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

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 5, 185 3.

TESTIMONIAL TO THE LATE

whole life of Bellot, than that it should be applied to

succour his numerous sisters and brothets.-

(Cheer*.)

herself is the friend of England, and during the last four
months,. in the interests .pf peace, and with the earnest
desire to preserve the tranquility of the world, the fleets
of France and England have been lying side by side ;
and, from the admiral on deck to the lowest boy—the
cabinboy—below, not one single instance has arisen of
any quarrel partaking the character of a national quar-
rel. (Cheers.) Friendship and cordiality have marked
both services ; and I regard this circumstance as a happy
omen of that peace which we so earnestly desire—that
peace which I regard as the chief source of the prosperity
of nations and the great mainspring of the progressive
improvement and happiness of mankind. The next trait
in the life of Lieut. Bellot has been alluded to by our
chairman,—his distinguished and disinterested services
in aid of the noble efforts of Lady Franklin, in the ear-
nest h•pe that, by her own personal, though humble
means, some trace might be found of the existience—the
prolonged existence--of her galland and distinguished
husband. It was the glory of Lieut. Bellot, twice, I
think, to assist Mr. Kennedy gratuitously in those ex-
peditions ; and his cool determination, combined with
judicious daring, was really the mainspring of the hon-
ourable search. (Cheers.) I am well informed that at
the close of the expedition, when those with whom he had
been associated parted from him, it was the unanimous
feeling of the gallant English sailors who had served
together with him that if Lieutenant Bellot were the
commander of such an expedition there was not one of
them who would not cheerfully volunteer to serve under
his command. (Loud cheers.) I haie alluded to the
transient circumstance of my official position, which,
perhaps, renders it not inopportune that I should ap-
pear here to-day, but lam about to narrate a circum-
stance which makes it a peculiar duty on my part to
bear testimony to the conduct and merits of Lieutenant
Bellot. When, last year, it was determined to send out
a small expedition under the command of that distin-
guished officer, no longer commander, but Captain
Inglefield—(Loud cheers),—the steamer selected was
not a large one, and the volunteers—both officers and
men—who crowded to serve under Captain Inglefield
were numerous. The complement was at once filled up,
and there was a difficulty with reference to any spare
accommodation. Lieutenant Bellot proposed to be ad-
mitted as a volunteer. The application was made to
me in the first instance by himself. I resisted it. I
was afraid, considering the crowded state of the vessel,
and Lieutenant Bellot's rank in the French navy, that
accommodation such as our hospitality would wish to
afford could not be provided, and that inconvenience—
and with inconvenience discontent—might probably be
generated in the ship. Lieutenant Bellot pressed his
application notwithstanding my refusal in the first
instance. He even sought to bring to bear upon
me official influence. Others seek favours in the
shape of official influence, but the favour Lieutenant
Bellot sought was only that he might be allowed
again to enter a British ship, to join British
comrades, and to encounter the greatest dangers
without any reward, nothing but honest fame being
his object. (Cheers.) He actually persuaded the
French Ambassador, almost as a national favour, to ask
that he might be permitted to go. (Hear, and cheers.)
After such an application I laid the case before Captain
Inglefield, who, along with his officers, said, " By all
means let him come as our comrade ; we shall rejoice in
his society." (Cheers.) Lieutenant Bellot said, "Give
me but a plank to lie upon, and a corner in which to
put my clothes ; I ask no more." Captain Inglefield
and his officers said, " Let us have him as our asso-
ciate ;" and I believe they abridged in some measure
their own accommodation in consequence, and that—
except the cabin of Captain Inglefield—Lieut. Bellot
had the best accommodation in the ship. (Hear, hear.)
Now, what was the conduct of Lieutenant Bellot under
such circumstances ? What are the real characteristics
of a distinguished naval officer ? I should sum them up
thus—assiduity in the discharge of his duties ; gallantry
in the hour of danger ; and obedience under command.
What does Captain Inglefield report of Lieut. Ballot
under all these heads ? With respect to assiduity,
Captain Inglefield says that Lieutenant Bellot was an
example to all on board the Phoenix. Late and early
he was at his duty. The dip of the needle occupied his
attention by day ; the night he devoted to scientific ob-
servations. Such was his example to the British officers
and sailors. With respect to his gallantry, there never
was an occasion when danger was to be braved, or when
difficulties were to be confronted, on which he was not a
volunteer. (Loud cheers.) His life was lost in services
of danger for which he had volunteered—(bear, hear)—
and before I sit down I shall have shortly to relate to
you the circumstances of that melancholy occurrence.
Now, however, I may give_ you a (specimen of Lieute-
nantßellot's conduct with regard to obedience to com-
mand. Captain Inglefield had no direct control over
him, as he was a volunteer, but such was the nicety of
Lieutenant Bellot's feelings that Captain Inglefield
assures me there was no officer on board so ready to run
before command, and to anticipate what he thought
might be desired from him if he had been a subordinate
officer. You are aware that, in that northern region,
the dog of the Esquimaux is the companion of the native
in his expeditions, that it is an animal of peculiar saga-
city, and is remarkable for the assistance it affords in
those dangerous regions. Some of the officers of the
Phceeix, naturally wishing to bring back some living
trophy of the dangers they had braved, were anxious to
bring to England dogs of this description, and I think 8
dogs had been taken on board with this object. Captain
Inglefield . was forced to forbid more being taken on
