached to it by
a golden cord and tassel a gilt impression of the corporate
seal.

The MAYOR having presented the address,
Lieut. CRESSWELL received it with a profound bow, and
replied in the following terms :—Mr. Mayor and gentle-
men,—l cannot easily express the feelings of my heart on
receiving this address of my fellow townsmen on my re-
turn to my native land. It is true that I have partaken
a most dangerous service since I left England, and have
been a follower of Capt. M'Clure in a discovery which sheds
honour on his name as a commander, and on the naval
power of the country. But my too indulgent fellow towns-
men over estimate my services, and attribute to me more
than I deserve. An ever watchful Providence has pre-
served me and my shipmates through manifold and great
dangers, and has permitted me to be restored to my dear
friends and country ; and I trust that the same power will
enable me to do my duty wherever I may be called, and
that you. Mr. Mayor, and the aldermen and burgesses of
this borough, will never have occasion toregret the honour
which you have this day bestowed upon me. I have only
now to return you my most grateful thanks for your ad-
dress, and pray that every blessing may attend you.—Ad-
dressing the ladies assembled in the front rows, he said—
Ladies, you have this day conferred on me a very high
honour by you presence, more particularly as I have been
so long excluded from ladies society. For nearly four
years I have been amongst the ice, and I have never had
any society at all except now and then a few Esquimaux
ladies—(laughter)—and that was only in our voyage out
and voyage home. For three years we were excluded en-
tirely from the whole world, except our little ship and the
sixty souls contained therein ; and, therefore, by your
presence to-day, I feel that you are conferring upon me
a great favour, and I am very proud of the pleasure of
seeing you here,—l can say you do me great honour.—l
understood it might interest many persons to hear a slight
narrative of our voyage. (Hear, hear, and loud applause).
Lieut. Cresswell proceeded to give the following narrative,
illustrating it by reference to a large chart of the Arctic
regions, which had been prepared and suspended in the
hall for the purpose. You will understand, ladies and
gentlemen, that for many centuries—l may say for the last
three centuries—it has been the great endeavour of Eng-
land to try and discover a shorter route to India by the
north-west passage, that is, by forcing a passage from the
Atlantic, through Behring's Straits, through Baffin's Ba±,
and round the north of America, to India, and that from
the time of Henry VIII. expeditions have been continu-
ally going from England, but have always failed in disco-
vering the great problem. The first recent expedition was
that of Sir John Ross. He sailed round Baffin's Bay, but
he did not succeed. He did not think Lancastor Sound
was continuous—that is, that it was connected with any
sea beyond. Sir Edwd. Parry was the next person who
followed. (Cheers-) His discoveries are meat wonderful.
He entered from Lancaster Sound, which had never been
discovered before, and proceeded in the ships for 900
miles to the westward, where ship had never been before,
and arrived at Melvile Island. He went to the western
extreme of Melville Island, from whence, to the ex-
treme point reached by the Investigator, is only a
distance of between 60 and 70 miles. So that the north-
west passage has been discovered, or rather gone over by
the ships, with that exception, and travelling parties have
gone over the rest of it. I ill now give you Sir John
Franklin's expedition. Sir John F. was sent with the
same object,—to try and connect Parry's discoveries to
those of Cook and Beachey in Behring's Straits, to estab-
lish the fact of there being a north-west passage. He
sailed from England, as you are well aware, in 1845, I be-
lieve. After that he was not heard of in England. Then it
became necessary to search for him. An expedition was
sent out under Sir John Ross, in which I served. We
Portred
tnpToohpoor
tracesr c
Franklino Leopold. ot
epr
wdF.
;ar
as
and
deei
then excessively
n re a r
Wcs hmee
ships,
st ote round nex d
returned
thete d
Enterprise ca ob ao sutt
ot,
tibltgtfaao
te od af
and Investigator, were ordered to go entirely round Ame-
rica through Behring's Straits, and try to meet him in that
direction. We sailed in Jan. 1850, and after going round
America and passing the straits of Magellan, and touching
at the Sandwich Islands, we met the ice to the westward
of Poiut Barrow. We made our way along this coast with
great difficulty, till we got off the mouth of the Mackenzie.
The ice on this shoal shore was resting on the shoal, that
is, it left just sufficient water between the very shoal water
and the ice for us to work along. We so managed to
struggle our way along, until we got quite off the Mac-
kenzie. We there got a little more open sea, and worked
towards Banks's Land, which was seen by Sir Edwd.
