The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-11
PRINCES And STATESMEN IN ATTENDANCE
Three Scientific Societies Unite to
Honor the Explorers
SPEECH OF KITA- SHIRA-KAWA-NO AYA.
Benefits of the Expedition to the
World Portrayed.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. ]

SAN Francisco. Cal Oct. 10. 1870.
Your Geographic correspondence from Yokohama.
under date of September 4, gave full report of
Nordenskjods expedition from the departure of the
Vega from Gothenburg July 1875 to tho arrival ut
Yokohama September 2, to which nothing now
can be added
Later advices received by the last steamer from
that place furnish interesting details of audience
accorded the gallant explorers by His Majesty the
Aikado and OF the grand banquet given them at
Toxic September Is by the three learned societies
Of Toxic and Yokohama. the Toxic Geographical
Society Asiatic Society OF Japan and the General
Asiatc Society. The banquet was given in the
largest hall in the city. Koku Dai Gaku.
The approaches to it were brilliantly illuminated
with variegated lanterns, and the hall was
decorated internally with flags OF all nations The
Danjn. the Sauahais sao Princes OF the Blood, tho
members of the three scientific societies and many
distinguished citizens present His Imperial
Highness Kita shira Kawa-No. Mya president of the
| Toxic Geographical Society, presided. Mr.. Vensz-
andecker, Minister and president Of the German
Asiaic Society aud Row. Dr. Style. president OF the
Asiatc Society of Japan placed each at the
centres OF the sdo tables. Besides the guests there
were among the prominent persons present the
American. English. German. Russian and Swedish
Ministers; members of the Consular body and about
thirty ladies'.
After dinner the chairman spoke fluently in Ger
man the occasion which brought them together
and gave the health of His Majesty the Mikado.
The second toast was to the Empress and the third
the cmperors, presidents and kings OF tho nations
| OF the invited guests.
SPEECH IMPERIAL MAJESTY.
In proposing the health Of Professor Nordenskj0ld
| His Imperial Highness said:-
! LADIES AND GENrLEMEN-Our guests of the even
Ing the discoveries ofthe Northeast Passage, have
with interchangeable zeal with iron energy and
with rare knowledge embarked on and successfully
| realized project which for centuries before them
had been in vain attempted by numbers Of able
| mariners aud scientists. Professor Nordons kjold,
| Captain Paander and their companions have
cecded in circumnavigating the ice bound coasts Of
Northern Siberia. and in proving that these septen
trional regions may also at least partially, be thrown
| open to trade and civilization. The expedition
at all times remarkable results for geog-
raphy and science. but has also. for the
mrs. s r,%eru siberia; ana the ioprc rivers thst
flow from the heart OF Asia. II We consider the
Vegas route and her winter sojourn. the innumer-
able atigues and difficulties of such voyage, and
compare the with other Polar voyages. then
cannot but. in the first place. admire the persp-
cacity and energy of the leader of the expedition
To him the world the success with which the
Vega without sickness or want among the crew.
spare in her bunkcrs. arrived in Japan after u
voyage Of and a half years duration. Let u.s.
therefore, tender our congratulations to our worthy
guests on their success. Lot drink to the health
OF Professor Nordenskj0d. Captain Paander and the
members of the expedition May they all return
safe to their homer. with tho proud consciousness
that they have done great things for science aud the
worlds means of communication.
| PROFESSOR NoRDENsKJoLp's RESPONSE.
| Professor Nordenskjold. realizing his inability
yet to make q formal address. confined himself to
expression of his Of the cordial
| ton he had met with in Japan. He excused himself
for not delivering speech. he did not feel that
he spoke either of the three most generally known
languages sufficiently well to deliver long dis
! course He congratulated the societies the wide
field OF research open TO thom and suggested to His
Imperial Highness in tho chair that the Toxic Geo.
graphical Society might promote Japanese Arctic
expedition and come round to Europe by what
would be to them the Northwest Passage instead Of
the northeast one as it was to Europeans.
SPEECH HARRY pAnKEs.
| Sir Harry Parkes. formerly president Of the
Asiatic Society, proposed the next toast. ITO the
Captain and Officers of the Vega" Ho said
| Though may fail to do justice to the toast can
| not relinquish honor which cannot occur twice
in mans life. The discovery of the Northeast
Passage will DO regarded OF the events of the
| apc-an achievement which has taken three
turies accomplish and in which ely hteen previous
expeditions have tailed. propose the health of the
disting ushed navigators of the Vega. who have ut
| last succeeded i'll this great undertaking. They
| have entered TO some extent on other mons
labors, but have added greatly to these labors.
performed themselves so much new and sterling
work. which promises so much practical result. that
each one them will hereafter take front rank in
! the noble roll OF Arctic explorers. When y small
band OF men achieve great deeds all honor to tho
| spirit which guides and directs. but every member
| OF the band hero. In these days the most go-
! rious achievements are not necessarily those of
war. Science and discovery are placed at least
high "a pedestal. for they injurc no one and con
tribute to tho good of all. All civilized nation.
unite in honoring the explorer. No matter what
flag he under what contests divide nations
while pursuing his task. he is regarded the friend
| and fellow citizen OF all.
EARLY EXPLORATIONS
Tho country which gave material character to tho
expedition OF the Vega may claim to be among the
earliest in the field OF nautical exploration Great
Britain is not disposed to tako inferior rank in
that field. King Alfred sent out the first Arctic
petition only little short of n thousand years ago
The Vikings took part in nautical enterprises he
earliest, but their adventures led them southwest
crly tc the British isles instead of in northcastcry
course thor descendants, our guests. have done
and thor researches were not strictly of a
scientific character. scf-intercst swayed moro
or less all early discoveries, but the boldncss
and hardihood OF the ancient Viking sowcd the seed
which animated tho spirit of all these adventures.
and tho early navigators display courage forti-
tudo aud endurance excellcd in the Arctic fold
by land Even solemn Milton, speaking OF these
early enterprises. said:-"rhey might have seemed
almost heroic II any higher end than excessive love
OF gain had animated their design"
! Had Milton lived in this day he would have found
another aud different motive for discovery.
prosecuted without selfish aim. aud would have bccn
the first to recognize entirely free from that faint
this nob'e Swedish enterprise. which. through the
ability Nordcnskj0d and the skill of the officers
OF the Vega. has been attended with such happy
results.
In speaking OF captain inlanuer ana crew ana
| their labors of fifteen months Sir Harry sad:-
All, however family acquainted with tho vicissi-
tudcs of Arctic expeditions. know that every day
brings trials. tolls. dangers and privations which
must be met with ndcfa,igablc effort. unilinching
resolution and most faithful care. Captain Palan-
der, like his distinguished CHIEF. IL known to the
world by previous Arctic explorations even in
higher ATTITUDES than those he has lately penetrated,
but previous expeditions could not have Afforded
him that bright satisfaction which he and every
one board the Vega must have felt when
he stcurcd his vcsscl--the first vessel-round
Cape Tschcjuskin. tho northcrnmost buttrcss
OF the continent and hemisphere against
that while tho northeast passage will doubtless
be identified with the name of Nordcnskj0ld attached
to some physical feature In tho vicinity OF Cape
Tschcljuskin. some rock, Cliff. slct inlet will
bear the name Paander.
The speaker continued for some length his clio.
qucnt Speech compmcnting tho crew and those