File:Arctic Testimonial presented to Mr John Barrow, FRS - ILN 1856.jpg

English: Arctic Testimonial presented to Mr John Barrow, FRS Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 12 July 1856.

John Barrow (28 June 1808 – 9 December 1898)

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ARCTIC TESTIMONIAL TO MR. BARROW. IT is our pleasing duty to record the presentation of a very handsome piece of plate to Mr. Barrow, of the Admiralty, from the officers connected with the more recent Arctic Expeditions; the subscription-list being confined to those actually employed in the Polar Seas. The design consists of an octagon stand, of ebony, upon which is placed the upper part of the g1obe, with the Arctic, I uh i n i a .htirtjl I en rt-l thrteon, foman a drawing by Arrowsmith, showing the latest discoveries thii is surrounded with pit turtiue I titis of i' in frt-t d silver, ,n t hich are two ships ill winter quarter-, :tild ArI. titlil. culL a the hr1, the walrus, and the fox. (un n,- f th-, blul k- ,f i,. i- a, the. tfllow-ing inscription - TO John Barrow Esq., F.R.S., F.R.G.S., In grateful remembrance of his kind attention. iI an ackn(.wltlgmuunt of hid valuable exertioný in the lilrt lerance of the searcth for Sir John Franklin and his companions: an object which he pursued with hereditary ability, energy and devotion; this token is presented by several of the officers employed in the Arctic Searching Expeditions, 1845-54. This very appropriate piece of plate has been beautifully executed by Messrs. Smith and Nicholson, of Duke-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields. It was presented to Mr. Barrow, with a gratifying letter, signed by nearly all the officers employed in the search for the missing ships, Erehus and Terror, and gracefully referring to the Testimonial as marking the accomplishment of the great problem which formed a prominent object in the laborious and useful life of Mr. Barrow's father, Sir John Barrow; whilst it is characteristic as a token of esteem for the many acts of kindness personally rendered by Mr. Barrow to those engaged in the search. Among the signatures to the letter are those of Captains Sir James C. Ross, Austin, Kellett, Collinson, Bird., br Robt. MClure, Moore, Ingleficld. M '(uire, Osborn, and Butler: Conmmanders Trollope, Cator, Cresswell, I'hayre, Meecham, and Vernon; Lieutenants Elliott, Pirn, Hamilton, Sharpe, and Roche; Drs. Rae, M'Cormick, Simpson, Foster, &c. Mr. Barrow, in his letter of thanks to Captain Collinson and his brother officers, observes: Few, perhaps. are more acquainted than myself with the severe nature of tile service uplon which you have been employed; and, feeling so asslnrld, I do not hesitates to say that the annals of this country furnish nothing finer than the patient endurance of toil, privation, and suffliring yvou ha\ e all so cheerfully undergone in this sacred cause of humanity _Although your t forts has , unhappily, not been crowned with tlle uclce' they' de-rvue, they hove, invertheless, led to the solution of the great geographical problem which so long engaged the attention of my lamented father, and have thus secured to our country an honourable distinction in the accomplishment of aim enterprise which, through sulcee'i s rigns,. and for nearly three centuries, had heretofore baffled es cry attempt.