Parry from his winter harbour in Melville Island. We
then stood off some 90 miles till we came to the solid ice,
and ran in for the land. We then continued our course
soihltyhickto the
past the mouth of the Mackenzie river, till we came off
reach the
n 4-3 oa r tP eh
Parry,w ar d of and
u s,
long wished for Banks's Land of Parry. We shaped our
we
he e
tnh
otuhgeh
ti c
we
enotgbheti npgo
ss
course accordingly for it, and, much to our surprise, after
sailing about 20 miles off the coast, we saw land, very fine
high land, which we ultimately found to be connected with .
the same land, that is, part of the same land which was
discovered by Sir Edward Parry. We wintered in this
position, and in the summer of the first year, 1850, we
managed to get off here. Our autumn travelling parties
discovered that this strait was connected with Melville's

Strait, and therefore established the fact of there being a
north west passage. That established the last link in the
chain of the long-sought-for north-west passage, which it
fell to our fortune to discover on the 26th October—this
very day. In the following year, the summer of 1851, our
great object was to push through so as to carry our ship
home through the north-west passage. We got some dis-
tance, and then found the ice ao excessively heavy from
the north and eastward that we were obliged to put back.
We retraced our way round Discovery Island. On the
northern coast of it, we had the greatest difficulty in get-
ting along. Near that place we were frozen up from the
20th August, 1850, to the sth Sept., and thought, we were
frozen up entirely for the winter—in fact, we made all our
winter arrangements; but as fortune would have it, it
came on to blow a most violent gale off the land. It blew
for three days ; and on the fourth the ice opened a little,
and after considerable difficulties and dangers we succeeded
in getting into Mercy Bay, where we wintered the last two
winters, that is, of 1851-2 and 1852-3. I must tell you the
ice never broke up in the summer of 1852, and we remained
firm and stationary in the bay the whole summer. In the
spring of this year (1853) it became absolutely necessary
that some of us should desert the ship to save the others
from starving. Capt. M'Clnre made arrangements that
Lieut. Haswell should go the eastward to try and reach
Beachey Island, where'we knew there was succour, for a
travelling party who had gone from Melville Island had
discovered a notice that had been left by Capt. M'Clintock
of Austin's expedition who went out also to search for Sir
John Franklin. The plan arranged for deserting the ship
was this, that Lieut. Haswell was to go to Beachey Island,
and that I with aiwther party was to go westward to
Prince's Island, whFre there was a depot of provisions, and
so make way home through the Mackenzie River by the
Hudson's Bay settlement. But providentially we had not
to put our plans into execution. On the 6th April, much
to our surprise, we saw a travelling party coming to the
ship. We no more expected to see this travelling party
than to see the sun come down. It was with great plea-
sure and delight we saw them. Excessive excitement was
felt by everybody on board. They brought us news that
Capt. Kellett was wintering at Deal Island, and in the
autumn of 1852 had picked up the notice which we had
left at Melville Island, and that by it he had been guided
to our whereabouts, and had sent his travelling party
across the island the first thing in the spring. And thus
they found us. It was still necessary to abandon the ship,
because it was impossible to convey the provisions so far
over the ice. I was accordingly ordered by Captain
M`Clure to abandon the 'ship, and I went with half the
ship's company, and travelled over the ice to Captain
Kellett. It was about 170 miles. Captain Kellett wished
to send our men on to Beachey Island, where there was
another ship stationed, because it was a more accessible
position from England. But they were too unwell to go,
for 22 out of the 24 men 1 brought out with me had the
scurvy. Therefore I volunteered, as I had good health my-
self, to go on and take the chance of any ship that might
come out there, as it was very important that information
should be conveyed to England, as soon as possible, appris-
ing the Admiralty of the safety of the Investigator, because
other wise there was no saying what expeditions might have
been put forth and what lives might have been perilled in
looking for us. I therefore made the best of my way over
the ice till we arrived on board the North Star, on the 2d
of June last. This was a distance of about 300 miles, or
about 500 miles from our ship. I, waited there, of course,
till, on the 2d August, Captain luglefield arrived in the
Phoenix from England, much to our delight. On the 23d
August we sailed from there and made the best of our way
home. We had considerable difficulty in getting out of
Lancaster Sound. It was full of ice, although it was con-
sidered a good time for navigation. We, however, got
safe home. I must tell you that from our winter quarters
in Mercy Bay, from the high land, we could distinctly see
Melville Island—the discovery of Parry, with only a strait
of ice between the two points whore Sir Edward Parry and
Captain M'Clure had been. Captain M`Clure's intention
was to remain by the ship, and with half the ship's com-
pany to attempt to bring her through, if they were con-
sidered well enough by the medical men. If he gots through
be will be home within a few weeks ; if not, he will not be
home till next year. Perhaps you would like to hear some-
thing about our daily arrangements for travelling, as
Arctic travelling is rather a novelty. You must be aware
that in Arctic travelling you must entirely depend upon
your own resources. You have not a single thing to de-
pend on—no produce of the country, or firewood, or coals,
or anything of the sort; and whatever you have to take to
sustain you for the journey you must carry or drag. It is
found by experience more easy to drag it on sledges than
to carry it. The plan we adopt is this : —We have a sledge,
generally manned by about six or ten men. We load this
with provisions, with tents, and all requisites for travel.
