The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-29 00:00:00

ROYAL GBOGRAP iICiL SOCIETY.

Yesterday the anniversary meeting was held at
the society's room, in Burlington House, the Earl
de Grey and Ripon presiding. Amongst the mem-
bers present were the Earl of Sheffield, Lord Ash-
burton, Sir R. Murchison, Sir George Back, Sir E.
Belcher, Sir J. Login, Sir F. L. M'Clintock, Colonel
Sykes, Captain Sherard Osborn, Captain Coilinson,
Colonel Schaffner; Captain Allen Young, Mr.
Whiteside, M.P., Mr. Roebuck, M.P., &c.

The report of the council for the past year was
read, and upon the motion of Lord Ashburton, se-
conded by the Right Hon. H. M. M'Kenzie, was
unanimously adopted.
PRESENTATION OF THE MEDALS TO LADY FRANK-
LIN, AND SIR F. L. 31`CLINTOCK.
The PRESIDENT said—Desirous of commemora-
ting in an especial manner the Arctic researches of
our associate, the late Sir John Franklin, and of
testifying to the fact that his expedition was the
first to discover a north-west passage, the council of
the Royal Geographical Society has awarded the
founder's gold medal to his widow, Lady Franklin
—(cheers)—in token of their admiration of her
noble and self-sacrificing perseverance in sending
out at her own cost several searching expeditions,
until, at length, the fate of her husband has been
finally ascertained. (Hear, hear.) The council
has further adjudicated the council's gold medal to
Captain Sir F. L. M'Clintock, R.N.—(cheers)—for
the consummate skill and unflinching fortitude with
which, in the Fox yacht, he and his gallant com-
panions have not only enlarged our acquaintance
with Arctic geography, but have also brought to
light the precious " Record" which has revealed to
us the voyage and final abandonment of the Erebus
and Terror. (Cheers.) In making these awards,
it is but right to call attention to some of the lead-
ing facts connected with this subject. Having
already taken part in two of Nelson's glorious
victories, and in other battles of the old war, Sir
John Franklin began his Arctic explorations in the
year 1818 to 1822, and subsequently by his re-
searches in 1825 to 1827 he had already acquired a
renown second only to that of Parry. (Hear, hear.)
Aspiring, however, to the supreme object of his am-
bition, the discovery of a north-west passage, he
again left our shores in 1845 to accomplish that
great mission. In ascertaining the date and place
of the death of Franklin, Captain M'Clintock has
also effected several important geographical dis-
coveries. Lands and seas which had hitherto been
entirely unknown to geography were, by his
energy and ability laid open. (Hear.) Owing
thus to the devotion of Lady Franklin, and the
skill of Captain M'Clintock, it is now demonstrated
that the Erebus and Terror ascended Wellington
Channel to 77 deg. of north latitude, that the two
ships were navigated round Cornwallis land.which
was thus proved to be an island, and that finally,
steering from Beechy Island to the south-west,
they were on the 12th of September, 1846, beset in
the ice, in which they wintered, in latitude north
75 deg. 5 min.' and long, west 98 deg. 23 min.,
' havino. reached a position never before or since at-
tained by any other ship. (Hear, hear.) Having by
this great feat rendered his name illustrious, the
council deem it an act of justice that just as Ross,
Back, Simpson, Rae, Ingleffeld, M'Clure, Kane, and
Collinson, have each been rewarded by a medal of
this society for their distinguished Arctic researches
so the list of such worthies cannot be more appropri-
ately enriched than by offering the patron's medal of
the year to the consecration of the deeds of Franklin.
(Hear, hear.) In so doing the council have indeed a
peculiar satisfaction in awarding this medal to the
relict of the great navigator, in admiration of the
single-minded and undaunted energy which have
animated her endeavours, and which have termi-
natedin clearly ascertaining thatin sacrificing their
lives Franklin and his brave companions died in
solving the long-sought geographical problem. The
council, therefore hope that Lady Franklin will
consider the gold medal now awarded to her not
only as the merited recompense of her husband's
discoveries, but will also accept it as a testi-
mony of the admiration entertained by British
geographers for her who has devoted 12 years of
her life to the glorious object in accomplishing
which she has sacrificed so large a portion of her
worldy means. (Hear, hear.) But all the devotion
of Lady Franklin and the efforts of the British na-
tion might well have failed in unravelling the fate
of the Erebus and Terror had not such a com-
mander been selected for the Fox as Capt. M'Clin-
tock. Inured by previous explorations to the risks
and dangers of Arctic life, this brave officer has so
modestly and clearly told his stirring tale, of how
in a yacht of 170 tons burthen he successfully
worked out his great mission, that he has already
enlisted the sympathies of Europe and America.
(Hear, hear.) He has also imperishably chronicled
in the exploits of the expedition the names of his
worthy associates, Hobson, Young, and Walker, in
a work that will doubtless endure as long as men
