116 SIR F. L. M'CLINTOCK— ROYAL AWARDS. [May 28, 1860. 



*' To the honour of France, her lost and lamented navigator La 

 Perouse has his monnment and trophies in the Louvre. Let Eng- 

 land, then, also evince her gratitude to Franklin and his com- 

 panions by a durable public memorial in bronze, and thus show 

 that she not less truly honours those who die in so nobly serving 

 their country." 



The President, in presenting the Patron's Medal to Captain Sir 

 F. L. M'Clintock, said :— 



" It affords me sincere gratification to be the medium, of conveying 

 to you. Captain M'Clintock, this, one of the two highest rewards 

 the Geographical Society can confer ; and in recognising the great 

 services you have performed, I may be permitted to say that the 

 value of those services to the cause of geographical science is 

 appreciated throughout the civilised world." 



Sir F. 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 Eoyal Geographical 

 Society places upon my humble services. You are aware that the 

 discoveries which have gained for me this honourable distinction 

 were made incidentally, while following up anxiously a widely 

 different purpose ; and I regard it as an additional proof of the 

 liberality of the Council that they have, notwithstanding this cir- 

 cumstance, conferred upon me this valuable token of their approval. 

 I am sure you will 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. This circumstance — the recognition of 

 the last services of the lamented Franklin and his devoted com- 

 panions, is a richer reward to me 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 conferred upon me 

 not only a reward for my humble efforts, but a pleasing acknow- 

 ledgment of their services. It has not been my fate to be employed 

 directly and exclusively on geographical discoveries, but 1 trust 

 that this ample recompense for past will be an incentive to future 

 exertions in the same course. We live in times of great change, 

 and it is impossible for any one, especially in my profession, to say 

 what may be his future destination ; but it will afford me great 

 pleasure if the offer of my services should be accepted hereafter to 

 explore new regions, and extend the boundaries of our knowledge 

 of the Arctic Seas." 