board. It transpired that Lieutenant Bellot, wishing to
have some little trophy of his services, was desirous of
having a dog of this description. When Captain Ingle-
field heard of this circumstance he called Lieutenant
Bellot into his cabin, and told him that any such pro-
hibition did not apply to him, and that he must not
consider the order as applying in his case. Yet, such
was the nicety of Lieutenant Bellot's feelings, that
although his wish upon the subject had been strong he
obeyed the order to the letter—(hear)—and no animal
faithful to him was ever brought home. It is now, I
think, my duty to describe the concluding scene of this
gallant officer's life. Captain Inglefield had left the
ship himself, determined to brave the greatest danger
in endeavouring to open a communication with Sir
E. Belcher, by a journey over the ice on foot.
Captain Pullen, returning in Captain Inglefield's
absence, was anxious to make a further communication
to him. It was a dangerous expedition. Captain
Inglefield's brave example it was not easy to follow
in that trackless region, and Lieut. Bellot volunteered
for the service. His ofer was accepted, and he left the
ship with four British sailors, a sledge, and a slight
india rubber canoe. Very shortly after quitting the
ship that fatal storm of the 18th of August arose, which
destroyed the Breadalbane, the consort-ship of the
Phoenix, the ice suddenly closing upon them in a gale of
wind such as is seldom experienced in the Arctic regions.
The Breadalbane was crushed in a moment. The
Phoenix was in imminent danger. Her deck bulged,
and her main timbers were strained to an extent which
endangered her floating. That frightful storm, in which
one ship was lost and another all but lost, Lieut. Bellot
and his four followers had to encounter. The first effect
of the gale was to sever the ice. Lieut. Bellot, when
he saw the floe on which he was drifting from the shore,
hastened instantly to send two of the four men in the
small canoe to the mainland. They succeeded in effect-
ing a landing, but a return became impossible. The
floe drifted rapidly away, and the danger of the other
two men anti of this gallant French officer became im-
minent and apparent. Observe, that Lieut. Bellot was
not the first to go himself in the canoe to dry land ;
and, when be observed the full extent of the danger,
when hope was almost extinguished, when he was left
alone with the two Englishmen, he expressed the i
joy he felt that the other two men were safe, and that he
was with the two English sailors who were exposed to
such imminent danger. (Hear.) The snow descending
rapidly, he taught them the way to shelter themselves by
accumulating it somewhat in the shape of a hut. The
sailors remained hutted, and he went twice to make his
observations to ascertain which way the floe was drift-
ing. A third time he went forth, and he returned no
more. I should tell you that his exhortations to these
two men have been narrated to British officers and to
British seamen. He reminded them of their duty—
that duty common to Frenchmen and to Englishmen in
the extremh,y of distress—not to be disheartened ; and,
above all, he reminded them to look to that quarter from
which, in the last extremity, assistance can alone be
hoped. He bade them to remember that overruling
Providence which had saved them in the midst of so
many and so great dangers. It was the will of that Pro-
vidence that he should not survive. It was the mercy
of that Providence that the two men who were his com-
panions should, in the course of 48 hours, be drifted
almost to the place where they had left their comrades,
and they have survived to tell the story. Now, ladies
and gentlemen, an appeal has been made to your gene-
rosity on this occasion, but yours will not be the first
manifestation of that feeling. Captain Inglefield, when
he paid off the Phoenix the other day, notified to the
gallant companions of Lieutenant Bellot that some oppor-
tunity would be afforded of marking English feeling
and sympathy for his daring and gallantry. What was
the conduct of these men ? These poor common
sailors, who, after a six months voyage, had yet some
trifling- balance due to them, after the remittances
made to their wives and children, when it was doubt-
ful whether they might ever meet again, rushed for-
ward with their offerings, and it was difficult for Capt.
Inglefield to restrain them. Gold and silver were both
tendered. Captain Inglefield said, "It is merely a sim-
ple tribute of respect that I ask from you. I will not
take so much." It is out of your abundance that I now
ask you to contribute to this object, I said I would not
long detain you, but will you permit me to make another
observation ? lam addressing a Christian assembly. I
have told you what were Lieutenant Bellot's feelings and
what were his exhortations in the moment of extreme
danger. His noble spirit in these aspirations was lifted
at once from earth to Heaven. It is a question now
whether you will erect some frail memorial to his me-
mory. You may write it in brass, you may inscribe it
in granite, but it will pass away. There is, however,
that which survives monuments—an honourable fame for
a duty faithfully performed; the honourable remembrance
of gallant deeds. It was a saying of antiquity, and
it was truly said, that the whole earth is the tomb
of illustrious men. It matters not whether their
bones whiten the shore under the Equator, or whe-
ther their remains are entombed in the eternalice
of the Arctic regions. But, I would say to this Ful.Chris-
tian audience, let us look while there is
Fol-
lowing the advice of Lieutenant Bellot, letv mlte tilisinelgifstueouuer
m
hearts, let us raise our thoughts frotl:isu
look to those
gsr
of disappointment and of sorrow, le
regions where we hope Lieuteridaivnitueßsehllaodt issanidowwiatht reimst.,
and where, as one of our old
pressive truth, " Eternity isyt,haeumdeGasoudreis, ftehleiepitoyrtiisouthoef
state, angels are the company,
Tright hon. baronet then
the blessed."
(Applause.) The
That this meeting,
moved the following
composed of varivolulciasses of Englishmen being anxious
to mark their deep sense of t.he noble conduct of Lieut.
Bellot, of the French Imperial Navy, who was, unhap.

