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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper i^ft hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diegrams iiluatrata the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmte A dns taux de reduction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est fiimA A psrtir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de heut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammas suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pfpppp" ^■SnqTwqtlpiu iw,u .;,>i o OC OC Ul CO CO lli n H t? w Tl REAR ADMIRAL SIR JOHN FRANKLIN, cr§. Ji.c.^). A NARRATIVE OP THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND CAUSES WHICH LED TO THE FAILURE OF THE SEARCHING EXPEDITIONS SENT BY GOVERNMENT AND OTHERS FOR THE RESCUE OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN. BY REAK-ADMIEAL SIR JOHN EOSS, C.B., K.C.S., K.S.A., &c. MAGNA EST VERITAS, BT PB^VALEBIT.' LONDON: LONGMANS, GREEN, BROWN, Lieutenants. J. W. Fairholme, j Ch. F. dc Vjeux, \ Robert O. Sargent, > Mates. Edward Conch, ) H. F. Collins, Second Master. Stephen Stanley, Surgeon. H. B. Goodsir, Assistant Surgeon. C. H. Osmer, Paymaster. James Reid, Ice Master. 12 Warrant and Petty Officers. 53 Seamen and Marines. 70 Total. Terror. Richard Crozier, Captain. Edward Little, \ G. H. Hodgson, > LieulenarUs, John Irving, J Frederick Hornby, \ itr f Robert Thomas, j Thomas Blanky, Ice MaMer. MacBean Second MaMer. John Peddle, Surgeon. 11 fore the esi- ttlc, I to ons, i^ere OSS, ime on's cha and i Alexander M'Donald, Assistant Surgeon. J. Holpman, Clerk in Charge. 1 1 Warrant and Petty Officers. 67 Seamen and Marines. :8 Total. Grand Total, 138. [For Sir John Franklin's official instractions, see Appendix, A.] In the autumn of the year 1846, Captains in the Royal Navy were peremptorily called upon to decide on taking the retirement, and being senior to the prescribed time (18-25), I was of course entitled to it, and might have retired with the offered guinea per day, but my sacred promise to Franklin prevented me, as it would have incapacitated me from taking the command of any Government expedition. The answer to my first letter having been evasive, I therefore wrote a second to the Admiralty, declining to accept the retirement in con- sequence of my promise to volunteer to search for him if not heard of in February, 1847, for which I had a flattering acknowledgment ; and having no doubt that my services would be accepted, I remained without making any further application until the time should arrive, while the retirement took place on the 1st of October, 1846, when I found my name within sixty of the top of the list of captains, and very few senior to me actually employed. The return home of Sir John Franklin was now anxiously expected, but at the end of the month, when all hope of that was at an end, the cry was, Oh ! he has got through, and we shall hear of him through the Sandwich Islands, via Mazatalan, in January; and my having expressed some doubts of his success, brought down upon me the censure and opprobrium of all the opposite party, and through them the indignation of Sir John Franklin's best friend. Besides my pamphlet in refutation of Sir John Barrow's misrepresentations, which caused the tide to turn in my favour, the return of Dr. John Rae, who had been quietly employed to explore the space to the S. E. of the Isthmus of Boothia, of which expedition neither Sir J. Barrow nor Sir J. C. Ross had any knowledge, confirming all that I had asserted, and which by these gentlemen had been unwarrantably denied, turned the tide so com- 12 pletely in my favour, that anything appeared to them better than to allow me to command any expedition for the rescue of Franklin, and steps were taken accordin<;;ly. Anxious, however, to obtain all the information possible, and being also obliged to give up my appointment as Consid at Stockholm, which I had resigned, and to settle my aftairs there, I took Lady Ross to Balkail, where I left her, during my absence with my brother-in-law, Mr. Adair, and proceeded via Edinburgh first in a small vessel to Norway, then to Gothenburg, and eventually to Stockholm, where I remained during the month of June. Before leaving London, however, on the *28th May, 1846, I conceived a plan of combining the relief of Frank- lin with the measurement of an arc of the meridia" ut Spitzbergen, on which subject I had a communication with my friend. Professor Schumacher. Having arrived safely in London with my little yacht the A/rt/7/, assisted by only one seaman, 1 had her hauled up at Woolwich by permission of Admiral Dundas, in Woolwich Dock-yard. Intending her as my retreat vessel should I be so fortunate as to obtain tlie command of an expedition for the rescue of the missing ships, I wrote the following letter to the Secretary, which I have before alluded to, on the subject of retirement. Sir, 16, Park-street, Grosvenor-square, Sept. 28, 1846. Having promised to Sir John Franklin that, in the event of the Expedition under his command being frozen in (as the one I directed was for four years), I would volunteer in 1847 to proceed to certain positions we had agreed upon in search of him and his brave companions, I request you will be pleased to inform me if their Lordships would consider my accepting the retirement a bar to my being appointed to any ship or vessel that may be ordered on that service. I have, (kc, ■ ' John Ross. W. A. B. Hamilton, Captain, B,.N., Secretary, &c. &c. To this I received the following answer from the Secre- tary of the Admiralty. i 13 1* -' 'PI Sir, Admiralty, Sept. 30, 1843. I have received and laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 28th instant, and I am to acquaint you in reply, that although your gallant and humane intentions are fully appreciated by their Lordships, yet no such service is at present contemplated by my Lords, and they have not, therefore, takou into consideration the appointment of an officer to conduct it. I have, lan, whicli, for obvious reasons, was never acted upon. I have been induced to renew my application to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty mainly from the fact of my having promised to Sir John Franklin that 1 would volunteer to rescue him find his brave companions if not heard of in the sjiring of 1847, and the probability (nothing having been heard of his cxjiedition by the whalers, now all arrived from Baffin's Bay) is, that the ships are cither frozen up or that some misfortune has befallen them. My proposal is, therefore, that an expedition should be pre])ared, such as in that extract of my letter to Admiral Beaufort, and that if no accounts are received of Sir John Franklin's expedition before the 