2 BELLOT. [Nov. 12, 1855. 



of 1853, over which I had the honour to preside, let me inform you 

 that through the hearty co-operation of Her Majesty's Government and 

 partiality of the Admiralty, and the good will of the Governors of 

 Greenwich Hospital, a site was obtained which testifies at once our 

 gratitude and admiration ; for the obelisk, designed by Mr. P. Hard- 

 wick, is erected on the bank of the river from which the young French 

 officer sailed, in the ' Phosnix,' commanded by Captain Inglefield, and 

 bears on its sides, which face the river and our great Naval Hospital, 

 the honoured name of * Bellot.' 



" It having been resolved that a Cenotaph to the memory of Franklin 

 and his companions is to be placed in the hall of Greenwich Hospital 

 — which is held to be sacred to the memory of the noblest of our sea- 

 men — I am sure you will unite with me in rejoicing that the memorial 

 to the young French officer should thus be raised in proximity to the 

 tribute of national regard which is paid to our lamented Polar heroes. 



" It must further be highly gratifying to all members of the Poyal 

 Geographical Society to see that our efforts to do justice to a French 

 officer have been duly appreciated in his native country, as testified by 

 the presence on this occasion of Count de Persigny, the Ambassador 

 who worthily represents a Sovereign gifted with extensive geographical 

 knowledge, and who has himself taken a deep interest in British 

 Polar expeditions. If Englishmen, to their credit, willingly came for- 

 ward to manifest their sense of the noble bearing of a young French- 

 man, let them remember that France, ever prompt to reward her own 

 brave sons, had also her testimonial ; and that the Emperor Louis 

 Napoleon assigned from his own purse a pension to the family of 

 Bellot. 



" May, then, the monument, which was erected at the call of the 

 Royal Geographical Society in honour of the young Frenchman, be, for 

 ages to come, a symbol of the union of the two countries in the cause of 

 humanity, and for the advancement of our science." 



The Count de Persigny, the French Ambassador, then rose and 

 replied — 



'* Monsieur le President, — Permettez moi de remercier Sir Roderick 

 Murchison de ce qu'il vient de dire en faveur de I'Empereur et de la 

 France. Le sujet dont il vient de vous entretenir m'a vivement inte- 

 resse. Ce que j'admire dans cette circonstance ce n'est pas seulement 

 le devouement de M. Bellot au milieu des plus rudes epreuves, mais 

 c*est par-dessus tout, la sympathie que sa mort a excitee dans toute 

 r Angieterre. Le spectacle extraordinaire d'une grande nation pleurant 

 sur la tombe d'un simple officier Fran^ais a profondement touche les 

 cocurs du peuple Fran9ais ; cette circonstance a plus fait pour fortifier 

 I'alliance des deux pays que les calculs de la politique ; et c'est un grand 

 honneur pour votreSociete d'avoirainsi provoqueune demonstration qui 

 a si fort contribuee a Tunion des deux peuples." 



Captain Washington, r.n., Hydrographer to the Admiralty, said — 

 " I need hardly say with what gratification, in common I am sure 