LIEUTENANT BELLOT.

Other letters had been forwarded by Mr. Close, the Bii-
tish Consul for the Department of the Charente, all ex-
pressing the feeling that it would be very desirable to
succour the bereaved family. (Hear, hear.) He (the
chairman) might, however, explain that when those let-
ters were written, more than a fortnight ago, the French
and English public were not acquainted with the liberal
endowment given by the Emperor of the French to the
family of Lieut. Bellot from his privy purse. (Cheers.)
Neither were they acquainted with a fact of which he
(the chairman) had only been informed to day—namely,
that the public functionaries of France, the Minister of
Marine and others, had undertaken the education of a
younger brother of M. Bellot. (Hear, Hear.) He
(the chairman) had been convinced that France, who
always cared for her bravest sons, would not neglect
the family of one who had so distinguished himself as
Lieutenant Bellot ; and it was in the full confidence
that provision would be made for them that he had
participated in the feeling that a monument should be
erected in this country, and that if there was a sur-
plus, after defraying the cost of such monument,
the French people would take it well—or certainly
would not take it ill—if the generous feeling of the Eng-
lish nation should offer, in addition to the munifi-
cence of the Emperor, some other endowment for the
mother and sisters, at all events of Lieutenant Bellot.

Yesterday a public meeting was held at Willis's Rooms,
King-street, St. James's, to take measures to do honour
to the memory of the late Lieutenant Bellot, of the
French navy, the circumstances of whose melancholy
death, while engaged as a volunteer in the Arctic expe-
dition, under the command of Captain Inglefield,
have been fully narrated in the despatches to the Admi-
ralty, with reference to the discovery of the north-west
passage, which have recently been published. The room
was crowded almost to inconvenience, and among the
gentlemen present—many of whom were connected with
the naval and military services—we observed the First
Lord of the Admiralty (Sir J. Graham), Sir Edward

Parry, Captain Inglefield, Colonel E. Sabine, Colonel
Niel Campbell, Colonel Boyle, M.P., Mr. J. Wyld,
Captain Fitzroy, RN., Captain Trotter, RN., Captain
W. A. B. Hamilton, Mr. H. Robertson, Mr. J. Brown,
Mr. J. Barrow, Sir B. Outram, C. 8., Dr. Forbes Win-
slow, Professor Wheatstone, Sir R. Inglis, Rev. Mr.

Arrowsmith, &c.
The chair was taken, soon after two o'clock, by
Sir R. MURCHISON, who, having expressed the inte-
rest which, for a period of 30 years, he had taken in the
various expeditions that had been despatched to the
Arctic regions to prosecute geographical researches, said
that, having enjoyed the acquaintance of many of the
distinguished men who had endeavoured to discover
some traces of Sir John Franklin, there was no one

(Cheers.) He (the chairman) might observe that va,
rious towns in France sought for the distinction of
having the monument to Lieutenant Bellot. A. rnost

eloquent appeal has been made by the inhabitants of
Calais, who claimed that any monument erected in
France to the memory of Lieutenant Bellot should be
erected in some prominent position in that town, where,
they said, it would be seen by a greater number of Eng-
lishmen and Frenchmen than if it were placed else-
where. The committee, having taken the letters they
had received on the subject into their consideration,
and having consulted the leading men in the country,
had agreed to the following report :
" In the performance of their duties, and in preparing
the resolutions to be submitted to the general meet-
ing, the committee have been guided by the desire to
carry out the wishes of the British public in such a
manner that the French nation may perceive that, in
honouring the memory of Lieutenant Bellot, the Eng-
lish have the strongest desire to do full justice to those
national feelings which are known to exist in his
native land. Those feelings have prompted the Em-
peror of the French to grant, from his private purse,
to the family of the deceased an annuity of 2,0001.—
an act which is in accordance with the great interest
his Majesty has taken in Arctic researches, and which,
both personally and by the medium of the 'Empress,
he has testified in the most gracious manner to Lady
Franklin.

