Page:Item 5 1853.pdf/93

warfare. I sincerely hope that no ludicrous misfortune may befall any portion of Miss Nightingale’s interesting brigade, and that they may return as cheerful and as happy as when they proceeded on their benevolent mission. [Applause]. Good as was Mr. O’Callaghan’s speech in response for the army, still better was one which followed by Dr. Blakiston (also of St. Leonards) as touching the objects of Capt. McClure’s expedition to the polar regions. In addressing the Chairman, Dr. Blakinson(sic) said - I am sure there is no one present who does not feel that this is a meeting of no ordinary character. We are assembled to do honour to our distinguished guest and to welcome him back from his glorious and perilous enterprise; yet not under a cloudless sky of joy and festivity. All of us feel that there is a dark cloud of sorrow over us, and therefore it is, sir, that I rise at your request to give expression to our deep feelings of emotion by proposing “The Memory of those who have perished in the Arctic Regions.” From the information which has been recently conveyed to us by a veteran Arctic traveller, I fear, sir, we shall find ourselves forced to conclude in our melancholy toast the illustrious Franklin and his brave companions, whatever diversity of opinion may exist as to the manner in which they met their deaths. Suspense is gone and sad reality supplies its place. That we may properly appreciate the labours of our countrymen in the Polar seas it is necessary for us to take a just view of the objects they proposed to themselves in undertaking them; because when a fearful risk to life is incurred for mere paltry or unworthy objects an act is stamped with the character of folly or madness, which if undertaken for the benefit of a fellow creature would be one of noble heroism. It has been erroneously supposed by many that the sole object proposed in the Arctic expedition was the discovery of a north-west passage for our shipping, which some have agreed if discovered could only be navigable for a short period of the year, and would therefore be comparatively useless. But this is taking by far too narrow a view of the matter. There was a large part of the Earth’s surface in these latitudes the geographical position of which was totally unknown to us, and there were various scientific observations to be there made which were required as data for the elimination of some of the most important truths which could occupy the mind of man. It was in consequence of this that Sir Edward Parry was accompanied in his expedition by my highly gifted friend, Col. Sabine. The geographical discoveries that were then made have long been matters of history. But it is very interesting to us on this occasion to recall to our recollection that they passed two seasons in sight of the very spot where the gallant McClure and his crew lay so long icebound, separated only by that frozen gulph which he subsequently crossed, and thereby established the north-west passage. The additions, too, that have been made to our geographical knowledge by the different parties who went out in search of Franklin have been -