Presentation of the Gold MedalsSource: Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Vol. 30 (1860), pp. xciv-xcixPublished by: Wiley on behalf of The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of BritishGeographers)Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1798283 .

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( xcis )

1'RE3ENTATION

0F TH E

GOLD MEDAL S TO LALY FRANELIN AXr) TO CA1)TAIN SIR F. L. M'CLINTOCK.

THE President the EARL DE GREY AND RIPON, read the following

statements explanatory of the grounds on which the Council had

avarded the Pcoyal Medals respectively:-

Desirous of comrnemorating in an especial manner the Arctic

researches of our associa,te the late Sir John Franklill, and of testi-

fying to the fact that his expedition was the first to discover a

North-West Passage, the Couxleil of the Ro;yal Geographical Society

have awarded the Founder's Gold Medal to his widow, Lady Frank-

lin, in token of their adlniration of her noble and ,elf-sacrificing

perseverance in sending out, at her own cost, several searching

expeditions, until at length the fate of her husba:X:Ld has been finally

ascertained, The (Jouncil have farther adjudicated the Patron's Gold Medal to

Captain Sir F. L. MiClintock, R.X. br the consumtnate skill and

nflinching fortitude with which, in the Xox yacllt, he and his

gallant companions have not only enlarged our acquaintance with

Arctic geography, but have also brought to light the precious

'; Record " which has revealed to us the royage and final abandon-

ment of the Wretus and Cearor. In making these awards, it is but right to recall attention to so:me

of the leading facts connected with this subjec$.

Having a.lready taken part in two of Nalson's glorious victories

and in other battles of the old war Sir John Franklin began his

Arctic explorations in the years 1818 to 1822, and subsequently, by

his researches in I82S to -1827 he had alrsady acquired a reno+n

second only to that of Parry. Aspiring, however, to the sllpreme

object of his anlbition-the discovery of a North-West Passage he

again left ollr shores in 184o to accomplish that great mission.

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Lady FRANRLIN Royal Awards. xclt

In asceltaining the date and place of the dea,th of Franklin, AI'Clintook and his colnpanions have also eSected several important geographical d;scoveries. La,nds and seas which had hitherto been entirely unknown to geograplly have by their energy and ability been laid open.

OwTing thus to the devotion of Lady Franklin and the skill of Captain M;Clintock, it is now delnonstrated that the Erebus and Terror ascended 7\Tellington Channel to the 77? of nolth latitude; that the two ships were navigated round C!ornwallis Land, which was thus proved to bo an island; and that finally, steering from Baechey Island to the south-west, they were, on the 12th of Sept- el:nber, 1846, beset in the ice, in which they wintered in latitude s. 70? 5' and longitude w. 98? 23', having reached a position never before or since attained by an;y other ship.

In placing the Wreh?ls and Terror, irl 1846, in this position, it is clear that the iFranklin expedition, whose commander, with others,@ had previously ascertained the existence of a channel along the North coast of A1nerica, with which the frozen sea, wherein he was beset, had a direct oolumunication, had thus, in a geographical sense, firnaly established the existence of a North-West Passage.

Having by this ,reat feat rendered his name illustrious, the Council deern it to be an act of justice that as Ross, Back, Simpson, Rae, Inglefield, '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 rnore appropriately enriched than by offering the Patron's Medal of the year to the con- secration of the deeds of firankltsz.

In so doino the Council have inaeed a peculiar satisfaction in awarding this Medal to the relict of the great navigator, in adl:nira- tion of the single-minded and undaurkted enelgy which animatedL her endeavours, and which have terminated in clearly ascertaining that, in sacrificing their lives, Franklin and his brave companions died in solving the long^sought geographical problem.

The (Souncil therefore hope that Lady Franklin will consider the Gold Madal now awarded to her not only as the merited recompense of her husband's discoveries, but will also accept it as a testimony of the admiration entertained by British geographers for her who has devoted the last twelve years of her life to this glorious object, in accoruplishing which she has sacrificed so large a portion of her worldly means.

* Beechey, Hearne, Mackenzie, Ftichardson, &c.

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XEV1 LadY FRANKLIN - Ro//l AwasXds.

But all the devotion of a Lady Franklin and the eCorts of the British nation might well have failed in unravelling the fate of the Erebu,s and Ter} or, had not such a comnlander been selected for the l+^ox as Captaill Sir F. L. M'Clintock.

Inured by previous explorations to the risks and dangers of Arctic life, this brave officer has so lnodestly and clearly told his stirring tale of how in a yacht of 170 tons he successfully worked out llis g;reat mission that he has already enlisted the sympathies of Europe and America.

He has also imperishably chronicled in the exploits of the expe- dition the names of his worthy associates Hobson, Young, MTalker, and Petersen, in a work wllich will doubtless endure as long as men shall continue to revere the deeds of such persevering and skilful explorers.