1st of July, 1847, the expedition shoidd proceed to Lancaster Sound, in search of that gallant officer and the men employed in ascertaining the existence or otherwise of a north-west passage. But if, on the contrary, the expedition returns by that time, or if it has happily passed Behring's Straits, then the expedition inider my command will proceed to Spitzbergen, in order to per- form the service I have described. Having pointed out to their Lordships how the expedition could be fitted oiit at a very moderate expense, I have earnestly stated the necessity of com- mencing the fitting out the expedition, first, because it will bo absolutely necessary to provide Lapland clothing for those who are to be employed in travelling to search for Sir John Franklin and his companions, and in travelling to the Pole, and this kind of clothing can only bo procured during the winter through Consul- General Crowe, at Christiana, in Norway ; secondly, the steam machinery for the vessel I. have selected, the fitting out of which will require considerable time. Trusting that your Lordship's candour will excuse my zeal in the advancement of science and geographical knowledge, and do justice to the sincerity of my desire to rescue the gallant oflftcers III IN 31 of :l ■I 1^ and mon who arc now looking forward to tlio proiniso I niado of rend(>rinc rise and full of tide was never more tlmn niiK! feet, while the dnift of water wuh nineteen feet, and as for heaving a ship down atnou},' 'wv. when she has been damaged, that is a vain attempt. The fourth, and indeed great reason why Sir John Franklin's expedition has not been heard of since 23i'd July, lHir>, is that he had no vessel of retreat, a circumstance which, after the experience of my last voyage, in which our safety nVuler Divine Pro- vidence is to be attributcul to our having a (/e//d/ of provi- sions and boats sufficiiMit to save the crews at a distance to which we could retreat, was not to bo lost sight of. IJis liordshi]) referring to my plan of four small vessels equal to ciirry the sanie quantity of ])rovi8ions as two large ones — one to be a steamer, and another a vessel of retreat, which would secure a return in case of accident, sj^cmed to incline to my opinion; but unfortunately the Council consisted of those who were adverse to my proposal or to any proposal which emanated from me ; and the answer I received, after a month's delay, was, as before stated. Thus the favourable season presenting a most important opportunity, which, ])roperly used by adopting the mea- sures I had suggested, and which would have certainly led to results conclusive, probably favourable to the cause of humanity and science, was most wantonly lost, and no small wciglit of responsibility rests both upon the Board of Admiralty and lloyal Society for the prominent part they respectively took in this most unfortunate misappre- hension of duty. The Astronomical Society, to which I also applied, was favourable, and decided that if the lloyal Society gave their recommendation, the President and Council of the Astronomical Society would ba-^k the recommendation, which of course fell to the ground, but which was not to be wondered at, as some were members of both societies. Although I had not been invited to any of the consulta- tions held on the subject of Sir John Franklin's expedi- tion, either touching the eqnipment, prospects, or position of his ships; and although my opinions, especially that he would not succeed, were held in contempt and derision, I considered it a duty I owed to my friend, who had been so sincere and active in my rescue, to communicate with his amiable and talented Lady, and for this purpose I called at her residence, Bedford-place, and saw her father. «lli i 11 Vy ■* i Q3 I For lijulysliip boin^ nt IJrigliton, 1 olIonMl to go tlioro to see lusr, iind of this slio was iiifoniuMl. Ikit slic, too, 1j(mI 1)C'(mi cuJoIimI ! ♦♦Sir .lolm Ross," slie was in- formed, "is the only one wlio says Sir Jolin Franklin cannot succeed — and at nay rate, he can easily get to the whalers — Sir John Jloss's plans are all absurd." And I was given to understand that her Ladyship was indignant that I should throw any doubt on the subject. Her father never returned my call, and my oiler not being accepted, 1 could not proceed further in that direction ; which I deej)ly regret, as 1 am confident I could have con- vinced her that no time was to be lost, and even if I was in error, it was on the safe side; that my plan of four small instead of two large vessels would extend the search, and that if the expedition was frozen up (as probably the case) Sir John had neither a (/epuf nor a vessel of retreat, or boats belonging to the ship that could carry half his crew, or even if they had such boats they could not be converted to the use by being carried over the ice, as proved by my being ol llged to abandon such boats half- way on my last expedition. The following paper was submitted to the consideration of the Uritish Association for the Advancenient of Science, on the expedition under the command of Sir John Franklin— Oxford, 23rd June, 1847. As the interest in the discovery of the north-west passage had been lying dormant after Parry's failure in 1825 had been revived by me in 182!), and, since my return in 1833, has occupied a con- siderable share in the attention of the public ; and as the anxiety for the f;itc of the ships now employed in that arduous service has increased by the certainty that they cannot have succeeded, as was expected during the hist autumn, either in accomplishing tlic desired object or in returning to England ; and it is known that T had promised Sir John Franklin, who took great interest in my rescue, that in return I would volunteer my services, in search of him and his brave companions ; I have thought it would be satis- factory to the British Association for the Advancement of Science that I should briefly state my opinion as to the probability of his present situation and prospect of success, but more particularly to describe the disadvantages under which he labours — a task which it shall be one of my objects to perform, and which is the more readily undertaken inasmuch as it may, on the one hand, prepare the public to be more liberal in their praise, should his efforts 24 V ■■ I .1 i I. hk prove ultiniHtely succcHHfiil, and, on the other hand, sliould the difficultiea that beset him be too great for him to overcome, to withhold that censure which is too oft visited on those who unfor- tunately fail to gratify the highly wrought expectations of the public. Sir John Barrow, who (notwithstanding the undeniable opposi- tion of Dr. Scoresby) in his published autobiography, still persists that he was the originator