NARES, Captain to The Secretary to the Admiralty, December 14, 1876
Capt. Sir George Nares to the British Admiralty.
December 14, 1876.
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.,
The Secretary to the Admiralty.