among them for whom he felt a deeper regard than the
ingenious and modest but skilful and brave Lieutenant
Bellot. (Hear, hear.) That excellent young man had
been taken away from them at an early age, but his
career, though brief, might really be termed brilliant.
Educated, to the honour of his country—for his family was
not rich—in a great measure by the town of Rochefort,
he very soon distinguished himself in the naval service of
France. While serving under the French flag, he co-ope-
rated with the British force in very brilliant operations
in the Rio de la Plata. He was afterwards engaged on
the coast of Madagascar, where he also co-operated with
a British force in cutting out a slaver, and relieving from
slavery and from chains a number of unfortunate human
beings. Returning to his country, and aspiring to ap-
ply, in the only manner in which, it could be applied in
these peaceful times, that science which he possessed
and those talents with which he was endowed, and ad-
miring with sincerity the character of Sir John Frank-
lin, Lieutenant Bellot wrote to Lady Franklin, offering
to go out and to serve in a private ship, if he could ob-
tain the permission of his Government, with a view of
discovering some traces of Sir John. In 1851 Lieuten-
ant Bellot accordingly proceeded in the ship sent out
by Lady Franklin and commanded by Mr. Kennedy.
The nature of Lieutenant Bellot's discoveries during that
period was well known to all geographers, and was
shown by an excellent map prepared by Mr. Arrow-
smith. The occasion upon which Lieut. Bellot lost his
life was not the first upon which he had drifted away,
in floes of ice, for when he accompanied Mr. Ken-
nedy in the Prince Albert the ship was drifted away
while the commander and officers were on shore, and
Lieutenant Bellot took the command of the ship under
these trying circumstances. The ship was drifted for
a very considerable distanca to the southward from
Port Leopold, and this young officer afterwards steered
to Batty Bay, on the west side of North Somerset,
and, returning on foot, regained his companions very
far to the north, and brough them back to the ship,
which passed, the winter safely in Batty Bay. He then
accompanied his gallant commander in an excursion on
foot. He was of small stature, but he dragged his own
sledge, and accomplished a most difficult and arduous
journey of at least 1,100 miles over the ice, making in
his way a great geographical discovery, to which the
name of Lieutenant Bellot had been given, and would
remain for ever on the map of the world. (Hear, hear.)
Bellot's Strait was attached to that narrow arm of the

" When, indeed, some of their countrymen, wishing
to avoid display, and looking only to the succour of the
bereaved family, suggested that the chief amount of our
subscriptions should be applied to the support of the
relatives of M. Bellot, the committee entertained the
conviction that France, solicitous as she has always
been for the welfare of her bravest sons, would never be
behindhand in such a cause. Nay, more, it is now be-
lieved that it is the intention of the French Government
to erect a monument at Rochefort to the memory of
their deceased officer.

" The committee would, therefore, beg to impress
upon the meeting that the circumstances have materially
changed since the first generous impulse suggested to
some of their countrymen that the monument which the
English proposed to erect should be placed at Roche-
fort.

"They further request the meeting to recollect that
both the letter of the French Minister of Marine, which
has been published in the public journals, and that of
the Mayor of Rochefort, -which has been communicated
by the Earl of Clarendon, were written in ignorance of
the Emperor's liberality, and under the supposition that
an English monument at Rochefort had been decided
upon, though that subject had then undergone no public
or general consideration.
" Whatever may be the monument, and wherever it
may be placed, the committee are of opinion that it must
stand forth distinctly as the tribute of England—(hear)
—to the devotion and exploits of the gallant French-
man. (Cheers.) And, as two monuments could not be
with propriety erected in the same town, it became very
difficult to determine what other place in France except
Rochefort could be fixed upon ; for, while many persons
might naturally wish to see it in Paris, the city which
gave birth to M. Bellot, an eloquent appeal was sent
from Calais, urging that that ancient port, through
which so many French and English were continually
passing, ought to be preferred to any other town, even
to Rochefort. •
" Under these circumstances, and being assured ;that
the French Government will cordially approve their de-
cision, the committee have come to the conclusion that
Englishmen wishing to honour in the most emphatic
manner the memory of one who was so esteemed and
beloved among them as Lieutenant Bellot should pay to
him the same respect as to their own illustrious dead.
" In this case, if it be decided that a cenotaph, co-
.

sea which separated the land of Somerset from Boothia
Felix, the whole of that land having been previously
supposed to form one continent. Returning to his native
country, his first object was to seek employment under
his own Government, and to induce them to send out
a separate expedition in search of the gallant Franklin.
In the meantime expeditions, private and public, were
projected in this country, and ho (the chairman) might
here mention a most beautiful incident in the life of this
ingenuous and charming youth. When Lady Franklin
again fitted out a vessel under the same commander,
the gallant Kennedy. Lieutenant Bellot volunteered to
serve under Mr. Kennedy a second time. He (the
chairman) might state, to the honour of a British. sea-
man, that Mr. Kennedy felt so much the superiority of
Lieutenant Bellot, that.he said for his part, he would
be quite satisfied to serve under Lieutenant Bellot.
(Loud cheers.) Just at that period, however, the ex 4
pedition of Captain Inglefield was resolved upon by the
Admiralty, and, not being able at that time to obtain an
independent command, Lieutenant Bellot procured from
his Government permission to accompany, as a volunteer,
the expedition of Captain Inglefield to Wellington
Straits, hoping thereby that he might achieve something
so decisive, that when he returned to France he would
be able to impress upon the French Government the
great advantage of sending out an expedition much
further to the north than any which had yet been at-
tempted. The daring mind of Bellot was equal to the
daring and indomitable courage of Franklin, and he
wished ardently to be furnished with a screw-steamer,
by which he might navigate narrows and straits un-
known to former seamen, and pass far to the north of