ling ; simple cooking utensils, spirits of wine for cooking,
&c., &c., and start of. The quantity people can generally
drag is about 40 days' provisions ; that gives about 200 lbs.
weight to each. After starting from the ship and travel-
ling on for a certain number of hours generally about 10-
or 11—we then encamp for the night, or rather for the day,
because it is considered best to travel at night and sleep in
-the day, on account of the glare of the sun on the snow.
We used to travel all nigh, about 10 hours, and then
encamp, light our spirits of wine, put our small kettle on
it to thaw the snow water, and after we had our supper—
just a piece of pemmican and a glass of water—wo were
glad to get in, after smoking our pipes. (Bravo, and
laughter.) The first thing we did after pitching the tent
was to lay a sort of macintosh cloth over the snow. On
this would be a piece of buffalo robe stretched. Each
man and officer had a blanket sewed up in the form of a
bag, and,this we used to jump into, much the same as you
may see a boy in a sack. (Laughter.) We lay down, head
and feet, the next person having his feet to my head, and
his head to my feet, just the same as herrings in a barrel.
(Laughter.) After this we covered ourselves with skins
over the whole of us, and the closer we got the better, as
there was more warmth. (Laughter.) We lay till the
morning, and then the process was the same again. There
are perhaps very few present here who are aware, or have
read an account, of the wonderful power the ice has upon
a vessel, or how easily a vessel may be sunk by it. I will
just give you a short account of the Breadalbane going
down, if I am not trespassing too much on your time.
I must tell you that the Breadalbane was a transport en-
gaged by Government to go out with stores for the Arctic
searching expeditions, and that Captain Inglefield, of the
Phoenix, towed her out, when she was at Beechey
the very night after I joined the Phoenix. I don't know
whether I brought bad luck with me, but so it was. About
twelve or one o'clock I heard a great pressure of ice com-
ing upon the ship. We were at that time made fast to
the land-ice about a mile off the land ; the ship was along-
side of the ice. The floe, or sea ice, which might be 20 or
30 miles extent, was closing upon the land ice, and unless
the ship was protected• in some way, the probability was
that it would crush her. I was asleep in my cabin at the
time, when the first lieutenant came down and said the
captain had ordered all hands to be in readiness to desert
the ship. I heard the ship's timber creaking and groan-
ing, and making a most unpleasant noise; but we had ex-
perienced a great deal of noise in the Investigator, and I
had thought nothing of it. I jumped on deck and then
saw the ice had.passed us and was going on to the Bread-
albane. It took the Breadalbane and nipped her. It is
generally considered that if a ship is nipped and she rises,
the ice getting under her, she is safe ; but if she does not
rise, then it is very probable she will be destroyed. In
this case the ship rose. I thought, therefore, nothing
more about it, and went down to my bed again. The
Breadalbane was only about 300 yards from us. About 10
minutes after that, an officer came down and said, " If you
want to see the last of the Breadalbane you must get on
deck." I jumped up and went on deck, but there was not
a vestige of her to be seen. The men had jumped on the
ice. This is just the way in which the ship was destroyed
by the ice. Ladies and gentlemen, I shall not detain you
any longer, as I am afraid I have detained you too long
already. (Loud applause).—Three cheers were then given
fot

Sir EDWD. PARRY, who at once rose and said - Ladies
and gentlemen,—lt is now 28 years since I had the honour
of receiving within these walls the freedom of the ancient
borough of Lynn. I can truly say that from that moment
' to this I have never witnessed any occasion which has
given me more high delight and gratification than this.
