The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-07 00:00:00

TESTIMONIAL TO CAPT. IiPCLINTOCK.

A meeting of the inhabitants of Dundalk and its
vicinity took place on Monday last in the grand
jury room of the court-house, in order to present a
testimonial to the distinguished discoverer of the
relics of the Franklin expedition. The testimonial
consisted of a massive silver salver and a beautifully-
designed claret-jug of the same material. On both
articles were engraved the crest of the M'Clintock
family, and also the corporation arms of the town of
Dundalk, and the following inscription :—" This
salver and accompanying claret-jug were presented
to T. Leopold M'Clintock, Esq., Captain RN., late
commander of the Fox, by his fellow-townsmen,
the inhabitants of Dundalk and its vicinity, in
testimony of gallantry, zeal, and perseverance while
in command of the expedition to discover tidings of
the late lamented Sir John Franklin and com-
panions, and of its successful issue."

Shortly after three o'clock Captain M'Clintock
arrived, and was warmly greeted by the assem-
blage, which constituted a large portion of the rank
and wealth of the town and neighbourhood, be-
sides some gentlemen from a distance. Amongst
others present were :
The Hon. Major Jocelyn, the Hon. John Jocelyn, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Fortescue, J.P., Stephenstown ; John
M'Clintock, D.L., Drutncar ; the Rev. John Marmion,
P.P., Haggardstown ; the Rev. Robert M'Clintock, Kil-
saran ; John Murphy, J.P., Castletown ; John Townley,
J.P. ; Robert Haig, J.P. ; William Woolsey, J.P., Castle-
bellingham ; Travers Wright Killencoole ; Richard M.
Bellew, M.P. ; the Rev. George Studeert, Drumcar ; Capt.
Gaussen, R.N., Point House; Captain Croker, Thistle
House, &c., &c.

The Hon. Major JOCELYN then come forward to
read the address, and said he felt highly honoured
at being selected by the committee to be the medium
of presenting the address which he held in his hand
to Captain M'Clintock. He felt peculiar pleasure
in presenting the address and accompanying testi-
monial to him, as being one of themselves, a fellow-
citizen of Dundalk, descended from one of the most
illustrious families in the county of Louth—one
most universally loved and respected, and of whom
it might be truly said they never made an enemy or
lost a friend. (Marked applause) Although it was
almost impertinent for him to allude to the splendid
Dundalk,
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entered the noble and generous profession of which
he has become so distinguished a member.
About eleven years ago Captain M'Clintock first
joined the gallant band of Arctic voyagers which
has reflected such distinguished honour on this coun-
try, and from that time to the present he has been
constantly employed in that service, joining every
expedition that has left this country. On one occa-
sien,which ought to be particu!arly mentioned, when
his vessel was lost, he sacrificed the whole of his per-
sonal property to enable him to bring home a scientific
collection which greatly enhanced our knowledge of
the Arctic regions ; and on the occasion when that
heroic woman, Lady Franklin, was hoping against
hope,and striving against despair, and nobly devoting
the remnant of a once considerable property in
fitting out the last expedition to determine the fats
of her brave and deeply lamented husband, Cap-
tain M'Clintock nobly gave up his well-earned
claims and hopes of promotion in the more legiti-
mate path of his profession, and generously volun-
teered to take command of this last successful expe-
dition. (Cheers.) The complete success which has
attended this last effort to learn some tidings of our
long-lost countrymen is so well known to the whole
world, that it was unnecessary for him to allude fur-
ther to it. Bravery was so much the characteristic of
the British race (and when be said the British he
of course meant England, Ireland, and Scotland),
that the gallantry displayed by Capt. M'Clintock
and his faithful comrades was only that which their
countrymen expected. (Applause.) But the courage
evinced by them was of a totally different descrip-
tion to that of the soldier or the sailor in time of
war. In the battle-field, amidst the crash of charg-
ing squadrons, the rolling thunder of the guns, the
clangour of the trumpet, and the encouraging
cheers of gallant and loyal comrades, we can hardly
imagine that any man can be a craven to his coun-
try; but the calm endeavour and heroic fortitude
displayed by Captain M'Clintock and his noble
companions required almost superhuman fortitude
to support them in their noble undertaking. Day
after day they pursued their lonely and cheerless
way amidst boundless fields of eternal snow, with-
out even the companionship of one living creature
save themselves. They had nothing to support them
but the conscious feeling that they were doing their
duty, and if their lives were lost, that they would
be sacrificed in the sacred cause of humanity.
The honourable gentleman concluded by assuring
Captain M'Clintock that his future career,
when called into active service, which the• pre-
sent aspect of affairs seemed to say was not
a distant period, would be watched with the
deepest interest by his friends in Dundalk and the
county of Louth ; and they would all unite in wish-
ing him every success in his profession, and would
join in a humble prayer to the Great Giver of all
good to bestow his blessing on him both in time
and in eternity. (Loud applause.)
Captain M'CLINTOCK, who was very warmly
greeted on coming forward, read the reply, after
which several persons advanced and shook hands
with the gallant gentleman ; among others an old
and respectable Superannuated Custom-house offi-
cer, named Perkins, in whose charge he sailed to
Bristol to join the first ship in his eventful life.
The proceedings then terminated.