lumn, or monument be placed on the banks of the
Thames, at or near the Royal Hospital at Greenwich,
the committee feel assured that every Frenchman' who
may pass by on the river, or visit our great naval, hos-
pital, would see that we had paid to our lamented friend
the very highest compliment in our power, and that our
tribute was a pledge, to be for ever before us, that we.
desired to perpetuate that mutual goodwill which so
happily subsists between the two nations. (Cheers.)
" Lastly, the committee beg to express a hope that
no one will abstain from subscribing under the idea
that more money will be collected than can be appro-
priately disposed of, since any surplus will be judiciously
distributed among the family of the deceased—thus
offering to the bereaved relatives a substantial token of
English regard, as an addition to the pension of the
French Emperor."
(Hear and cheers.) There was another document which
he must beg to read to the meeting—an extract from a
dispatch addressed by M. Drouyn de Lhuys to his Ex-
cellency the Count de Walewski, the French Ambassa-
dor in London—and he would not weaken the force of
the original by translating it
"Paris, le 27 Octobre, 1853.
" Monsieur le Comte,—J'ai rep la depeche que vous
m'avez fait l'honneur de m'addresser relativement A l'in-
teret qu'inspire en Angleterre la perte si regrettable du
Lieutenant Bellot. Le Gouvernment de sa Majest4

those land-locked masses of ice which had hitherto im

peded the navigation of our most adventurous disco-
verers. He (the chairman) merely adverted to this
circumstance to show the great and noble aspirations by
which M. Bellot was animated. That gallant officer

had, however, been swept from a hummock of ice, and
had met a sailor's grave. Other gentlemen would
address the meeting, who could speak with much
more effect than himself upon this point, and he
(the chairman) would, therefore, call their attention to
the sympathy which the melancholy fate of Lieu-
tenant Bellot had excited in the public mind of England.
Immediately after the announcement of this meeting ap-
peared, he received a communication from Lord John
Russell (who of his own accord, had formerly come
forwarded and had generously granted 5001. to enable
Lieut. Pim to travel over Siberia in search of Sir John
Franklin) expressed his approval of its objects. Lord
J. Russell requested him to put down his name for any
sum he (the chairman) thought proper, to mark his sense
of the devotion and courage of the gallant Lieut. Bellot.
The First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir J. Graham (cheers),
wrote to him saying, "This meritorious officer deserves
every tribute of respect, and I have the greatest pleasure
in having my name placed upon the committee."
(Cheers.) The Earl of Clarendon, the Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, without any solicitation, wrote to
him (the chairman) begging him to make any use he
chose of his name, and, at the same time, communicated
to him some important documents. (Cheers.) The fol-
lowing was the letter which he (the chairman) received
from the Foreign-office :

Imp4riale est tres sensible aux marques si nombreuses
de sympathie que rencontre la memoire de ce jeune
officier chez une nation amie, si bon juge d'ailleurs de
la bravoure dans le devoir. (Hear, hear.) Nous at-
tachons trop de prix a ces manifestations pour ne pas
tenir ce qu'elles conservent leur caractere individuel et
national—(hear, bear)—et nous concevons trop bien les
sentiments que vows a exprimes h ce sujet Sir Roderik
Murchison, pour n'y point applaudir, en nous r4servant
de notre cote de donner le meme caractere aux mesures
que nous croirons dev9ir prendre pour honorer cony&
na,blement le nom du Lieutenant Bellot."

(" Hear," and cheers.) Having endeavoured to perform,
though very imperfectly, his duties as chaiman, ho left
it to others, possessed of eloquence to which he could
lay no claim, to delineate the character and the last
affecting catastrophe which befel their lamented friend ;
and, among those who would come forward, they would
have before them several of those true British worthies
who have earned for themselves imperishable names for
the calm courage with which they had confronted the
perils of Arctic research. In concluding, he rejoiced,
in common, he was sure, with all who were present,
that the first resolution on this soul-stirring occasion
would be moved by the chief of that British Admiralty
which had recorded in such affectionate terms its admi-
ration of poor Bellot—(cheers)—and that the motion
would be supported by the veteran and distinguished
Arctic explorer who had penetrated further northwards
than any of his contemporaries—(cheers)—and whose
words, :as littered at a recent public meeting, were
doubtless impressed upon the minds of all those who
knew how to honour the firm devotion in the hour of
danger exhibited by the young Frenchman, who, with
nothing but humanity pressing on his heart, went forth
in two British expeditions in the search after their
absent hero. (Cheers.) The chairman concluded by
calling upon Sir J. Graham to move the first reso-
lution.