Of the events in this narrative there is no one which has drawn forth more commendation than the calm resolve with xvhich the gallant coininander, after having been driven back 1200 miles in the " pack," and carried out into the Atlantic, returned to coinbat with the obstacles of frozen seas, and, nothing disheartened, steered back his little yacht once more into Baffin Bay.

Marking the judgment and sa;acity he showed throughout the rhole of an e.xpedition which terminated in making known the

estent of the discoveries of Franklin, as well as the place and date of his death and,the alnlost certain ite of those gallant companions, Crozier, Fitzjame,s, and others who survived hiin, the Council have the satisMaction of recording that the commander and oflicers of the Folz have also added vastly to geographical knowledge.

In proving that Bellot Strait is navigable, they have demonstrated that its southern shore really constitutes the lnost northezo pro- lnontory of Nolth America, in rounding which and in sledging alollg the western shores of Boothia AI'Clintock has given us reason to believe that, in some favourable season, the passage, even by a

ship, ma- possibly be effected from Baffin Bay into the long and tortuous channel which Collinson so recently navigated.

Again, while the researches of Lieutenant, now Commander, Hobson not only delineated for the first time the western shores of King NVilliam Island, but were signalised by the detection of the precious "Record" of the discoveries and last days of Franklin, with Inany relics, the indefatigable journeys of the gallant and generous volunteer Captain Allen Young have not only determined the outlines of a large portion of Prince of Wales Island, hitherto

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L(ly FRANIRI,IN R(al Auards. xc+-ii

entirely unvisited, but have gone far to satisfy geographers that the lcewohoked channel to which the name of WIiClintock has been attached, rarely, if ever, offers a free passage for ships.

For these successful results, obtained with very .slender mealls and under the severest trials, the Patron's Medal is bestowed on the leader of this last expedition, xvhose sezvices have already received the warm applobation of his Sovereign and his coulltry, and xvho will doubtless rejoice in knowing that he is on this occasion the recipient of the same honour as that ̂ Thich is adjudged to the nolJle- minded widow of Franklin.

The President then handed the Follnder's Gold Medal to Sir Roderick I. AIurchison, who, on behalf of Lady Franklin, replied-

" Connected as I hav0 bee:l with the Royal Geographical Society since its foundation, I can assure you, my Lord, that no event relating to our body has given lue greater satisfaction than the unaninlous and healty acquiescence of the Council in tlle proposal which I made to tllelll to grant our Founder's AIedal to Lady Franklin.

" Having pl^esided over the geographers fifteen years ago, when lay dear friend Franklin last left our shores, it naturalltT became lne, in the following years, when we began to be anxious about the fate of the Elebus and Tes<swor, that I should advocate esery sealch, both public and privAte, which might throw a light 1lpon the voyage of those vessels; and I have tllus had abundant opportunities of observing and testing the sterling qualities of a woman who has proved herself to be X-orthy of the admiration of lnankind.

" Undaunted by failure after failulse, through to el-e long years of hope deferred did she persevere with a singleness of pllrpose and a sincele devotion which aze truly unparalleled; and now that her olvn last expedition of the 1Sz, under the gallant ZI:4Clintock, has realized the great facts that her husband had traversed wide seas unknown to a11 folaner navigatol^s, and clied in discovering a North- WATest Passage, then surely the adjudication to her of this Me{lal xvill be hailed by the nation, as orell as by this Society, as one of the manxyz recompenses to which the lvidonv of the illustrious }franklin is esninently entitled.

" Lady Franklin's glatitude for this the higllest testimonial we can oWel, is tllus feelingly expressed in a letter to mAself, the only drawback to ley reading of rhich is that she dwells too mllch on my poor tllough zealous selvices.

"' ;, l'flllX Place, St. Jallles's, " ' 1NIY DEAR sIrX uODERIaK, May 24+h, 18G0.

" ' As you were the first to collllzaullicate the great 11onour which has been conferred upon nze by the Council of the Royal Geog)aphical Society, and as I knoxv you were the first to make the suCgestion rhich ras kindly and llnani- srlously accepted by the Councif, I am sure yoll will do nle the falther fasotlr of returning my heartfelt tllanks to them.

A,;roL, XXX

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* * @

XCVlll L4y FRANKLIN-Royal Awards.

" ' To no one could I make this reqllest more fitly, as it seems to mc, and with more confideIlcey tha;n to the faithful friend of my dear husband and my- self, who, durin; Illany lolw years, llas made the cavlso of the lost creurs of tlle Ereb2ts and TerJor his o^7n, and to +hose untirincr and enlightened energy exerted in behalf of our latest, and, as it were (lying eSort, the little expedi- tion of the Fox has been so conspicuotlsly incle1ted.

