454 
THE VOYAGE OF TPIE VEGA. 
[chap. 
of the principal representatives of the French and foreign 
press, and lastly, what ought perhaps to have been mentioned 
first, a flower-garden of ladies, of which every dweller in the 
north might feel proud.—Monday the 5th. Meeting of the 
Institute in its well-known hall, with speeches of welcome. 
Hence we were conducted to a grand festive reception, arranged 
beforehand to the minutest details by the Municipal Council, 
in ‘Ma Salle des fitats,” situated in that part of the Tuileries 
where the Geographical Congress was held in 1878. The hall 
and the ascent to it were richly ornamented with French tri¬ 
colours and Swedish flags, beautiful Gobelins, and living plants- 
A number of speeches were made, after which the President of 
the Alunicipal Council, on the part of the City of Paris, pre¬ 
sented to me a large, artistically executed medal as a memorial 
of the voyage of the Vega} In the evening a grand dinner 
was given by the Societe de Geographie, with several eloquent 
speeches: for King Oscar (General Pittie), for President Grevy, 
for the prosperity of France (Prince Oscar), for the Vega ex¬ 
pedition (M. Qaatrefage), and so on.—Tuesday the 6th. Dinner 
given by the President of the Kepublic, .M. Grevy, to Prince 
Oscar and the Vega men then in Paris.—Wednesday the 7th. 
Dinner given to a numerous and select company of French 
savants by the then President of the Geographical Society and 
of the Institute, M. A. Daubree.—Thursday the 8th. Dinner 
to a small circle at Victor Hugo’s house, where the elderly poet 
and youthful-minded enthusiast in very warm, and I need not 
say eloquent, words congratulated me on the accomplishment of 
my task. Eeception there the same evening. 
Here ended our visit to the capital of France. Thoroughly 
1 The medal was accompanied by an ‘‘extrait du registre de proces- 
verbanx du conseil municipal de la ville de Paris,” a caligTaphic master¬ 
piece illuminated in various colours and gold. The Conseil municipal also 
ordered a detailed description of the fHe to be printed, with the title 
Relation officielle de le reception de il/. le Professeur Nordenskiold par le 
conseil municipal de Paris le lundi 5 Avril 1880. 
