escaped, as well during his travels in Africa, as in the late expedition under Captain Parry. With respect to the former, ho knew not which most to admire – the zeal and perseverance with which, under circumstances the most discouraging that could well he imagined, he had prosecuted the enterprise; or the natural and unaffected manner in which he had recorded it. Notwithstanding the death of his companion, the treachery of the natives, and the failure of his resources, he had penetrated further into that unhealthy and inhospitable country, than any Englishman who had ever come back to give an account of his travels. As to the expedition from which he was lately returned, if the attempt to discover a north-west passage had hitherto failed, he was well assured that the failure was not owing to a want of activity and exertion, hut that all had been done by him and his companions which it was possible to accomplish. He was happy to find that the Lords of the Admiralty had duly appreciated his services on that occasion, and had been pleased to reward them by raising him to the rank of Post-Captain. The corporation of Chichester were also desirous to testify their opinion of his intrepid and distinguished conduct, and therefore begged to present him with the freedom of their city. The box which contained it, and in which their sentiments were engraven, would probably accompany him on the next expedition, and sometimes remind him of the occurrences of that day, and of his friends then present, who, he assured him, would always feel a lively interest in his welfare, and whose best wishes for his health and happiness would attend him.”
The box was turned from a piece of oak, which had formed a part of the Hecla. The arms of the city of Chichester, in chased gold, are placed on the centre of the lid, the edge of which is bound by a broad fillet of raised oak leaves and acorns. The box is entirely lined with highly burnished gold, and in the upper part is the following inscription:–
“Presented, January 16th, 1824, by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of Chichester, to George Francis Lyon, Esq. Captain in the Royal Navy, in testimony of their admiration of the zeal, perseverance, and spirit of enterprise, displayed by him in his Travels in Northern Africa, and in the late Voyage to the Polar Seas, in search of a North-West Passage.”
In the evening of the same day, Captain Lyon, with a large party, among whom were Lord George Lennox, M.P. for the city, and many officers of both services, dined with the mayor and corporation. The Duke of Richmond would also have been present at this banquet, had not ill health prevented him.
