114 LADY FKANKLIN— ROYAL AWARDS. [May 28, 1860. 



entirely unvisited, but have gone far to satisfy geographers that the 

 ice-choked channel to which the name of M'Clintock has been 

 attached, rarely, if ever, oifers a free passage for ships. 



For these successful results, obtained with very slender means 

 and under the severest trials, the Patron's Medal is bestowed on the 

 leader of this last expedition, whose services have already received 

 the warm approbation of his Sovereign and his country, and who 

 will doubtless rejoice in knowing that he is on this occasion the 

 recipient of the same honour as that which is adjudged to the noble- 

 minded widow of Franklin. 



The President then handed the Founder's Gold Medal to Sir 

 Eoderick I. Murchison, who, on behalf of Lady Franklin, replied — 



*' Connected as I have been with the Eoyal Geographical Society 

 since its foundation, I can assure you, my Lord, that no event 

 relating to our body has given me greater satisfaction than the 

 unanimous and hearty acquiescence of the Council in the proposal 

 which I made to them to grant our Founder's Medal to Lady 

 Franklin. 



" Having presided over the geographers fifteen years ago, when my 

 dear friend Franklin last left our shores, it naturally became me, in 

 the following years, when we began to be anxious about the fate of 

 the Erebus and Terror, that I should advocate every search, both 

 public and private, which might throw a light upon the voyage of 

 those vessels ; and I have thus had abundant opportunities of 

 observing and testing the sterling qualities of a woman who has 

 proved herself to be worthy of the admiration of mankind. 



*' Undaunted by failure after failure, through twelve long years 

 of hope deferred did she persevere with a singleness of purpose and 

 a sincere devotion which are truly unparalleled ; and now that her 

 own last expedition of the Fox, under the gallant M'Clintock, has 

 realized the great facts that her husband had traversed wide seas 

 unknown to all former navigators, and died in discovering a North- 

 West Passage, then surely the adjudication to her of this Medal 

 will be hailed by the nation, as well as by this Society, as one of 

 the many recompenses to which the widow of the illustrious 

 Franklin is eminently entitled. 



" Lady Franklin's gratitude for this the highest testimonial we can 

 offer, is thus feelingly expressed in a letter to myself, the only 

 drawback to my reading of which is that she dwells too much on 

 my poor though zealous services. 



" • 5, Park Place, St. James's, 

 " * My dear Sir Roderick, May 24th, i860. 



" ' As you were the first to coniTnunicate the great honour which has been 

 conferred upon me by the Council of the Koyal Geogi'aphical Society, and as I 

 know you were the first to make the suggestion which was kindly and unani- 

 mously accepted by the Council, I am sure you will do me the farther favour 

 of returning my heartfelt thanks to them. 



