and skill displayed—extolling their brave and seamanlike conduct—expressing admiration for the gallantry of all concerned, and awarding the Company's warmest thanks, not only for the services rendered, but also for the lustre added to the doings of the fleet. A sum of £500 was distributed among the crew according to their rating. Captain Atkin returned thanks, and said he and his crew had only done their duty. The Committee of Lloyd's awarded the silver medal and certificate of the Society to Captain Atkin and Chief Engineer T. Duncan, as also to Chief Officer Taylor, First Officer Frith, Second Officer Bryce, Second Engineer Charteris, and Third Engineer Bains, as honorary acknowledgments of excellent service rendered. On the 7th inst., at a crowded meeting in Liverpool Town Hall, the Lord Mayor conferred the awards on the officers of the Pavonia. When the German liner Bulgaria, which had also been towed to the Azores in distress during the same gale, arrived at Plymouth she was boarded by the Mayor and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Mercantile Association, who presented Captain Schmidt with an illuminated address of congratulation. When the Bulgaria reached Hamburg she was met by representatives of the Emperor, the Navy, and the Army, a speech was made to the crew by Admiral Késter, and decorations distributed. The town was en féte, and addresses followed 'by a banquet greeted the return of the wanderers. England accepts bravery at sea as a mere matter of course."
The action of the Cunard Company in this affair, though not one whit more than they should have done, must be described as a rather unusual proceeding for stolid Britishers; one therefore rather wonders what would have happened in the case of the Pavonia had the beating of the Bulgaria drum never been heard! Another case mentioned in the same magazine for March, 1901, is even more pronounced.
Captain Christoffers, Norddeutscher Lloyd, on completing his two-hundredth voyage was entertained at a dinner at Bremerhaven a few days ago. The Norddeutscher Lloyd Company presented him with an address and £500. The Bremen Chamber of Commerce added a silver tankard and an address, and the Kaiser filled the bill with a decoration of the Fourth Class of the Order of the Eagle. Very few British shipmasters have such high honour awarded. Evidently the German merchant navy will not go to leeward if the Kaiser can prevent it either by word or by deed."
There are other cases of more recent occurrence, but those quoted are sufficient for our purpose. -Where isthe man in the present time British merchant service who has been honoured of his country by his King or Queen, for his purely merchant service work? 'There is not a single solitary case. Honours, rewards, or glory are not for them. Even when the dogs of war are let loose, and they of all the Empire's ready sons must