of the expedition of lcS18, is without doubt entitled to be styled the i)ronioter of that now connnanded by Sir John Franklin, and as such nuist be considered as obnoxious to the observations I have to make on this undertaking. In the first place, I shall observe, that from the loss of the Fury, and the danger to which the lltcla v/as exposed, from their great draft of water, he nmst have been fully av/are of that great disadvantage ; is it not, therefore, extraordinary that he should have fixed on two ships still larger than tliose mentioned, and of a greater draft of water ? It was well known that field ice in that region was twelve feet thick, but the U rebus and Terror drew nineteen feet or more. The ships when beset are in a helpless state, carried along by the ice, wherever it is impelled by wind, tide, or current, and should they be drifted in this state over a shoal or bed of rocks, above which the ice would float but not the ships, their loss would be inevitjible, and the unfortunate crews cast upon the ice in a state of destitution ! This might, and, I will add, ought to have been avoided, and great expense saved also, by choosing vessels of a draft of water less than ten feet, which would carry, in proportion to th j crews, an equal quantity of provisions, should this accident hi.ve happened, and if they were reduced to their own exertions for a supply of food, their misery would be much aggravated by their number (138) to be provided for. And even if only one of the two vessels has been lost, this will throw both crews on the other, and thus they may be by this time in distress ! The next disadvantage I shall mention is the inexperience of the officers and crews in the navigation of those seas, for, excepting Captain Crozier and the two ice-masters, there -> re none who have had any practice in that peculiar kind of navig..tion. The screw propeller might be of service until they were beset in the ice, after that it could be of no use what- ever, while it must be admitted that the part of the ship where the screw is fitted must be materially weakened, and less able to sustain the pressure to which it would be occasionally exposed. It must be recollected that Sir John Franklin was to try what his predecessor Parry and the majority of his officers considered imprudent, to put the ships into the ice, either in the Wellington Channel or at the west end of Melville Islan 1, and run the risk of bemg able to make his way through the ice to Behring's Strait. It is probable, indeed, if he gets so far, that when he and his m ^r ■M 25 officers saw the consequence of doing what Parry thought so im- prudent, that he deemed it proper to wait an opportunity, when tho sea to the westward of Melville Island appeared favourable, and make a push in the direct course. But, as I have already said, he cannot have succeeded in getting through during last autumn, or we must have heard long since of his arrival at tho Sandwich Islands, Kamtschatka, or I'anama ; and as the whalers of last season (1 840) have reported that Lancaster Sound was unnavigable and full of ice, he could not have returned had ho desired it. It is true the ships cannot be said to be missing, as they had provisions (if no accident had happened to either) until the summer of 1848. Sir John Kichardson has been directed by Government to prepare a quantity of provisions to be sent through the Hudson's Bay (vompany to the northern coast of America, in case the ships should have to pass another winter there, or in having been obliged to abandon them, to make the best of their way to the possessions of the Hudson's Bay Company, near the mouth of the Mackenzie River ; however, sanguine hopes may still be entertained not only of their safety but success. Nor would it be at all surprising or alarm- ing if the expedition is not heard of, in either October or in January next, because the reports from Canada and Sweden repre- sent the hist winter as having been uncommonly severe and long ; and in the event of the ships being frozen up, as my vessel was, no rolief can arrive at them by sea until August, 1848. In the event of the expedition not being heard of in February, I have no doubt that an expedition of relief by sea will be sent out in June, 1848, which, in my opinion, will be most likely to accomplish the rescue, should an accident have happened, or to supply them with pro- visions. I have annexed to this paper a small scale, which in the first place points out the position of the ships when last seen ; secondly, where it is probable either would be left if they advanced, and possibly provisions would be deposited; and lastly, the positii^n near Cornwallis Island where they would most likely be frozen up, should they not make their appearance on the other side. Appended to this paper was my plan of four vessels, already given. The following answer was received by me from D. S. Ansted, Secretary to C Section, British Association: — 20 Sir, Committee Rooms, Section C, Oxford, June 24, 1847. ■'^'1% I have the honour to inform you that your paper on " The Expedition under the command of Sir John Franklin," was this day considered by the Committee of Section C, to which it was referred by the Assistant General Secretary, and that the Com- mittee pa-sed the following resolution : " Resolved, that the paper of Sir John Ross be declined, it being contrary to the objects of the British Association to discuss the propriety of an expedition undertaken by Government." I have the honour to be, Your obedient servant, D. S. Ansted, Sec. to Section C. To Sir John Ross. By this decision I was denied the privilege of discus- sion, nor was questioned on the subject, although it was notorious that, previous to Sir John Franklin's departure, and at every subsequent meeting but this at Oxford, the Association not only interfered, but gave strong recom- mendations in favour of succeeding expeditions. A pro- posal of Dr. Lee, recommending my plan of measuring an arc of the meridian at Spitzbergen, met the same fate from this untoward committee. As time wore on, it was with heartfelt grief I observed that, as usual after a very mild season, that which suc- ceeded was severe ; tmd it was with mixed feelings of hope and anxiety I looked for the return of ray gallant friend, or that news would be heard of his having passed Behring's Straits; but the month of November, 1847, put an end to the hope of his return, and the probability was that, having wintered somewhere in Barrow's Strait, owing to the mildness of the preceding winter of 1846-7, the ice had opened, and, taking advantage of this illusory circumstance, he was induced to push on, in hopes of complete success, and, consequently, had been frozen in either between Bank's