20
A Most Unusual and Significant Transfer of the Order of St. George
WHEN A VISITOR from London entered the Whaling Museum early in June, and quietly announced he had come for the specific purpose of presenting the famous British medal, the Order of St. George, to the whalemen of Nantucket, he was promptly introduced to the Director of the Whaling Museum, Renny Stackpole, who listened to the story with no little amazement. The visitor had come to Nantucket for the purpose he had mention ed. His name was John Slater, and he was the owner of this prestigious medal, which had been presented to him in London by Queen Elizabeth II, for his work in establishing the Common Market. He did not mention that the award of the Order of St. Michael and St. George was but a step away from knighthood. Instead he told of his discovery of Melville and Moby Dick. "As I read this magnificent volume," he explained, "I was amazed by its many allusions to Nantucket and this Island's whaling history, But, when I arrived at Chapter 82, Knights and Squires, the idea of coming to Nantucket struck me." He took from his pocket a copy of the book and read the following passage:
