Captain McClure's Welcome Home
In proposing the “Army and Navy” the Chairman said he had an honest pride in the fact that after 59 years had elapsed, a gentleman who had been one of the heroes of Trafalgar was sitting amongst them. He would couple with the toast the name of Capt. Drake, R.N., and Mr. O’Callaghan. Capt. Drake said he hoped it would not be out of order to lament the affliction which prevented one of higher rank than himself being there to respond to the toast. The patriotic spirit which was shewn at Trafalgar was as much shewn at the Alma, where a victory which was expected to occupy weeks, was gained in a few hours. [The absentee referred to was probably Earl Waldegrave, who was lamenting the loss of his valiant son]. He felt very proud in meeting Capt McClure. From the service which he, (the speaker) had seen, he could in some measure understand how much courage and perseverance was requisite to do what their guest had done. The lamented Franklin – with whom he had been acquainted, and by the loss of whom and his comrades he had been deprived of several dear friends – had said “No human being must accomplish the north-west passage but an Englishman”. He heartily congratulated Capt. McClure on his being that successful explorer. P. O. Callaghan, Esq., of St. Leonards, also responded to the toast, and in a racy speech, said Like my gallant naval friend, Capt. Drake, I regret that no military officer of higher rank or of more distinguished service is present on this occasion, and I should not have presumed to respond had I not been called upon. I trust, however, that I may be permitted to avail myself of this opportunity to express those emotions of pleasure and pride which I feel in having the honour of calling myself a countryman of our distinguished guest [Cheers]. His unhappy country and mine, I am sorry to say, has no naval history. We have been , as you all know, for centuries a conquered military province of England {No, no!]; for a considerable portion of that long time maintained in difficult and reluctant subjection. Thank God, that time is past, never to return. However, until of late years, we have not been permitted to possess even a mercantile, much less a military name. We cannot, therefore, like you, proudly point to a long line of naval heroes. We have no Howard, no Drake, no Raleigh, no Blake; nor can we boast, like your favoured town of a Cloudesley Shovell; and in more recent times we have had no Howe, no Jervis and no Rodney; and – greater than all – no Nelson. Even in the more peaceful but not more glorious pursuit of maritime discovery, we have had no Anson, no Byron and no Cooke; no Ross, no Parry, no Back; and alas no Franklin. But, at last, we have the good fortune to have the right man in the right place. We have had our McClure, who by his indommitable(sic) courage, perseverance and skill, successfully accomplished the vast project -