" ' In givinffl e:spression to my natulal feelint, on receivinffl this preciolls Medal, you will feel assul ed that its chief vallle to me is the reco(Tnition by the most competent autllorities, which it testifies to, of the life-long services of llly husbarld in the cause of geographical lesealch, and especially of the crowlwino discovery of the Nortll-NVest PassaCe by hinlself and his companionS

htcll cost them their lives. " ' II1 tlae colstenlplation of so jusrt and so generous an act towalds t]le dea(]

all personal considerations are well-lligh alesorbed, yet llot so entirely bllt tleat I feel deeply the great and exceptional kindness of which I have mself become the object. Disclaimin?, as I must ever do, all merit for efforts WlliCh

orioinated in the natulal impulses of love and duty, and which never could have leen successful without tlle steclfast 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 totlclilag and distin(rtlished proof so (renerously accorded to me of the approl)atiorl and sympathy of the Royal (Seoglaphical Society.

" ' 13elieve mc, dear Sil llodelick, sincelely and grateftllly yollrs' " ' JANE ISRANKLIN.'

" ' Sr RodeJ ick AIurchison, Vice-Presidv1lf of tAe Royal Geoy1^cup.l icc-4S Society, 4 c.'

" Breathing as this letter does the fillness of a grateful woman's

heart, yet does it not give full stent to all those feelings ly whieX

Lady E'ranklin is animated. She has, isldeed, enjoined me to say that

the honour conferred upon her is arastlt- enhanced by kno^ring that

she only sllares in that applobatioll of the Geographical Society

which has been and is so rarmly bestowed 1lpon Captain Sir Leo-

pold M'Clintock and llis ,allant associates.

" A still more deeply-seated sentiment, however (as yet ungra-

tified), is implaSnted in the breast of the widow of Franklin--a

sentiment which was no sooner broached in tlle House of Commons

by Sir Ftancis Barint, than it met with general applau.se, and

elicited the commendation of the Prilue Minister and of eloquent

speakers on both sides namely, that setting aside all pecuniary

reimbursement for that large expenditure of m(ney which she could

ill aSord, she hopes that the Parliament will be thus fals genelous

as to reward the officers and crew of the Wox, and proxtide for the

erection of a monument to the memory of her husband and his COlYl-

panions in a public place, on which shall be recorded that they

died in being tlle first to discover a North-West Passage.

4 I.et then our gift of the Gold Medal, solemnly and llnanimously

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 Fow and by raising a lYlonument to Franklirl in

Trafalgar Square, so that his earliest services under tlle immoltal

Nelsoll lnay be blended with tlle nation's recognition of his Aletic

falLae.

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Sir F. L. 1A4d(,LINTOCK Royal Awards. XC1X

" To the honour of France, her lost and lalllented navigator La Perouse has his lnonuluent and trophies in the Louvre. Let Eng- land, then, also evince her gratitude to Fr:nklin and his com- panions by al durable public luemorial in bronze, and thus show that she not less truly honours those xvho die in so nobly serving their country."

The President, in presenting the Patron's Medal to Captain Sir F. L. M'Clintock, said: ^

" It afEords rne sincere gratification to be the medium of conveying to you, Captalin AI'Clintock, this, one of the two highest rexvards the Geographical Society can confer; and in recognising the great ser+rices you have performed, I may be perlaitted to say that the value of t.hose services to the cause of geographical science is appreciated throughout the civilised world."

Sir F5. L. M'Clintock replied- " I assure you, my Lord, it is with deeply grateful feelings that I

receive this proof of the estimation which the Royal Geographical Society places up()n my humble services. You are arare that the discoveries which have gained for me this honourable distinction were made incidentally, while following up ansiollsly a widely diffelent purpose; and I regard it as an additional proof of thej liberality of the Collncll that they have, notwithstanding this cir- cumsta.nce, conferrefl upon me this valuable token of their approval. I am sule JToU xvill believe me when I say that its value is in my mind largely enhanced by the fact of its being conferred in con- junction with a marked and feeling tribute paid to the memory of our great Arctic discoverer. rthis circumstance the lecognition of the last services of the lamented Franklin and his devoted com- panions, is a richel rexvard to lue than any I could personally receive. Let me thank you, too, on behalf of my gallant and devoted companions, to whose assistance I was so largely indebted, and who will see in this honour which you have confelled upon me not only a re+^rard for my huinble efforts, but a pleasing acknoxv- ledgment of their services. It has IlOt been my fate to be employed directly and {3xclusirrely on geoglaphical discovelies, but 1 trust that this ample recompellse for past will be an incentive to futue exeltions in the same course. VVe live in times of great chan:,e, and it is impossible for any one, especiaUlly in lll5J profession, t() say what may be his futule destiIlation; bl t it will aSord me gre.it pleasu] e if the oSer of my services; should l)e accepted hereaftel to explore new regions, allcl extenel the l)ollllcl-lric>s of our kllonrleclg(3 o1 the Al ctic Sea>S. "

c}

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