shall continue to revere the deeds of persevering
dive, there is no -One- whiC.l'has drawn ffoVtil-rng6
commendation than the calm resolve with which the
gallant commander, after having been driven back
1,200 miles in the pack, and carried out into the
Atlantic, returned to combat with the obstacles of
frozen seas, and nothing disheartened, steered back
his little yacht once more into Baffin's Bay. Mark-
ing the judgment and sagacity he showed through-
out the whole of an expedition which terminated
in making known the extent of the discoveries of
Franklin, as well as the place and date of his death,
and the almost certain fate of those gallant com-
panions—Crozier, Fitzjames, and others—who sur-
vived him—the council have the satisfaction of re-
cording that the commander and officers of the
Fox have also added vastly to geographical know-
ledge. (Hear, hear.) In proving that Bellot
Strait is navigable they have demonstrated that its
southern shore really constitutes the most northern
promontory of North America, in rounding which,
and in sledging along the western shores of
Boothia, M'Clintock has given us reason to be-
lieve that in some favourable season the pas-
sage even by a ship may possibly be effected
from Baffin's Bay into the long and tortuous
channel which Capt. Collinson so recently navi-
gated. Again, while the resources of Lieutenant,
now Commander Hobson, not only delineated for
the first time the western shores of King Willie m's
Island, but were signalised by the detection of the
precious "Record" of the discoveries and last days
of Franklin, with many rceic;, the indefatigable
journals of the gallant and generous volunteer,
Capt. Allen Young—(cheers)—have not only deter-
mined the outline of a large portion of Prince of
Wales's Island, hitherto entirely unvisited, but have
gone to satisfy geographers that the ice-choked
channel, to which the name of M'Clintock has been
attached, rarely if ever offers a free passage for
ships. (Cheers.) For these successful results, ob-
tained with very slender means and under the
severest trials, the patrons' medal is bestowed on
the leader of this last expedition, whose services
have already received the warmest approbation of
his Sovereign and his country, and who will doubt-
less rejoice in knowing that he is on this occasion
the recipient of the same honour as that which is
adjudged to the noble-minded widow of Franklin.
(Cheers.) Turning to Sir It. Murchison, the pre-
sident continued—l have sincere pleasure in en-
trusting to you, Sir Roderick Murchison, this letter
to Lady Franklin, with the founder's gold medal,
which the council have awarded to her as proof of
the deep appreciation felt by the Royal Geogra-
phical Society for the services rendered to science
by her late gallant husband, and also as a token of
respect and admiration for the devotedness with
which she has pursued those inquiries which have
resulted in clearing up the fate of the crews of the
Erebus and Terror, and at the same time in making
important additions to our geographical knowledge
of the Arctic regions.
Sir RODERICK MURCHISON replied—Connected
as I have been with the Royal Geographical Society
since its foundation, I can assure you, my lord, that
no event relating to our body has given me greater
satisfaction than the unanimous and hearty ac-
quiescence of the council in the proposal which I
made to them to grant our founder's medal to
Lady Franklin. (Cheers.) Having presided over
the geographers 15 years ego, when my dear friend
Franklin last left our shores, it naturally became
me in the following years, when we began to be
anxious about the fate of the Erebus and Terror,
that I should advocate every search, both public
and private, which might throw a light on the
voyage, of these vessels, and I have thus had abun-
dant opportunities of observing and testing the ster-
ling qualities of a woman who has proved herself
to be worthy of the admiration of mankind. (Hear,
hear.) Nothing daunted by failure after failure—
through 12 long years of hope deferred did she
persevere with a singleness of purpose and a sin-
cere devotion which are truly unparalleled—(hear,
hear)—and now that her own last expedition of
the Fox, under the gallant M'Clintock, has
realised
the two great facts, that her husband had traversed
wide seas unknown to former navigators,t and d
id
in discovering a North-West Passage, en surely
tho adjudication to her of this medal will
h
will - hailed
by the nation as well as by this society as 0 of
those many recompense; to which the widow Olfeth
illustrious Franklin is eminently entitled. (hots';
cheers) ) Lady Franklin's gratitude for this, the
highest testimonial we can offer, is thus feelingly
expressed in a letter to myself, the only drawbacl;
to my reading of which is, that she dwells too much
on my poor though zealous services :
,4 5, Park-place, St. James's, May 21, 1860.
" My dear Sir Roderick,—As you were the first
to communicate the great honour that has been
conferred upon me by the council of the Royal Geo-
graphical Society, and as I know you were also the
first to make the suggestion which was kindly and

