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opinion at the time, from which we may all of us derive something 

 to think of, and reflect on afterwards. 



Having occupied so much of your time already, I do not feel jus- 

 tified in making a further demand on it by entering into a recapitu- 

 lation of what has been done in the way of scientific discovery 

 during the last year. There is, however, one subject to which I am 

 led to advert because it is of more than usual interest, not only on 

 account of its connexion with scientific investigations, but also on 

 other grounds. 



After an interval of two years, Captain M'Clintock and those who 

 were associated with him have returned in safety from their voyage of 

 discovery, and their investigations in the Arctic regions. The result 

 has been that, although our most earnest wishes have not been realized, 

 it cannot be said that our more reasonable expectations have been 

 disappointed. There seemed to be no more than a small probability 

 that any of those who accompanied Sir John Franklin when he 

 quitted his native country in the year 1845 should be still alive in 

 the dreary and inhospitable regions in which, after the loss of their 

 vessels, they had been imprisoned. Captain M'Clintock's careful 

 inquiries have fully dissipated whatever faint hopes might have been 

 entertained of its being otherwise, leaving us only the poor consolation 

 of knowing that the sufferings of these gallant spirits are at an end. 



As scientific discoverers, Captain M'Clintock and his officers have 

 well fulfilled their mission, as is proved by the magnetic observations 

 which Captain M'Clintock has already communicated to the Royal 

 Society, and of which General Sabine, with his usual perspicuity, 

 gave us some account at one of our evening meetings. 



In speaking of those engaged in the late expedition, I am unwilling 

 to pass over in silence the name of Mr. Young, who, having been the 

 commander of a merchant-ship, took so much interest in the pro- 

 jected enterprise that he not only contributed j500 towards defraying 

 the expenses of it, but volunteered his personal services on the occa- 

 sion, by acting as master of the vessel. Nor ought I to omit to 

 notice the name of Dr. Walker, who, being engaged as surgeon, 

 acted also as naturalist to the expedition, and availed himself of such 

 scanty opportunities as those ice-bound countries afford of extending 

 his researches in natural history. Of the results which he has 

 been able to obtain I am not in a condition to give you an account at 



