A very valuable piece of plate was, some years ago, presented to Sir George by the commissioned gentlemen in the service, as a mark of respect and esteem; and this circumstance may be adduced by Sir George’s friends, with every appearance of reason, as a proof of his popularity; but the matter is easily explained.  Some two or three persons who share Sir George’s favour, determine among themselves to present him with some token of their gratitude.  They address a circular on the subject to all the Company’s officers, well knowing that none dare refuse in the face of the whole country to subscribe their name.  The same cogent reasons that suppress the utterance of discontent compelled the Company’s servants to subscribe to this testimonial; and the subscription list accordingly exhibits, with few exceptions, the names of every commissioned gentleman in the service; while two-thirds of them would much rather have withheld their signatures.

Sir George owes his ribbon to the successful issue of the Arctic expedition conducted by Messrs. Dease and Simpson.  His share of the merit consisted in drawing out instructions for those gentlemen, which occupied about half-an-hour of his time at the desk.  It is quite certain that the expedition owed none of its success to those instructions.  The chief of the party, Mr. Dease, was at least as well qualified to give as to receive instructions; and Sir George is well aware of the fact.  He knows, too, that Mr. Dease was engaged in the Arctic expedition under Sir J. Franklin, where he acquired that experience which brought this important yet hazardous undertaking to a successful issue; he knows also that in an enterprise of this kind a thousand contingencies may arise, which must be left entirely to the judgment of those engaged in it to provide against.

Sir George, nevertheless, obtained the chief honours; but the bauble perishes with him; while the courage, the energy and the perseverance of Mr. Dease and his colleague will ever be a subject of admiration to those who peruse the narrative of their adventures.

Sir George’s administration, it is granted, has been a successful one; yet his own friends will admit that much of this success must be ascribed to his good fortune rather than to his talents.  The North-West Company had previously reduced the business to a perfect system, which he had only to follow.  It is true he introduced great economy into every department; but the North-West Company had done so before him, and the wasteful extravagance which preceded his appointment was entirely the result of the rivalry between the two companies, and under any governor whatever would have ceased when the coalition was effected.