Land and Cape Walker, or, having tried the Wellington Channel, he was beset at the north of the North Georgian Islands The opposite party then took the alarm, for the arrival of Dr. Rae, confirming all my assertions respecting a passage south of Boothia were found to be correct, and the assertion of any passage in that direction was clearly a palpable fabrication to injure ray professional reputation, and ii!: '■'4 27 the object of my opponents was now turned of course to frustrate my endeavours to command the expe- dition, which it was now evident must be fitted out for the next season. Accordingly, unknown to me, a meeting was held at Lady Franklin's residence, at which all my proposals were sneered at and my opinions scouted, while I was represented to be too old and infirm to undertake such a service ; and the objections of my nephew's wife's friends and his own being removed, it was agreed that Lady Franklin should write to Lord Auckland, to request that his Lordship would give the command of the expedi- tion to him instead of to me. This information was given to me by a friend who was present, and who requested his name should not be mentioned. But I did not receive this information until after I had written the following letter to the Secretary, applying for the command, and enclosing a plan for a new expedition of four vessels ; for although I was confident that the favourable season had passed and been lost, and that the prospect before us was anything but cheering, still, further delay was out of the question ; and I was certain that, under existing circum- stances, small vessels such as I recommended were the most efficient. Sir, 16, Park-street, Grosvenor-square, Nov. 13, 1847. Herewith you will receive, for the information of the Right Honourable the Earl of Auckland, the following statement touch- ing the progress, difficulties, and probable position of the expedi- tion for the discovery of a north-west passage, under the command of yir John Franklin, together with the inclosed plan, being a proposal which, in my humble opinion, is not only the most efficient for the rescue of that gallant officer and those under his command, but also provides with certainty for the safe return of those employed in this interesting and arduous service. First, touching the circumstances under which Sir John Franklin left this country in May, 1845. The success and progress of an expedition which has to navigate Baffin's Bay and the seas to the westward, depend much on the mildness or the severity of the winter that preceded its departure, and that of 1844-5 being more than usually severe, the progress made, by accounts from the whalers, was fourteen days later, in crossing to the west land, in that season, than usual ; therefore Cornwalhs Island is certainly the furthest that could be accompUshed by the expedition in 1845. 28 hi The winter of 1846 having been more mild, there can be no doubt that the attempt would be made to make the passage, when consequently an opportunity offered. By the last letters received from Mr. Reid, the master of the JtJ rebus, it was his advice that the expedition should keep well to the northward, until they reached the longitude of Behring's Strait, and then " bear up." But as no accounts have been received of the expedition during 1847, it is evident the ships have not succeeded in the autumn of 1846 in passing Behring's Strait, the ships must, therefore, be frozen up, either among the ice or in some harbour, if they have not suffered shipwreck. Now as the winter of 1845-6 was not only more severe but three weeks longer than usual, there can be no doubt they would be under the necessity of continuing in their position, and that they could not be extricated, even if they had met with no damage, until August, 1847, at least; and, as they have not returned by way of Baffin's Bay, they cannot be heard of in the Pacific until the end of January, 1848. 2dly. Touching the " difficulties and disadvantages under which he labours." The first I shall allude to is the size and conse- quent great draught of water of the two ships — namely, nineteen feet. This is a very great disadvantage, as when the ships are beset with field-ice, as must unavoidably be the case, after passing the west-end of Melville Island, which ice is only ten feet thick, if carried over shoals or rocks, the ships will take the ground before the ice, and, as was the case with the Ftiry, be inevitably lost. The Victory (my vessel) drew only seven feet, and as the ice always grounded first, she met with no damage, but the rocks wliich she passed over were often seen under her bottom. Besides, in the event of damage, the bottom of a ship, drawing nineteen feet water, cannot be repaired by laying her on the ground, when the tide, as is the case in these regions, only recedes eight or nine feet. The second disadvantage is, that only two of the crew in each ship have ever navigated among ice. Sir John Franklin not having taken the precaution of securing men used to that kind of navigation, to the use of ice anchors, ice saws, and the appearance of danger from the mast-head. Ships of a large size are also in proportion much more difficult to manage among ice, and much less able to withstand the pressure of the ice when beset ; finally, the difficulty of providing for so many men in the event of the ship being abandoned. 3rdly. Touching the various plans proposed. That under the direction of Sir John Richardson cannot be of any use in extricating them from their present position, and can only be considered as useful in carrying a supply to the Mackenzie River establishment, for their use, if ever they reach it. If the crews of the ships are obliged to abandon them or their position, they must do so m in the month of April next, and if the Mackenzie Ptivcr is their destination, they would arrive (if they aii-ived nt all) before the end of June; after which time it is impossible for Sir John Kichardson's party to proceed to look for them, or for either party to travel over rough and broken ice, on which the snow has melted. His party must, therefore, winter at the Mackenzie, and proceed in the spring of 1 849, when it would be too late to find any of them alive ! 4thly. Touching Dr. King's plan. Were the objects only to inform Sir John Franklin that a ship had been sent to the north-west comer of North Somerset, he would no doubt have a better chance of finding him, vid Coppermine River, than Dr. Richardson. But this information he already possesses from me, before he left England, and as Dr. King cannot pretend to carry any provisions more than necessary for the support of his own pjirty, he could bring them no relief, and therefore his journey would be of little service, excepting as a guide. And as Sir John Franklin is also aware that he will find cruisers, if fortunate enough to pass Behring's Straits, nothing further need be said on that subject.