"Foreign-office, Oct. 19, 1853.
" Sir,—lt having come to Lord Clarenol on's knowledge,
through the medium of the public journals, that you have
consented to preside at a public meeting to be called toge-
ther for the purpose of expressing the deep regret felt by
all classes in this country at the untimely death of Lieut.
Bellot, of the French navy, his lordship desires me to en-
close to you the accompanying copy of a letter which has
been addressed by the Mayor of Rochefort, the native
town of Lieut. Bellot, to Mr. Close, her. Majesty's Consul
for the department of the Charente.
" I am also directed to send you copies of a letter, and
of its enclosures, reporting the circumstances attending
Lieut. Bellot's death ; and I am to state to you that you
are at liberty to make such use of these documents as to
you may seem fit.
" I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,
"-H. U. ADDINGTON.

" To Sir Roderick J. Murchison, &c."
It was unnecessary that he (the chairman) should read
the enclosures describing the circumstances of Lieut. Bel-
lot's death, as the despatches had already appeared in
the public journals. Sir R. Murchison then stated that
he had received a letter from the Earl of Ellesmere, why
regretted that from ill-health and unavoidable absence
in the country he was prevented from taking any part in
the proceedings, and expressed his gratification at the
amicable feeling likely to be produced between the two
countries by the present manifestation of regard for the
memory of a gallant and distinguished officer. Sir E.
Parry, writing to Mr. Barrow—the worthy son of a dis-
tinguished father who had long taken a lead in Arctic
researches—said, "I consider it will be a lasting dis-
grace to us as Englishmen if we do not as once recognise
Lieutenant Bellot's services and his worth." The Earl
of Aberdeen said, "Most willingly and with the great-
est pleasure, will I associate with those who form the
committee for this object, in which from the first I have
felt a very deep interest." Otherletters, approving the
objects of the meeting, had been received from the Earl
of Rosse, the Bishop of London,_ the Lord Mayor of
London, the Lord Mayor elect, Sir T. Brisbane, Sir J.
Pakington, the Bishop of Oxford, 'the Earl of Malmes-
bury, Sir J. Richardson, Sir James Ross, Sir G. Back,
&c. He (the chairman) might say that the expression
of British feeling on this subject was universal, for he
had received assurances of support from all classes.
(Cheers.) He would now refer to the considera4on
which this subject had received in the neighbouring
country of which Lieutenant Bellot was a native. It
was evident, from the public journals, that the French,
people felt—and justly felt—very deep interest in the
conduct of the English people upon this occasion. He
(the chairman) had placed himself in communication with
a distinguished French statesman, with whom he was
personally acquainted, M. Drouyn ce Lhuys, and that
gentleman assured him that whatever they might do to
honour the memory of Lieutenant 13ellot would be con-
sidered well done on the part of the French nation.
(Cheers.) A letter from the Mayor of Rochefort, re-
ferred to in the communication from the Foreign-office,
which he (the chairman) had previously read, was also
handed to him, and he might read same passages from it.
After alluding in a grateful manner to the desire ex-
pressed in one of the Englisk journals (the Morning
Herald) to erect a monumei.t. at Rochefort to the me-
mory of Lieut. Bellot—a project which he entirely ap-
proved—this functionary thus proceeda:—.
"This hearty initiative affects us in a more lively
manner than I can express ; and I beg you in the name
of this town, of which Bellot was one of the dearest sons,
to accept the expression of our deepest gratitude. But
permit me to inform you that the family of Bellot is
poor, and that he was their chief empport. (Hear.)
"If then, a generous offering should be made by the
English people, it could not be letter bestowed, nor
more in conformity with the thoughts and wishes of the

Sir J. GRAHAM then came forward, and was loudly I
cheered. He said,—Ladies and gentlemen, I gladly
obey the call of the chairman, and I rise for the purpose
of moving the first resolution. You have heard in
touching, though in a foreign language, the sentiments
of the French Minister with regard to the distinguished
officer to whose memory we are about to pay a tribute
I, in our native language of simplicity and truth, shall
endeavour to lay before you what I am convinced are
the sentiments of that gallant profession with which, for
a short time, I am officially connected; and, if I mistake
not, the resolution I am about to move embodies the
feelings, not only of this assembly, but of the great
country of which we are so small a portion. (" Hear,"
and cheers.) It will not be necessary for me, after the
elaborate details which the chairman has presented to
this meeting, to go into any long description of the great
scientific exploits of Lieutenant Bellot. The chairman
has told you, and has told you truly, that this, at the
present juncture, is no ordinary occasion. I agree with
Lord Ellesmere in the opinion he expresses, that our
meeting to-day is in the spirit of mutual benevolence
and peace, and I have therefore peculiar pleasure in ap-
pearing before you. (Cheers.) It was a remarkable
circumstance in the life of Lieutenant Bellot that his
services in the early part of his career in the navy of his
own country were constantly associated with the gallant
services of the British navy. You have heard how he
conducted himself in the Rio de la Plata. You have
also heard how, in that great and noble service,—the
suppression of the slave trade on the eastern coast of
Africa, he greatly distinguished himself in the Straits of
Madagascar. There was, however, another period which
is memorable in the life of Lieutenant Bellot, to which
my friend in the chair shortly adverted. Lieutenant
Bellot served in the Pacific at a moment when a pas-
sing cloud of national difference somewhat overhung
the relations between England and France, and it is re-
markable that at that very moment, when, perhaps,
something of jealous, or of angry feeling might have
pervaded the sailors of these two great maritime powers,
Lieutenant Bellot was distinguished in the British navy,
and by the officers with whom he then associated, by the
appellation, of " l'ami des Anglais. (Cheers.) Happily,
all those differences are at an end. Those clouds have
have passed away. It is no distinction for a French
officer to be called the friend of the English, for France

