The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-25 00:00:00

BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.

Males
Females..

Total .

705
703

1,403

THE ARCTIC EXPLORERS.

TESTIMONIAL TO DR. ARMSTRONG, OF THE
INVESTIGATOR.

Yesterday the crews of the Investigator, Resolute,
Assistance, Intrepid, and Pioneer were paid off at Wool-
wich. The men were upwards of 200 i■ number. Their
appearance did not give the slightest indication of the
hardships and privations which many of them are known
to have endured for several months in the Arctic Re-
gions. Oa the contrary, they seemed much, more like
men fitted to take part in a new enterprise than persons
who had just returned from one of the most perilous
and vexatious expeditions that man could be exposed to.
The amount. of money distributed amongst the crews
was between 20,0001. and 30,0001. The wages of the
Investigator's crew, after five years' service, averaged
about 150/. per man. The crews of the ether ships of
course received less, their period of service averaging
only about 2i years. Notwithstanding the temptations
which the possession of such a considerable sum of money
must have offered, it is highly creditable to the moral
discipline of the crews that scarcely a case of drunken-
ness occurred during the day.
Advantage was taken of the occasion to present Dr.
Armstreng, the surgeon of the Investigator, with a gold
chronometer and appendages, which the petty officers,
seamen, and marines. determined to purchase for him
previous to quitting the ship, as a mark of their high
estimation for his services as medical officer during the
voyage. The gift, which had a representation of the
Investigator imbedded ilithe ice chased on one side, and
on the other an appropriate inscription acknowledging
Dr. Armstrong's professional skill and uniform kindness
to the crew. It was accompanied by the following ad-
dress, which was read by Mr. JA3rze Isisuitox in the
Ship Hotel :

" We, the undersigned petty officers, seamen, and
marines late of her Majesty's ship Investigator, cannot
part after so lengthened a service in the Arctic regions,
without having the gratification of expressing to you, sir,
in a body, and, as publicly as possible, the unqualified
respect and admiration which we all entertain of the
manner in which you have always acted towards us,
under circumstances of the most trying nature.
"There are few, if any of us, who have not at some
time experienced your kindness at the sick-bed ; 110E0
who have, under Providence, to thank your skill and
attention for their lives ; but above all your constant
assiduity and unwearied zeal, to those departed ship-
mates, whom it has pleased the Almighty to take from
us, can never be forgotten.
"Those who have never experienced, like ourselves,
so lengthened a period of hunger, monotony, and total
deprivation of all communication with the world, can
forma no idea of the consolation your untiring goodness
has afforded ; more than half the horrors of sickness,
under such circumstances, have thus been spared us, for
which alone you are more than entitled to our affection
and esteem, and we do assure yen such feelings will ever
remain freshl in our hearts ; but we wish you also, sir,
to retain a remembrance of your humble but grateful
admirers, and that, when-(as will soon be the case) we
are widely separated, you sometimes think of those with
where you hare passed se many years, not unprOfitably.
We, therefore, in the name of the ship's company
(who have affixed their signatures), beg your acceptance
of this little testimonial, hoping that you may be spared
to retain it many years in your possession, and wear it
fur our sakes.

" In wishing you good bye, sir, wo all unite in the
fervent hope that God may bless you.
" James Williams, C.H., Michael Flynn, Gr. Me.,
Robert Tiffany, C. M. Top, Cornelius Hullott, C. Cox,
H. Stone, armourer ; Samuel Relf, Samuel Mackenzie,
James Evans, Joseph Facey, Joha Ramsay, Charles
Steel, Henry H. Sugdon, Henry May, George Browa,
Ellis Griffiths, David Harris, Henry Gauen, T. Toy,
James Nelson, Isaac Stubberfield, Frederic Taylor, Jas.
M'Donald, G. Luke Milner, Samuel Bounsall, John
Wilcox, John Keefe, Mark Griffiths, William Batten,
Thomas Sparrow Carmichael, George Gibbs, Peter
Thompson, William Carroll, William Whitfield, Edward
Fawcett, George 011ey, H. Bluff, Richard Ross, John
Calder, Cr. Serjeant John Woon, G. Parfitt, T. Ban-
croft, Elias Bow, Thomas King, James Saunders, J. B.
Farquharson."