* 5thly. Touching the probability of their present position. Admitting, in the first place, that neither ship has been wrecked, as the winds and currents (which are always infiuenced by the winds) are, both by Sir E. Parry's accounts and mine, in the proportion of 2 to 1 from the north-westward, the ships must, after they had passed Melville Island, have been carried in the opposite direction ; and the probability is, that they are either at Bank's Land of Parry or between that and the west side of Boothia Felix, and certainly from 400 to GOO miles from the northern coast of America, which, especially if they had to travel over land, would be impossible ; and I cannot believe that it would be attempted. It must be remembered that the Victory's men, who had to travel scarcely half the distance, were obliged to abandon our boats after the first week of our journey, and arrived at Fury Beach completely exhausted, on the 1st of July, at which time the ice became suddenly covered with water by the melting of the snow. If, as was their first intention, the expedition passed to the northward by the Wellington Channel, their situation is still more critical, and totally beyond the power of either Sir John Richardson or Dr. King to reach their position, or afford any relief. Indeed, I may safely assert that Sir John Franklin can have no hope but in the plan which I have recommended, and of which I made him aware before he sailed ; and if one of the ships has been wrecked — a circumstance not at all improbable — and the crews of both subsisting on the provisions of the other, their situation must be alreiidy deplorable ; * If Dr. King had fortunately discovered Sir John Franklin, which is pro- bable, he would, at any rate, have rendered subsequent search unnecessary. flH 80 and it was principally on that account I volunteered to proceed to their relief during the last summer. I trust, sir, that when the Earl of Auckland has taken into consideration the kind interest which his late Majesty's Govern- ment, and particularly Sir John Franklin, took on my account, when in a similar situation, hia Lordship's candour will view my anxiety with allowance, excuse my zeal, and pardon this trespass on his Lordship's attention. I have the honour to be, sir. Your most obedient, humble servant, John Iloss, Captain, E-IST. To this letter the usual reply was made, — " that it had been received and laid before their Lordships," — but no other steps were taken. Time fleeted on. Thus repulsed and embarrassed by the frigid treatment of the Admiralty, the stupid per- tinacity which guided or restrained the Councils of the lloyal and other Societies, which extended to the British Association for the Advancement of Science, I made every possible exertion to raise funds among my friends in order to fit out a private expedition in search of Sir John Franklin ; but in vain. I would, indeed, willingly have done so at my own expense, convinced that the fate of my valued friend, who had taken such deep interest in my own rescue, depended on the efforts that ought to be made in a season so favourable for the undertaking; but I had re> cently met with severe pecuniary losses, which put the attainment of this fondly-cherished object totally out of my power. In November, 1847, it appears that a meeting was held at the house of Lady Franklin, consisting of those who had opposed my propositions above-mentioned, and from which I was of course excluded; and being unacquainted with the proceedings of this assembly of Arctic Savans^ and it being now admitted by the public that the time had at length arrived, when search should be made, I again tendered my services, with my plan of four vessels as before detailed ; and was received by Lord Auckland, then First Lord of the Admiralty, with every encouragement, his Lordship not only permitting me to hope that I might have command of the searching expedition, according to my own plan, but showing his regret that my former offer had been rejected. In the mean time I went iv. 31 to my residence in Scotland, to settle my private afTairs, under the expectation of employment in the spring of 1848, and having returned to London I was not long kept in suspense. Lord Auckland sent for me, and informed nie that he had received a letter from Lady Franklin, requesting him to appoint my nephew. Sir James Clark Ross, to command the expedition instead of me! I replied to his Lordship that 1 was happy to hear it, that he was a clever young man, but he did not volunteer to look for Sir John before he sailed ; and I understood that he had declined the command, in consequence of a promise to his wife's family, that he would not go to sea any more. His Lordship then added, " He disapproves of your plan of four small vessels," which he then returned to me, and said thai, two large ships are already in progress for him. Besides the known opposition he always made to any plan of mine, it could not but be evident to me that the north-west passage was his main object, and especially to prevent me from obtaining it, he had got the permis- sion of the family to " stand in my shoes." And 1 replied to this decision, by saying, emphatically, that " He cannot intend to search for Franklin!" having many times heard him declare, " how much better small ships were than large ones." But I immediately saw through his ^intention, which could be no other than the survey of the western coasts of North Somerset and Boothia, and thereby deter- mine the north-west passage. I therefore replied, — "My Lord, Sir James Ross can have no intention of searching for Sir John Franklin ; he knows better than to trust him- self in such ships to follow the track of Franklin. His object is the north-west passage, by surveying the western coasts of North Somerset and Boothia." His Lordship seemed not a little confounded at this remark, but said — " I shall take care of that, and order him to the north shore of Barrow's Strait, and his second in command to navigate the western shore of North Somerset." But the decision was already made ; two ships, utterly unfit for such a service, were purchased and fitted out at nearly double the expense of my plan of four small vessels. There can be no doubt that Sir J. C. Ross and his friend Sir John Barrow had made up their minds to treat the search for poor Franklin as a secondary consideration, in order to accomplish their favourite object, the north- .32 H west passnge, consoling tlicmsolves with the idea that he would make for the American Continent, and that llichardson and llae would get hold of