pily, lost in the last Arctic expedition in search of Sir J.
resolve, that their countrymen be invited to
unite with them in promoting a general subscription for
the purpose of erecting a monument to the memory of
that gallant officer, to be placed at an appropriate spot
at or near the Royal Hospital of Greenwich." H. e said
that he entirely approved the general terms in which the
precise locality of the monument was left to the dilcre-
tion of the committee ; but he thought Greenwich or the
neighbourhood would be the fittest place, because it was
at Greenwich that Lieutenant Bellot embarked on
board the Phoenix, and where his friends, both French
and English, bade him their last farewell. (Hear.)
Sir E. PARRY, in seconding the resolution, expressed
the interest with which, as an old Arctic navigator, he
had received the intelligence that the last links of that
enterprise, to which so many of the best years of his
own life had been devoted, had at length been all but
completed by the perseverance, energy, and skill of his
countrymen. (Cheers.) He thought, notwithstanding
the " uncomfortable" character of the ice—if he might
use such a term—(a laugh)—in which the Investigator
was imbedded, that they need not despair of her being
relieved, and he heartily hoped that for Captain M'Clure
might be reserved the crowning triumph of conducting
a British ship through the north-west passage between
the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. (Cheers.) The gallant
officer paid a high tribute to the character of Lieutenant
Bellot, whom he had personally known, and expressed
his conviction that the object of the meeting would re-
ceive the cheerful and hearty support of the people of
this country, who would evince their admiration of
Bellot's virtues, and their sympathy and sorrow for
Bellot's loss. (Hear. hear.)
A person here rose in the body of the room, and put
some questions to the chairman which were utterly irre-
levant to the business of the meeting. He proved to be
a notorious disturber of public assemblies, and was even-
tually removed by the police. The resolution was then
unanimously adopted.
Colonel SABINE moved the next resolution :
"That the surplus of the subscription, after defraying
the cost of the monument, be invested for the benefit of
the members of the family of Lieutenant Bellot."
Which
was seconded by Capt. FITZROY, and adopted.
The third resolution—

"That it be an instruction to the sub-committee to
communicate with the municipal authorities of other
ports of the United Kingdom, and with the naval com-
manders-in-chief, in order to render the subscription
general, and particularly among the seafaring popula-
tion," was proposed by Mr. BARROW, and was seconded
by
Captain INGLEFIELD, who bore testimony to the high
character of Lieutenant Bellot, and to the ability and
attention which he displayed in the discharge of his
duties. He remarked that so anxious was that offi-
cer to carry out his meteorological and magnetic obser-
vations, that he (Captain Inglefield) had frequently been
obliged to warn him to wait until the ship was secured
before he endeavoured to reach the ice. The kindly man-
ners of Lieut. Bellot had endeared him to the Esquimaux,
who evinced the greatest grief when they learnt his un-
happy fate. Capt. Inglefield narrated, with much emo-
tion, some circumstances illustrating the kind disposition
and zealous attention to his duties displayed by M. Bel-
lot, and observed that, although a Roman Catholic, the
young officer invariably attended Divine service during
the expedition, "for," added Captain Inglefield, "he
felt that while we were adoring our God he was adoring
his, and that it mattered little what might be the form
in which the service was performed."
The resolution was agreed to unanimously.
On the motion of Captain W. A. B. HAMILTON,
seconded by Captain OMMANNET, it was resolved—
"That the following gentlemen be a sub-committee to
carry out the objects of this meeting :—Sir Roderick J.
Murchison (chairman), Earl of Aberdeen, Sir J. Graham,
Admiral Beaufort, Colonel Sabine, Captains Fitzroy.
Ommanney, and Inglefield, with the Rev. G. C.
Nicolay and Dr. Norton Shaw, secretaries."
Captain AUSTEN moved and Colonel N. Campbell
seconded a vote of thanks to the public press for tl.eir vo-
luntary support of the Bellot testimonial, and for their
free and liberal insertion of advertisements.
The resolution was adopted.

Sir J. proposed and Sir R. INGLIS seconded
a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was carried by
acclamation, and, the compliment having been acknow-
ledged by Sir R. Murchison, the proceedings terminated.

THE MURDER IN BUCKS-FURTHER

INQUIRY.

The coroner's inquest on the remains of Mary Ann
Sturgeon was resumed at 10 o'clock yesterday morning
at Burnham before Mr. Charsley, coroner for Bucks,
and a jury consisting principally of respectable trades.
men from the village of Burnham, at the Mile House,
on the great Bath road, between 'Salt-hill and Maiden-
head.

