478 THE JEANNETTE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



human virtue, and if we honor Melville for perilling his own life 

 we ought to honor him still more for valuing the welfare and 

 safety of his companions above his own. God grant that he 

 might long continue to enjoy the honors that he deserves from his 

 fellow-creatures. He was a man all Americans should be proud 

 of. The good qualities he displayed in presence of danger were 

 peculiarly American. 



Judge Brady then said that he had not forgotten that there 

 were two companions of Melville present Messrs. Nindermann 

 and Noros. He proposed their health, which was drunk with 

 enthusiasm and three cheers. 



' Bring them to the front! ' was the cry after the toast had 

 been honored; and the two seamen were led to the dais at the 

 head of the table amid a round of applause, to which they blush- 

 ingly bowed their acknowledgment. 



Captain Parker responded to the toast to the health of Nin- 

 dermann and Noros. tie said that it was well to do honor to 

 leaders like Melville; but they should remember that it was the 

 faithfulness, courage, and obedience of the subordinates that ren- 

 dered the glory of their leaders possible. 



After speeches by several other gentlemen, the meeting dis- 

 persed with three hearty cheers for Melville, Nindermann, and 

 Noros. 



About noon the next day a deputation of citizens of Philadel- 

 phia and officers of the navy stationed there, proceeded to the 

 Hoffman House to escort the Arctic voyagers to the City of 

 Brotherly Love. This committee consisted of Commodore 

 Rodgers, U. S. N., chairman; James A. Wright, Geo. W. Childs, 

 Colonel John Price Wetherill, General Weitzel, U. S. A. ; Chief 

 Engineer Hilbert, U. S. N. ; Pay Director A. W. Russell, U. S. N.; 

 Joel Cook, 0. E. McClellan, Edward W. Clark, and H. T. Kenny, 

 of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The party traveled in the special 

 car of President Roberts of the Pennsylvania Railroad; and on 

 arriving at Philadelphia, and while stopping there, Melville and 

 his companions received a welcome no less hearty than that 

 accorded them in New York. Melville's interview with a depu- 

 tation, fifty in number, from the Association of ex-engineers of 

 the United States Navy was particularly interesting and affecting. 



