CONCLUSION. 309 



CONCLUSION. 



We sailed all the way home from Greenland, yet the ' Fox ' 

 made the passage in only nineteen days, arriving in the 

 English Channel on 20th September; on the evening of 

 the 2 1 st I reached London (having landed at Portsmouth), 

 and made known to the Admiralty the result of my voyage. 



On the 23rd September the 'Fox' was taken into dock at 

 Blackwall ; and, through the kindness and promptitude of 

 the Lords of the Admiralty, I was enabled on the 27th, 

 when the crew were assembled for the last time, to present 

 the Arctic Medal to such of my companions as had not 

 already received it for previous arctic service, and also to 

 inform Lieutenant Hobson that his promotion to the rank 

 of Commander would speedily take place. 



I will not intrude upon the reader, who has followed me 

 through the pages of this simple narrative, any description 

 of my feelings on finding the enthusiasm with which we 

 were all received on landing upon our native shores. The 

 blessing of Providence had attended our efforts, and more 

 than a full measure of approval from our friends and country- 

 men has been our reward. For myself the testimonial given 

 me by the officers and crew of the ' Fox ' has touched me 

 perhaps more than all. The purchase of a gold chrono- 

 meter, for presentation to me, was the first use the men 

 made of their earnings ; and as long as I live it will remind 

 me of that perfect harmony, that mutual esteem and good- 

 will, which made our ship's company a happy little com- 



