Abstract
As might have been expected, Prof. Nordenskjöld and his companions have met with an enthusiastic reception in Paris, both from Government, from the scientific societies, and from the general public. Delegates from the Government received him on his arrival, the unusual honour of a Commandership of the Legion of Honour has been conferred upon him, while Capt. Palander has been made an officer. He was present at the public meeting of the Sociétés Savantes, when he received a warm reception, while the Geographical Society received him publicly in the Cirque of the Champs Elysées. On Sunday a banquet at the Hôtel Continental was given him, with Prince Oscar of Sweden as president, and on Monday another banquet by the Geographical Society as a body, while the municipality of Paris presented him with a special gold medal. We wonder if any member of the municipality of London could tell who Nordenskjöld is, or what he has done, that all Europe, except England, should make so much fuss about him. Such a reception as he has had in Paris in its nationality and publicity contrasts markedly with the treatment he received here. No doubt he arrived at an unfortunate time, but surely, if the transition state of the Government excused inaction on its part, the Geographical Society could have organised a meeting, even although a prince was not at hand to take the chair. Possibly after all our insular want of sympathy with foreign enterprise, however great, may account for the absence of that enthusiasm which greeted our own abortive expedition of three years ago. The English edition of Prof. Nordenskjöld's narrative will be published by Macmillan and Co.; it will appear simultaneously in English, Swedish, German, and French.
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Geographical Notes . Nature 21, 549–550 (1880). https://doi.org/10.1038/021549a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/021549a0