May 24, 1858.] 
CAPT. COLLINSON— ROYAL AWARDS. 
237 
beyond any of his predecessors — no ship having been there before 
— it must also be remembered that this officer exhibited peculiar 
skill and prudence in the selection of his route, in overcoming great 
impediments and the opposing current, and, lastly, in re-conducting 
his ship from that dreary solitude and monotonous waste of waters 
in safety to his own country. 
A detailed list of his geographical positions has been printed in 
the Journal, and a synopsis of his meteorological, tidal, and other 
scientific observations has been deposited with the Society. 
The President then addressed the recipient of the Founder’s 
Medal in these terms : — 
“ Captain Collinson, — As a friend of Franklin of thirty-five years’ 
standing, and as one who has had his heart set upon never ceasing 
to search the Arctic regions until we obtained true tidings of the 
fate of that great explorer and his gallant companions, I enjoyed the 
sincerest gratification when our Founder’s Medal was unanimously 
voted to you at a full Council where you only (at my own request) 
were absent. 
“ Gratified as I have invariably been in seeing all our Arctic 
explorers rewarded, it truly gladdens me to have your name added 
to the list of those noble British seamen who have received our 
highest distinction for their meritorious services, whether in the 
cause of Arctic geographical discovery or in the subsequent searches 
after Franklin. 
“ When we know how perseveringly you endeavoured to realise 
a north-eastern passage from Behring Straits, by carrying your 
sailing ship, the Enterprise , to a more northern latitude in that 
meridian than any British seaman had attained, and that, trending 
a large part of the north coast of America, you pushed your Vessel 
up the eastern side of Banks Land to nearly the same point as 
your eminent brother medallist M‘Clure, and that when foiled by 
the great packs of ice you retraced your steps, and, nothing dis- 
heartened, still threaded your way eastward along the main- 
land until you reached the open sea between Victoria Land and 
King William Island, whence you brought back your ship to 
England, I have strong grounds for saying, that we mete out but 
simple justice in granting to you this distinction. 
“ There is yet, Sir, another reason which operates strongly in 
satisfying me that you are well worthy of this or any honour which 
may be conferred on you. You warmly advocated the last search 
after Franklin ; and if your judicious suggestion had been complied 
with, of sending once more a vessel by Behring Straits to the spot 
whither you went and whence you returned, and on the successful 
repetition of which you staked your well-earned reputation, we 
should now feel no anxiety respecting the isolated efforts of M‘Clin- 
tock ; whilst, to the eternal credit of our country, the problem of 
the fate of Franklin would in all probability have been for ever 
solved. 
