May 26, 1856.] ' 0BITIJAR7. 127 



a medal and clasps for the actions in the ' Nymphe,' the ' Boadicea,' 

 and the ' Superb.' Ho was appointed Inspector of Fleets and Hos- 

 pitals in 1841, and in 1850 nominated a Companion of the Bath and 

 a Knight Bachelor. Sir Benjamin took a lively interest in the 

 pursuits of this Society, and constantly attended its evening , 

 meetings. He was a true friend and a kindhearted man, and 

 in his will bequeathed various sums to several charitable institu-» 

 tions. 



Parry, Kear- Admiral Sir William Edward, Kt.,^ d.c.l., f.r.s., &c. 

 &c. — It is now my melancholy duty to pay a tribute of respect and 

 regard to our great Arctic navigator, Sir Edward Parry, whose 

 memory will ever be coupled with the records of Arctic adventure 

 of the nineteenth century. Early associated with Sir E. Parry as a 

 messmate, afterwards his first lieutenant during the memorable 

 voyage to Melville Island, and his friend through life, I shall, I 

 am sure, be excused for dwelling on his distinguished career. He 

 was born at Bath in the year 1790, and entered the Eoyal Kavy at 

 the age of twelve, under the patronage of Lord Cornwallis. Zealous 

 in his profession, intelligent and ambitious. Parry soon recom- 

 mended himself to notice, and in January, 1810, he was promoted 

 to the rank of Lieutenant and appointed to the ' Alexander,' em- 

 ployed in protecting the Spitzbergen whale fishery. It was here 

 that he first became acquainted with that frozen ocean, amidst whose 

 dangers and difficulties he was destined to earn celebrity. Subse- 

 quently serving in the ' Hogue,' he assisted in destroying twenty- 

 seven of the enemy's vessels, three of which were heavy privateers. 

 This, and a few skirmishes with the Danish gunboats, are the only 

 actions with the enemy which fell to his lot. 



On his return to England in 1817, the extraordinary changes 

 reported to have taken place in the state of the Polar Sea, determined 

 the Government to equip an expedition for Arctic discovery. Then 

 was the turning-point in Parry's life. Like most men of enterprise, 

 he seized the occasion and determined to devote himself to Arctic 

 adventure. There are but few who have not, at some time, the 

 chance of distinction, and Parry took advantage of his. We accord- 

 ingly find him in command of the ' Alexander/ and, under the orders 

 of Sir John Ross, leaving England in quest of the North-West Pas- 

 sage, by way of Davis Strait ; the result of this expedition, it is well 

 known, was the restoration to our map of the outline of Baffin Bay, 

 and the re-discovery of the famed Lancaster Sound. 



Dissatisfied, however, with the account which had been given of 



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