hiin and his com- panions; and it will be seen that notwithstanding (as Lord Auckland told me) Sir J. C. Ross's orders were to keep the north shore and proceed towards Melville Island, while Captain Bird, second in command, was to winter on the north side of North Somerset, and survey its coast, Sir James Ross, as I had anticipated, founu are going to adopt, as well as of your future intentions, should be deposited in some spot previously communicated to Captain IJird. From this western station you will be able to spread some active parties, to make some short and useful excursions before the sujison altogether closes, and still more effective ones in the ensuing spring ; one party should then pursue the coast in whatever direction it may seem likely to have been foll«)wed by Sir John Franklin, and thus determine the general shape of Jianks's Land. It is then to proceed to Capo Bathurst or to Cape Parry on the main land, at each of which places we have directed Sir John Richardson to leave provisions for its use ; that party will then advance to Fort Good Hope, where they will find directions for continuing their progress up the Mackenzie River, so as to return to England by the route of traders. Another party will explore the eastern coast of Banks's Land, and from thence make at once for Cape Krusenstern, where, or at Cape Hearne, a cache of pemmican will be placed for Sir John Richardson. They should communicate immediately with him, according to the agreement which he and you may have made ; and placing them- selves under his orders, they will assist him in examining the shores of Victoria and WoUaston Islands." The expedition under Captain Sir James Clark Ross, consisting of the Enterprise, of 540 tons, commanded by himself, and the Investigator, Captain Bird, under his orders, provisioned for three years, sailed on the I8tli June, 1848, furnished with steam launches (which, how- ever, were never used during the voyage), and accom- panied by a transport to make up the expenditure of provisions at Disco or Whale Fish Islands; and as I pre- dicted, the season, from the severity of the preceding winter, was unfavourable for navigation, and the two ships, instead of proceeding according to the Admiralty orders, had barely time to slip into the snug harbour named after Prince Leopold, where they were destined to enjoy them- selves for eleven months. Parties were indeed sent out in different directions, but none to Cape Walker, or any part mentioned in the instructions. The attempt to solve the question of the north-west passage by surveying the west coast of Boothia, which appears to have been the grand object, was a complete failure; and, compared with the feats performed by the officers and men of the sub- d2 'Mi iftm sequent expeditions, they fall miserably below par. Hut although Sir J. C Itoss failed in finding any of the missing crews, which most undoubtedly he would have done had he persevered, and although he did not accom- plish the grand object of the north-w«!St ])assnge, he suc- ceeded, by being fro7X'n in for eleven months in a comfort- able ship's cabin, in serving his sra time, which, according to the regulations of the service, entitled him to his flag on the ac/hc list when he came by seniority for promo- tion. Being, of course, unable to send one shin home with- out risking the loss of the other, he returned to England with b.ah ships: after being for twenty-four days beset in the middle of the ])ack, and drifted helplessly out of Lancaster Sound, the ships were " miraculously released,'* and reached England on the 5th of November, to excite universal disappointment. It was not until the return of Sir James Clark Ross's expedition, in 184f), which was a complete failure, that I learnt extracts from my letter to Sir Charles Adam had been submitted to Sir Edward Parry and others, a revela- tion which had been brought to light by a motion in the House of Commons by Sir Robert Inglis. But although extracts of this letter were treated as an official cor- respondence, the entire letter njipears to have been con- sidered private, as it was not included in the returns moved for. And, in comparison with the extracts, the real meaning of my letter has, whether wilfully or by mistake I shall not seek to determine, been unwarrantably misconstrued ; and if the Reports of Sir Edward Parry, Sir J. C. Ross, Colonel Sabine, and others, had been referred to me, as I submit they ought to have been, the misconstruction pui en my letters, or rather extracts from my letters, would }j;ive been forthwith explained. How- ever, even in the mperfect state in which my letter was brought before the public, no one could justly put such a construction on my words as appears to have been given to them both by the Admiralty and the individuals called upon for their Report. »7 Propotcd Plana for lielicf of t/te Arctic J'Jj-palUion. Sir, Adiuimlty, Ffb. 10, 1847. I am coinmaiuled by my Lords C()mmis.sioner8 of tho Admiralty to traii.stnit to you the enclosed cxtractH of two recent letters from Captain Sir John 11oh.s, and to reciuest that you will favour them with tho substance of any communication which Sir John Franklin, before his departure from England, nuiy have nuide to yon with regard to liis expectations and intentions that depots should bo formed at certain places for his relief (no record of such intentions or expectations having been left on record here), their Lordsliips being sure that, from his known intinuicy with you, ho would either have consulted you on tho subject, or communicated to you his intentions. I am fuither desired to mention to you, that their TiOrdHliii>s, having unlimited confidence in the skill and resources of Sir Jolin Franklin, have as yet felt no apprehensions about his safety ; but, on the other hand, it is obvious, that if no accounts of him should arrive by the end of this year, or, as Sir John lioss expects, at an earlier period, active steps must bo then taken. I am therefore commanded to call ui)on you for your opinions on the subject, both with respect to the question of emi)loying vessels, the period of their sailing, and the several i»laccs which it would be expedient to visit, as well as for any advice which may occur to you, who have had so nuich personal experience of tho Arctic Regions, and whose feelings nuist be so deci)ly engaged in tho hazardous enterprise of those most valuable officers and men ; and it would be satisfactory to their Lordshijjs if you would call upon Sir James Jloss, Colonel Sabine, and Sir John Richardson, to enter into consultations with you. (Signed) W. A. B. Hamilton. Captain Sir Edward Parry. (Captain Sir James Ross. Colonel Sabine. Sir John Hichardson.) Extracts of Letters allvded to from Captain Sir John lioss. 