The Coroner read over the evidence taken on Wed-
nesday, a summary of which has already appeared in our
columns. The name of the groom, we may state, is
Moses Hatto, not " Attow," as previously spelt. Tt
seems that after Hatto and Bunce (the groom and cow-
man) had gone round the premises they tried the back
door leading into the house and found that it was fastened.
A. broken poker was produced, and identified by a
charwoman named Staymaker as having been whole
when it was taken from Mr. Goodwin's bedroom to the
bedroom where the body was found, by the deceased,
on the afternoon of Tuesday.
The following additional evidence was then taken.
Mr. John Goodwin lye, of Langley-marsh, farmer,
deposed, that he was cousin to Mr. Goodwin, the occu-
pier of the Burnham Abbey farm. At about half-
past 6 on Tuesday evening witness met Mr. Goodwin
outside the house of his (witness's) brother at Langley.
Witness was not with Mr. Goodwin more than
five minutes ; went to his own farm and re-
turned to his brother's house in about an hour. Mr.
Goodwin was in the house, and remained in company
with witness until about a quarter to 11 o'clock, when
they walked together, Mr. Goodwin leading his horse
for a short distance from the house. Mr. Goodwin then
mounted his horse and rode in the direction of the
Burnham Abbey farm. Had never heard Mr. Goodwin
speak of disagreements or misunderstandings between
himself and his servants.

Mr. Edward Peter lye, brother of the last witness,
corroborated his testimony as to the visit of Mr. Good-
win to Langley on Tuesday evening. Mr. Goodwin left
at a quarter to 11 o'clock.
Mr. Ralph Willis Goodwin, being recalled, deposed
that both the north and south doors were on the latch
when he returned home. It was usual for the passage
door to be kept on the latch until the deceased went to
bed. Witness generally entered by the north door.
The door communicating with the kitchen, in which the
groom had taken his supper, was bolted on the house
side. The groom was in his usual dress when witness
came home on Tuesday night. The deceased and the
groom, so far as witness knew, always took their meals
together in the kitchen. Hatto took witness's horse
when he came home. Deceased and groom appeared to
agree very well together ; they seemed to agree most
amicably, Hatto told witness some time ago that de-
ceased wanted to borrow 11. of him, and that he (Hatto)
had hesitated to do so,' because he did not know whether
he should be re-engaged by witness.

In answer to a question from the Coroner as to
whether he observed anything unusual in the conduct
of Hatto on Tuesday night,
Witness .said he did. Before witness had discovered
the murder, and before be had been upstairs, Hatto
asked him whether he had seen anything wrong ? Wit-
ness replied that he had not. Hato also came into the
kitchen more than once before he had time to dress his
horse, and made a humming noise, contrary to his usual
custom. When witness proceeded upstairs, and was met
by the smoke and horrid stench, he called out, " Hatto,
the house is on fire." Hatto and Dunce came with
water, and the fire was speedily extinguished. The
whole of the labourers lodging at Dunce's were speedily
in attendance, and assisted. Witness was very much
shocked at the sight of the fire and the burning remains
of the deceased. It was not usual of late to have the
door bolted between the house and the kitchen. About
two months ago the house was left unbolted at tbe re-
quest of the deceased, who felt nervous and wished to
have the opportunity of calling the groom in case of
danger. Had desired Bunce to get some person to sleep
with Hatto last night.
g-
It was here announced by Mr. Superintendent Sy.rneice
ton, of the Bucks constabulary, that important evidence
had been discoverod against Hatto, the groom, a
d a
The announcement create
he was then in custody. that'

-
deep sensation.
Dr. Robarts, of Burnam, deposed that, on entering I
the room with the coroner and jury, on Wednesday,
he
saw a woman lying on her face, stretched upodn
s tht
floor, both her arms extended, and bent urmar
right angles. He observed the back of the left.tl:ana,ds
considerably swollen, with lacerated marks tarcuin.olses; tbe
if it had been struck by some blunt.
,insfractured and
metacarpal bone of the ring finger
fbraertu'red and the
the first phalangal bone being
in-
teguments lacerated, as if by aalsoblunt instrument,
ut up to ward off a
ap-
parently as if the hand had been put up
blow on the left side of the head. The fingers of both
hands were clenched. The hair of the head was singed,
and on partially removing- it a lacerated wound of about
two inches long was found over the lower back part of
the parietal bone. There was another wound nesaervteoreilt,
The ear on the left side
: i
both uY
as from blows.
Waerel7lal'illitrnti
lacerated in two places, as if done by
ment. The lower limbs of the body
knees being entirely consumed, the thighs also burnt to
leaving the
a cinder, as were also the parts adjacent;
shafts of the thigh bones exposed and charred for several
the feet the floor
inches. Between the thighs and
underneath was so burnt awayT as to have consumed the
legs as far as the ankles.
leg bones had dropped
through the floor, leaving The
sfeet on the top, and un-
burnt. On turning the
seemed much disfigured ocly on its back the face
and swollen, and sodden from
lying in a pool of blood., There were two small wounds
on the bridge of the nose, the bones of which were
broken, as if by some blunt instrument, and evidently
from a severe blow. On removing a portion of the
head there
was w.
considerable quantity of ex-
travasated blood a.
between the scalp and the skull.
The blooil :as the effect of the blows. The face was
quantity of blood, which was diluted
with the Water thrown into the room to extinguish the