Dr. ARMSTRONG, in reply, said :—I feel deeply
touched by the very flattering address which you have
just now read, and the presentation of the valuable gift
by which it is accompanied. That during our long and
trying service together, you should consider me in any
degree worthy of being thus so highly honoured, is to
me, I assure you, most truly gratifying. Until a few
days ago T was not aware of your intention, nor had I
the slightest idea that such an honour awaited me, when
an earnest request was made that I would allow this
act of yours to become public, to which I have felt
bound to accede. (" You deserve it.") I can lay claim
to no higher merit than an anxious desire which I ever
felt ta be my duty, but that, even under our worst cir-
cumstances, was !trade to me a comparatively easy task
by the bravest and the best ship's company that ever
left England. The world knows something of what
you have done, but nothing of what you have suffered.
(" That's true, sir.") I have witnessed your courage
and your daring when destruction so often appeared
inevitable. I have seen you in health, and I know you
in sickness, and but too truly have I known the hunger
which you so long felt, when it lay not in my power
to allay it. Then it was that you displayed all the
higher qualities of our nature by the heroic patience
and fortitude with which you bore your privations and
suffering, and manifested in such a remarkable degree
that discipline and noble conduct which proved you to
be true British sailors. These are deeds worthy to rival
any recorded in the brighest page of the history of our
navy, and certain do I feel that when they are fully
and truthfully kno.wn, you will receive not only the gra-'
titude but the admiration of your country, and well may
that country be proud of such defenders. The loss of
our departed shipmates we must always deplore ; they
fell from the effects of what we all more or less
suffered from, and that, too, at a , time when the
dark and dreary days of trial and adversity had
passed, and when relief had so providentially reached
us. Your valuable gift is one of which any man
may be proud, and believe me I am, hut more par-
ticularly coming from such a body of men as the petty
officers, seamen, and marines of the Investigator have
proved themselves to be. I shall always wear it, as
you wish me, although it is unnecessary to possess
aught to remind me that I once served with you, and
well may I be justly proud of such a grateful offering
from such generous hearts. You will not only now ac-
cept my sincere thanks for being considered to have in
any degree merited this handsome proof of your grati-
tude, but be assured that I shall ever remain sensible of
the respectful. kindness and attention which I have al-
ways received from you throughout our long and event-
ful commission. Our voyage, unparalleled as it is, has
not, I hope with you, been (at least in one respect)
unprofitable, but made us all wiser and better men, and
that in our future lives and conduct, we shall remember
how often and miraculously Providence protected us, and
from that we have not been unworthy of His mercy and
guo leers. It only remains for me to say farewell ; we
may never meet again, but from my heart believe, me
that you carry with you my best and warmest wishes
that every comfort and happiness may be yours.
(Cheers.)
The chronometer and chain having been presentedlo
Dr. Armstrong,. •
Mr, NELsolt turned round to Lieutenant Bedford

Pim, who was present as the friend of Dr. Armstrong,
and said, " Were it not for you; sir, many of us now
present would never have seen Old England again. All
of us look upon you as our deliverer, and none of us
will forget the joy we felt when you reached us." (Hear,
hear.)

Lieutenant Pim', in reply, said—l thank you, my
lads. I shall never forget our meeting. I congratu-
late you most heartily upon your escape from a fate
similar to that of poor Sir John Franklin. I hope you
will now enjoy yourselves to your hearts' content ; and
next sizing I dare say we shall meet again under the
walls of Cronetadt, or perhaps in St. Petersburg itself.
(Cheers.)
The most hearty and warm feeling was reciprocated
between Dr. Armstrong and the men on the occasion ;
and he and Lieutenant Pim bid them an affectionate
farewell on retiring.

NAVAL AND MILITARY' INTELLIGENCE.

The workmen are on the Wrangler night and day, to
get her ready for the Black Sea.
The Leopard has been brought into the steam-basin,
Portsmouth, and is to be placed in No. 7 dock for re-
pair.
The Geyser had her steam up yesterday for the trial
oilier machinery in the factory basin, Portsmouth ; all
worked remarkably well and highly satisfactorily. She
is now hauled off to the opposite wharf to be completed
in her equipment for commission.

The I'lacenix screw steam-sloop, Captain Edward A.
Inglefield, at Woolwich, is ordered to be paid off today.
Commander Henry J. Wellington (1842) has been
appointed to the Coast Guard.
Clerk Nathaniel G. Simmons (1853) to the Curacaa,
30, screw steam-frigate, at Portsmouth ; and
Clerk's Assistant Charles G. Janes, to the Eurydice,
26, M Portsmouth.

IVIr. Kennedy, boatswain of the Investigator discovery
ship, has been promoted from the third to the second
class, for service in the Arctic regions.
Mr. Ford, carpenter of the Investigator, has also
been promoted from the second to the first class, for
similar service.

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH.
The Queen of the South will arrive at Portsmouth by
the next tide, to embark 800 men for the army in the
Crimea ; 300 of these are from the three regiments of
Foot Guards (100 each), to complete vacancies. The
other 500 are from the various depots and regiments be-
longing to the regiments in the East.

ARRIVAL OF THE 66TH FROM QUEBEC.
The two hired transports William and Flora arrived
at Spithead on Monday evening from Quebec, with the
66th Regiment, in charge of Sir William Gordon, Bart.,
Lieutenant-Colonel, and Lieutenant-Colonel Grubbs.
The ships sailed in company from Quebec on the 30th of
September, and on the 11th of October encountered a
severe gale. The officers and men are all in robust
health, and no accident of any kind has occurred to
either during the voyage.

The reniainaof the late Admiral Sir B. Martin are to
leave Portsmouth to-day, t• be conveyed by railway to
Kensal-green Cemetery, where they are to rest.
The consmauder-in-chief, Vice Admiral Sir Thomas
Cochrane, went out in the Vivid to-day and inspected
the Powerful, 54, Captain Massie. •

FALmouTiz, Oct. 24.—The Colossus, 80, screw steamer,
anchored three miles off Pendennis on Monday after-
noon. She commenced setting up rigging, and fixed
her funnel. She will sail immediately for the West

An official application has been made to the Admi-
ralty for permission that the Russian and Finnish •ffi-
cera who left Sheerness on parole for Lewes may be per-
mitted leave on parole to visit London ; and further,
that the younkers (as cadets) may also be permitted to
enjoy the same privilege. A satisfactory answer has
been receiviid, granting the boon asked for by them.
Several of the officers and a great number of the younkers
attended Divine service at the dockyard chapel, Sheer-
n:2,B3, every Sunday while they were there, when the
weather permitted them to be sent on shore from the
Devonshire and Benbow.