Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-01-14
Queen VictOria's Gift.


A few days ago q large box was
received and unpacked at the White
House. It was found to contain a
massive desk. writing table, present
from Qneen Victoria to the President
of tie United States. 1t is made of
live oak, weighs 1900 pounds, is
deliberately carved, and altogether is q
magnificent specimen of work nanship.
It is made of timbers of the Arctic
exploring ship Resolute, and the
inscription concludes: Presented bv
the q leen of Great Britain and Ireland
to the President of the United States,
as u memorial of the courtesy aud
loving kindness which dictated the
offer of the gift of the Rssolute."
In 1855, during the cruise of the
American whaler George and Henry,
of New London, Captain Buddington
commanding, vessel was discovered
in vast field of ice, and drifting
oceanward. Lowering whaleboat,
Captain Buddington, with a picked
crew, pulled to the foe, and leaving
their boat. after perilous journey of q
mile over immense Lonmocks Of ice.
reached the vessel. Clambering up
her sides, much to their astonishmen
| they discovered her to be Her NJ ,jesty g
frigate Resolute, which had sailed from
England the year before, under the
Command of Captain, afterward Ad.
miral, Keppel, in search of Sir John
franklin aud party. 1t appeared from
record found on board, that being ice.
bound in Baffin's Bay, running short OF
provisions, and seeing no hope of relief
or Of releasing the vessel. the officers
and crew, consisting of 100 men, with
supplies and instruments, abandoned
her, and after dangerous sledge jour
ney joined one of the other ships OF the
expedition. When the frigate was
visited by Captain BuddingtoI, accord
ing to an observation taken on board,
she had drifted out into the Atlantic
Ocean nine hundred miles from the
point at which she had been abandoned
Captain Budddington and crew took
| possession of the vessel, and found her
prize far more valuable than the pur
| suit OF the tinny monsters which made
their haunts in the Arctic Seas, and at
| once began operations to release her
After many days of arduous labor the
hardy whalers had the vessel aaoat in
open waters, and, placing crew on
board, safely brought her into New
London. The facts of the rescue OF
the vessel having been brought to the
attention OF the United States G Dvern.
ment, Congress appropriated $50. 900
! for her purchase from the salvors. She
was then taken to the New York Nav,
Yard and retitted, every thing on her be.
lug restored as nearly as possible to ite
condition when manned by British tars
By direction of the President of the
United States and the authority OF
Congress, crew was placed on board
Of her, with sailing orders for Ports
mouth, England, and directions to the
commanding officer, in the name of the
United States, to restore the frigate to
the proper representatives OF Her
Msjesty's Government. The crew con-
sisted of C.ptAin Henry J. Hartsene,
| of South CaroliHa, VINO subseq uently
united his fortunes with the Southern
rebellion. aud died shortly after; Ex-
ecutive Officer Lieutenant Clarks III
| Wells, native of Reading, Pa, now
Commodore. and Chief Signal OH GER
OF the Navy; Lieutenant Hunter David
son, of Virginia, who joined the rebel
lion; Lieutenant Z. L Stone. of Geor-
gia, now retired with the rank of Com
modore; DR.. Macoun, of Maryland,
and DR.. Gibbs, of Massachusetts, Cap.
tain's clerk, and twenty men. The
frigate sailed from New York in No
| vember, and after voyage of twenty
five day 3 reached Portsmouth early in
Decem ber a few days after her ar
rival, the ship was formally received
by Queen Victoria, accompanied by the
Prince Consort, the Prince of Wales,
Princess Alice, and large retinue, and
a letter of thanks was forwarded to our
Government. In February last, the
British Admiralty decided to break up
the Resolute. She was built of teak,
and had done good service, but her
timbers gradually fell prey to the
fangs of Time" 1t was understood
when this step was resolved upon that
some piece of furniture should be
made up from q portion of her frame
for presentation to the President of the
United States, as a recognition of the
act of courtesy by which the old ship
was restored to the British Nation. As
the President is not allowed, without q
special Act Of Congress to that effect,
to receive any gift from foreign power
or potentate, it is probable that this
testimonial will be placed among other
gifts from foreign rulers in the halls of
the Patent Office. - Washington Teze.
gram.
!