Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 2.djvu/430

386 remains to be determined; and I trust that the very extensive series of observations made on board the Erebus and Terror will be of material assistance in the important inquiry.

Early on the morning of the 19th, we saw the small island of Corvo, and at noon, when we were within a mile of the shore, two boats came off, loaded with eggs and fish, and fowls, all of which were very acceptable, and were procured without loss of time.

The shores of Old England came into view at 5$h$ 20$m$ on the 2nd of September, and we anchored off Folkstone at midnight of the 4th.

I landed early the next morning, and immediately proceeded to the Admiralty, where I met the most gratifying reception from Lord Haddington, Sir William Gage, and my highly valued friends, Admiral Beaufort and Sir John Barrow.

A few days after my arrival in London, I had not only the gratification of receiving the Founder's Medal awarded to me by the Council of the Royal Geographical Society of London, but that which afforded me, if possible, still greater pleasure, was the receipt of the Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society of Paris.

The ships proceeded to Woolwich, where they were dismantled and paid off on the 23rd of September; having been in commission rather more than four years and five months; and although they had gone through so much hard work, were as sound