16, Park -street, Grosvenor-square, London, Jan. 27, 1847. Sir, In reference to the several communications I have made to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, touching the probable position of the discovery ships under the command of Sir John Franklin, and in the performance of a promise I made to that 38 gallant officer, namely, that if no accounts were received from him up to the middle of January, 1847, I would volunteer my services to ascertain his fate, and to visit the several depots we had fixed before his departure from England : I beg most respectfully to state, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that my opinion, founded on my experience in the Arctic regions, and on my knowledge of the intentions of Sir John Franklin, is, in the first place, that he cannot have succeeded in passing through Behring's Straits, be- cause the expedition, had it been successfiil, would have been heard of before the middle of this month ; and, in the second place, the probability is, that his ships have been carried by drift ice into a position from which they cannot be extricated. '4. 'iH m I i Sir, 16, Park-street, Qrosvenor-square, London, Feb. 9, 1847. In reference to the communication I had the honour of making to you this morning, when I pointed out the impossibility of Sir John Franklin and his crew being able to reach the nearest place a whaling ship could be found, from the position in which the expedition must be frozen up, consequent on the known intentions of Sir John Franklin to put his ships into the drift ice at the western end of Melville Island, — a risk which was deemed in the highest degree imprudent by Lieutenant Parry and the officers of the expedition of 1819-20, with ships of a less draft of water, and in every respect better calculated to sustain the pressure of the ice, and other dangers to which they must be exposed; — and as it is now evident that the expedition cannot have succeeded in passing Behring's Straits, and, if not tc tally lost, must have been carried by the ice known to drift to the southward, on land seen at a great distance in that direction, and from which the accumulation of ice behind them will, as in my own case, for ever prevent the return of the ships : they must be abandoned, either on the 1st of May next, in order to reach Melville Island before the snow melts, at the end of June, and where they must remain until the 1st of August, and at which place I had selected to leave a dep6t of provisions, absolutely necessary for their sustenance, or if they defer their journey until the 1st of May, 1848, it will be still more necessaiy that provisions, fuel, &c., should be deposited there : after 1 had secured my vessel in a harbour on the south side of Barrow's Strait, and in such a position as would enable them to reach her when the sea was sufficiently open for boats, which I would leave at the depot in " Winter Harbour," while in the meantime I would survey the west coast of Bootlda, and in 39 all probability decide the question of a north-west passage. I was oflScially acquainted by Captain Hamilton that it was the intention of their Lordships not to accede to my proposal, but to offer a reward to whalers, and to the Hudson's Bay Company, to use their endeavours for the rescue of Sir John Franklin and his companions, a proposition I hereby protest against as utterly inefficient; for as one of the officers of Parry's expedition, who was then of opinion that what Sir John Franklin intended to do was imprudent, and who from experience knew with what extreme difficulty we travelled 300 miles over much smoother ice after we abandoned our vessel, it must be certain that Franklin and his men, 138 in number, could not possibly travel 600 miles; again, we had in prospect the Fury's stores to sustain us after our arrival, besides boats, and unless I reach Melville Island while summer, they will have nothing. I have, »Src. (Signed) John Ross, Captain, R.N. Reply from Sir Edward Parry to the Extracts of Sir John Hoss's Letter. Sir, Haslar Hospital, Gosport, Feb. 23, 1847. With reference to your communication of the 19th instant, on the subject of the Polar Expedition under the orders of Captain Sir John Franklin, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that on the receipt of your letter I wrote to Captain Sir James C. Ross and Colonel Sabine respectively, suggesting to them, as the only practicable mode of communication between us, that they should favour me in writing with their views on the several points to which our attenllon has been directed. With Sir John Richard- son I have had the advantage of being able fully to discuss the whole question ; and, pending the receipt of the replies from the other two officers, I beg to submit the following remarks as the result of my own mature deliberation upon the subject. As to any communication which Sir John Franklin had with me before he left England with regard to his expectations and inten- tions that depots should be formed at certain places for his relief, I have no recollection whatever of any such communication, which could scarcely have escaped my memory had it ever occurred ; and I venture to add, that had any idea of this kind seriously sug- gested itself to Sir John FrankUn's mind, he could not have failed to make it the subject of an official representation to the Admiralty, as the only correct or practicable channel through which he could expect to carry out an intention of this nature. 40 The conclusions at which their Lordships have arrived, both as to the absence of any present cause for apprehension, and the expediency of using active measures, should no intelligence of the expedition reach England within a reasonable period, exactly coincide with my own. Former experience has clearly shown, that, with the resources taken from tMs country, two winters may be passed in the Polar regions, not only in safety, but with comfort;* and if any inference car be drawn from the absence of all intelligence of the expedition up to this time, I am disposed to consider it rather in favour than otherwise of the success which has attended their efforts. I conceive, however, that the time has arrived when due pre- paration should be made for instituting, if necessary, an active search for the ships, and convoying supplies to their crews, in case no information should be received respecting them in the autumn of the present year. In considering the measures to be pursued for this purpose, I am strongly of opinion that it would be attended with very little probability of success, while it would involve great expons i >r the Crovernraent, to send other ships of their own in qacs, ot Sua expedition. No vessel could safely be