(Applause). Yon have before you to-day about the oldest
and about the youngest of Arctic navigators. (Applause).
And I do assure you from my heart that the feelings of
the old Arctic navigator are those of the very highest and
most intense gratification he ever experienced in the
course of his life. I rejoice to be here to meet and support
my deaf young friend as my fellow townsman. I may call
him my fellow-townsman, being a freeman myself of your
borough. I feel, therefore, the greatest delight and grati-
fication in being able to come here. I have been delighted
with the plain, simple, intelligent, and I must say modest
account he has given of himself. Nothing can be more
complete and perfect than the summary he has given
you, in so short a time, of the Arctic discovery. How
little I thought when I stood upon the western part of
Melville Island, and discovered Banks's land in the dis-
tance (we called it 60 miles), that from the cape which
I named after many difficulties Cape Providence—that
there would in the course of time come a ship the other
way to meet me and to be anchored in the Bay of Mercy.
I call it a remarkable coincidence I admire the feeling
which induced Capt. M'Clure and his companions to give
that name to the place which had harboured them under
circumstances of such extreme peril. (Loud applause.)
Three cheers were then called for and given for Lord
Stanley ; three more for the Mayor ; and three more for
the Ladies ; and the meeting separated.
A dinner was given in the Assembly and Card Rooms
in the evening. About 170 persons sat down, under the
presidency of the Mayor, who had on his right. Lieutenant
Cresswell, the guest of the evening, and Lord Stanley,
M.P. ; and on his left D. Gurney, Esq., High Sheriff of
the county, Lord Calthorpe, Sir W. B. Yfolkes, &c.
After the usual loyal and constitutional toasts had been
drunk, the MaYon, gave " The Health of Lieut. Gurney
Cresswell." (Great cheering.) Mr. Gurney. Cresswell
(continued the Mayor, after a few preliminary observa-
tions) entered the navy early in life, in February, 1842, on
board H.M.S. Agincourt, the flag-ship of Sir Thomas
Cochrane, Commander-in-Chief on the East Indiea and
China station. In August, 1845, Sir Thomas Cochrane
having sent a detachment of boats to destroy the strong-
holds of some desperate pirates in Mulioodoo Bay, Borneo,
Lieut. Cresswell, then a youngster, was selected to steer
the Agincourt's gig, Capt. Lyster. The forts, mounting
eight and three guns, were defended by a boom of formid-
able construction, which detained the force for nearly an
hour under their fire, and caused a loss to the attacking
party of seven men killed and fourteen wounded. For
this successful attack Captain Lyster got his post rank.
Now, gentlemen, if I recollect rightly, that was a very im-
portant occasion, and I must add it is creditable to the
young officer that he should have been placed in such a try.
mg situation. It was. a noble position for a young man.
We find, in the following year, he had the honour of serving
on Sir Thos. Cochrane's personal staff, at the taking of Bruni
and destruction of other piratical forts. He returned to
England in the autumn of 1847, when he was immedi-
ately appointed to the Excellent, gunnery ship, at Ports-
mouth. He served on board of her until the spring of 1848
when he volunteered for Arctic service, which he has con-
tinued ever since—five-and-a-half long years passed in those
dreary regions. Lieut. Creswell began his career in that
service as mate of the Investigator, Capt. Bird, then going
out in search of Sir J. Franklin, being one of the ships of
Sir J. C. Ross's expedition. The Investigator returnedfrom
that unsuccessful search in Nov., 1849. Lieut. Cresswell,
hearing that an expedition was likely to be fitted old to
search for Sir John Franklin from the Behring's Straits
side of America, again volunteered, and was appointed
second lieutenant of his old ship the Investigator. The
discoveries, dangers, and sufferings of that eventful voyage
sire too fresh in the public mind to be repeated here. Gen-
tlemen, I believe it unnecessary for me to say more about
the principal features in- the life of the gentleman before
you. As with our Norfolk hero, the earliest years of his
life were spent in arduous services. Gentlemen, we Nor-
folk men boast our Nelson, our Hoste, our Bloye. May
our gallant townsman tread in their footsteps; and if the
country should require again our gallant townsman'sassist-
ance, may he add another bright link to the long chain of
Norfolk heroes. Gentlemen, I will now propose to you
the health of Lieut. Gurney Cresswell. (Loud cheers.)
Lieut. CRESSWELL, on rising, was greeted with a con-
tinuous storm of cheering. He said—Gentlemen, I beg to
return thanks for the high honour which has been con-