No. 132.
Sir Edward Thornton to Mr. Fish.

Sir: In compliance with instructions which I have received from the Earl of Derby, I have the honor to inclose copy of a letter addressed to the foreign office by the admiralty and of its inclosure, a letter dated the 14th of December last, from Capt. Sir George Nares, forwarding the documents and stores belonging to the Polaris expedition which were recovered during the voyage of Her Majesty’s ships Alert and Discovery in the Arctic Sea.

I also inclose a list of the above-mentioned articles, which are transmitted [Page 270] separately in three cases, one hamper, a copper cylinder with a record, and an envelope containing an ensign which was hoisted over “Hall’s Rest” by the British expedition in May, 1876.

I have the honor, &c.,

EDW’D THORNTON.
[Inclosure.]

Capt. Sir George Nares to the British Admiralty.

Sir: I have the honor to forward the two original official records, and the books, instruments, and stores belonging to the recent United States Polar Expedition, which were recovered during the voyage of Her Majesty’s ships Alert and Discovery in the Arctic Sea.

The books were found near the site of the second winter quarters of the Polaris, at Life-Boat Cove, scattered about in different boxes, which contained also scraps of skins and other unimportant articles, as mentioned in my report of the 27th of October, 1876.

The records and other articles were found at Hall’s Rest, in Polaris Bay, or at the boats’ depots, in Newman’s Bay.

The chronometer, after four years’ exposure to the Arctic weather, has kept excellent time since its recovery.

As an interesting relic, I have the honor to forward an American flag which was hoisted at Hall’s grave when a memorial tablet was erected to his memory by the late-British expedition, and left flying there for several days while the sledge parties were in the neighborhood.

I have, &c.,

G. S. NARES, Captain.

The Secretary to the Admiralty.