“On Board the Virgo, Dansk-Gatt,
July 14th, 1896.
“To Madame Lachambre, Paris.
“Dear Madame,—
“To-day being the national fête day of your native country, la belle France, we gladly seized the welcome opportunity to present to M. Lachambre our sincere thanks for the great services which he has rendered to our expedition by the careful and excellent work which he has executed, and for his personal attendance here in order to give us the benefit of his valuable experience. Certainly, this voyage has been a great sacrifice, both for you and for him, and it is, therefore, our duty to thank you as well as M. Lachambre.
“We have this day drunk the health of M. and Madame Lachambre, at the same time hoisting the tricolour and singing the ‘Marseillaise.’ On this occasion Andrée has had the honour of fixing on M. Lachambre’s breast the decoration of the Academical Palms, and we have congratulated him with enthusiasm on receiving this well-merited distinction.
“We beg you will rest assured, Dear Madame, that we are doing our best to minimise the inconveniences resulting to M. Lachambre from a life in these very inhospitable regions.
“We are, Dear Madame,
“Yours most respectfully,
(Signed) “S. A. Andrée; Nils Ekholm; Nils Strindberg; Zachau, captain of the Virgo; Goste Grumberg, zoologist; Carl Ekelund, physician; Svante Arrhénius, hydrographer.”
And while Strindberg strummed on his violin the most poetical and impassioned Swedish tunes, the wind raged outside and the vessel rocked and creaked fearfully.