unanimously accepted by the council, I am sure
you will do me the further favour of returning my
heartfelt thanks to them. _ _

" To no one could I make this request more fitly,
as it seems to me, and with more confi ence, than
to the faithful friend of my dear husband and my-

self, who, during many long years, 1 as made the

cause of the lost crews of the Vrebu, nd Terror his
own, and to whose untiring and enli htened energy,
exerted in behalf of our latest, and as it were dying
effort, the little expedition of the Fox has been so
conspicuously indebted.
" In giving expression to my natural feelings on
receiving this precious medal, you will feel assured
that its chief value to me is the recognition by the
most competent authorities which it testifies to, of
the life-long services of my husband in the cause of
geographical research, and especially of the crown-
ing discovery of the North-West Passage by him-
self and his companions, which cost them their
lives.

" In the contemplation of so just and so generous
an act towards the dead, all personal considerations
are well nigh absorbed, yet not so entirely but that
I feel deeply the great and exceptional kindness of
which I have myself become the object. Disclaim-
ing, as I must ever do, all merit for efforts which
originated in the natural impulse of love and duty,
and which never could have been successful with-
out the steadfast help of all those who upheld•and
served me so well, I shall not the less cherish with
great pride as well as gratitude, the touching and
distinguished proof so generously accorded to me
of the approbation and sympathy of the Royal
Geographical Society.—Believe me, dear Sir
Roderick, sincerely and gratefully yours,
" JANE FRANKLIN.

" Sir Roderick Murchison, Vice-President of the
Royal Geographical Society, &c."
Breathing as this letter does the fulness of a grate-
ful woman's heart, yet does it not give
.vent to all
those feelings by which Lady Franklin is animated.
She has, indeed, enjoined me to say that the honour
conferred upon her is vastly enhanced by knowing
that she only shares in that approbation of the
Geographical Society which has been, and is so
warmly bestowed upon Captain Sir Leopold
M'Clintock and his gallant associates. (Hear.)
Another most deeply-seated sentiment, however
(as yet ungratified), is implanted in the breast of
the widow of Franklin—a sentiment which was no
sooner broached in the House of Commons by Sir
Francis Baring than it met with general applause
and elicited the commendation of the Prime
Minister and of eloquent speakers on both sides
—namely, that setting aside all pecuniary re-
imbursement to herself for that large expenditure
of money which she could ill afford, she hopes
that the Parliament may be thus far generous as to
reward the officers and crew of the Fox—(hear,
hear)—and also provide for the erection of a monu-
ment to the memory of her husband and his com-
panions in a public place, on which shall be recorded
that they died in being the first to discover a north-
west passage. (Loud and repeated cheers.) Let,
then our gift of this gold medal, solemnly and una-
nimously conferred by us on Lady Franklin for her
devotion in her husband's cause, be followed up
both by a suitable grant to the brave officers and
crew of the Fox, and by raising a monument to
Franklin in Trafalgar-square—so that his earliest
services under the immortal Nelson may be blended
with the nation's recognition of his Arctic fame.
(Hear.) To the honour of France, her long-lost
and lamented navigator, La Peyrouse, has his
monument and trophies in the Louvre. (Hear.)
Let England then also evince her gratitude to
Franklin and his companions by a durable public
memorial in bronze, and thus show that she not
less truly honours those who die in so nobly serving
their country. (Cheers.)
The PRESIDENT—It affords me great gratifica-
tion, Capt. M'Clintock, to have to present to you
the highest reward the Royal Geographical Society
can confer, viz., the Patron's or Victoria Gold
Medal, in acknowledgment of the very great and
valuable services you have performed services
which are appreciated not only throughout this
country, but I may say throughout all Europe and
America. (Hear.)
Sir F. L. M'CLINTOCK felt deeply grateful in
receiving so high a mark of the estimation which
the Royal Geographical Society places upon the
services which he had been enabled to render to
the cause of geographical science. At the same
time, he could not forget the discoveries which had
gained for him this distinguished honour had been
made incidentally when following up a widely
different purpose ; and he regarded it as an addi-
tional proof of the liberality of the council that
notwithstanding that circumstance they had
awarded him so valuable a token of their approba-
tion. He was sure they would bear with him when
he said the value of the reward was in his mind
largely enhanced by being conferred in conjunction
with the marked and feeling tribute which had
just been paid to the memory of that great Arctic
-3:,..-verevrar (Una,. rb. ft-t_
getter with the recognition which had been made
of the last services of the lamented Franklin and
his devoted companions, was the most gratifying
testimony that could be borne, and the richest re-
ward that could be conferred upon his own services.
On behalf of his companions in the late expedition
he might be permitted to observe that they would
see the account of that day's proceedings with plea-
sure, because therein they would find an acknow-
ledgment of their services as well as a reward of
his own. It had hot been his fate to be employed
directly or exclusively in geographical discoveries,
but in what had occurred to-day he trusted he
might find an incentive to turn his future in that
direction. (Hear, hear.) We lived in times of
great changes, and it was impossible to say what
might occur, but this he might be allowed to ob-
serve, that it would afford him great pleasure if the
offer of his services could be accepted hereafter to
explore new regions, and extend the boundaries of
our knowledge in the Arctic Seas. (Cheers.)
Sir R. MundulsoN—l omitted to express one
feeling which animates Lady Franklin. There is
no wish that she has more at heart than that par-
liament should properly reward the distinguished
officers and gallant crew of the Fox, who had so
nobly solved the problem of the fate of the Franklin
expedition. (Cheers.)
Several new members were then elected by ballot,
and resolutions of thanks to the president, the
council, and other officers were voted, and after the
transaction of some other routine business the meet-
ing separated. Lord Ashburton, it is understood,
is to be the president for the ensuing year.