Appropriation of American Discoveries by the English Admiralty

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The name of Henry Grinnell, the noble-hearted merchant of the city of New York, who purely, at the call of humanity, fitted out at his own expense an expedition to go in search of Sir John Franklin and his lost companions, and the name of Lieut. De Haven, the intrepid commander of the expedition, are both familiar to every American; and their efforts and sacrifices have received honorable tribute from the whole civilized world. So far successful as to discover unmistakable traces of the lost mariners, and to communicate the same on the 25th of Aug., 1850, to Capt. Penny, in the service of her Britannic Majesty, Lieut. De Haven also materially extended the limits of geographical discovery in the Polar Seas. To an extended tract of hitherto unknown land, situated near the latitude of 75 35' North, he gave the name of Grinnell, in honor of the patron of the expedition ; and to a remarkable peak the name of Mount Franklin. The English map, published under the auspices of the Admiralty, with a spirit of unexampled meanness, ignored the discovery of De Haven, and substituted the name of Albert Land in the place of Grinnell, on the pretence that it was discovered by Capt. Ommany, of her Britannic Majesty's ship Assistance, on the 26th. of August, 1850, the birth-day ol Prince Albert. We have no doubt that when the facts are brought to the notice of Prince Albert, he will at once desire and seek to have the name changed. His character for manly honor is very high; the name has been f retained by obsequeous officials. Coal is now being used on all the Mississippi steamers; it costs just one-third the price . " wood, for the same purpose.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 8 Issue 5This article was published with the title “Appropriation of American Discoveries by the English Admiralty” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 8 No. 5 (), p. 34
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican10161852-34b

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