dispatched on this service without being strengthened, and otherwise efficiently equipped both for navigating and wintering among the ice ; and even then, the search could not prudently be made with the requisite energy and perseverance by any single vessel : in my opinion, nothing short of a second well-equipped expedition could be expected to do more than penetrate through Barrow's Strait, as high as Prince Regent's Inlet, which may be considered as the mere threshold of the enterprise in which the Erebus and Terror are engaged. Up to that point, however, which is not uncommonly attained by the whalers, I believe that information might just as probably be obtained by offering to those ships a reasonable premium either for procuring authentic information of the expedition, or for ren- dering them any assistance. This they might possibly do, to a certain extent, so far as information is concerned, by looking out, in prominent positions, for the piles of stones and flag-staves under which in former expeditions it has been customary to bury bottles or copper cylinders containing some account of their proceedings. I do not think that anything further can be done by ships, except at a heavy expense, and virtually involving the exposure of a second expedition to the risks inseparable from such an enter- prise. The only plan which appears to me to hold out a reasonable prospect of success, is by making an effort to push supplies to the * At this time the discovery of the defective character of the preserved meats supplied to Sir John Franklin had not been made. 41 northern coast of the American Continent, and the islands adja- cent thereto, with the assistance of the Hudson's Bay Company, and by the modes of travelling in ordinary use among their servants. As the experience of Sir John Richardson in such enterprises, in which ho has already borne so honourable and dis- tinguished a part, renders him peculiarly competent to offer advice on all matters of detail relating to this subject, I beg leave to refer their Lordships to his letter, herewith enclosed, in which he sug- gests the propriety of immediate steps being taken, in concert with the Hudson's Bay Company, by way of preparation for what it may be necessary to do when the time for action arrives, that is, in case no intelligence of the expedition shall have arrived before the close of the present year. Upon the plan which Sir John Richardson proposes, I will only remark that nothing less effective than what he suggests can be available for the relief of the crews (supposing them to require it, under the contingencies to which he alludes), though simpler means of the same kind might be effectual for merely obtaining information respecting them. I beg, in conclusion, to add, that it might be likewise satisfactory to their Lordships (as suggested by Sir Jolin Barrow) to adopt at the same time the only remaining mode of obtaining information of the expedition, namely, to direct the Commander-in-chief in the Pacific to send a small vessel to look into Behring's Straits, and, if practicable, to dispatch a boat along the shore of the American Continent to the eastward, in the manner pursued by Captain Bccchey in the Blossom, when endeavouring to meet the former expedition under Sir John Franklin. I have, (fee. (Signed) W. E. Parry, Captain. P.S. — 27 February. Not having received the expected replies from Captain Sir James C. Ross or Colonel Sabine, I consider it expedient to transmit my own communication and that of Sir John Richardson without further delay. Reply of Sir John Rkliardson to the Extracts of Sir John Rossi Letter. Sir, Haslar Hospital, Feb. 25, 1847. Having been furnished, by directions of my Lords Commis- sioners of the Admiralty, with extracts from Sir JoLn Ross's letters, relating to the expedition under command of Sir John Franklin, and also with a copy of their Lordships' letter to you on the sa: re subject, I beg leave to offer the following observations for your consideration. 42 I had many conversations with Sir John Franklin, up to the eve of his departure, respecting his future proceedings, and also received a communication from him written on the coast of Greenland, but never heard him express a wish or expectation of depots of provisions being stored for him on Melville Island or elsewhere, and knowing him, as I do most intimately, I must ex- press my belief that he would have preferred such a request to the Government alone. K I' l> I-' Reply from Captain Sir James C. Ross to the Extract of Sir John Ross's Letter. Aston House, Aylesbury, March 2, 1847. My dear Sir Edward, ^T> reply to your letter of the 22nd February, I have to inforni j '^at I do not think there is the smallest reason of appreheii or anxiety for the safety and success of the expedition under the coinmand of Sir John Franklin ; no one acquainted with the nature of the navigation of the Polar Sea would have expected they would have been able to get through to Behring's Straits without spending at least two winters in those regions, except under unusually favourable circumstances, which all the accounts from the whalers concur in proving they have not experienced, and I am quite sure neither Sir John Franklin nor Captain Crozier expected to do so. Their last letters to me from Whalefish Islands, the day pre- vious to their departure from them, inform me that they had taken on board provisions for three years on full allowance, which they could extend to four years without any serious inconve- nience ; so that we may feel assured they cannot want from that cause until after the middle of July, 1849; it therefore does not appear to me at all desirable to send after them until the spring of the next year. With reference to that part of Mr. Ward's letter respecting Sir John Franklin's expectations of dep6ts of provisions being formed at certain places, I can very confidently assert that no expectation of the kind was seriously entertained by him ; Captain Crozier was staying with me at Blackheath nearly all the time the expe- dition was fitting out, and with Sir John Franklin I was in almost daily and unreserved communication respecting the details of the equipment and futurs proceedings of the expedition, and neither of them made the least allusion to any such arrangements or expectations, beyond mentioning as an absurdity what Sir John Eoss had proposed to Sir John Ftonklin. In reply to the question you propose to me, as to the proper steps to be pursued, I think that, if no accounts of the expedition 43 should arrive before the end of this year, it would be proper to send to their assistance. Two such ships as the Erebus and Terror should be strengthened for the service, and, in my opinion, fitted out in exactly the same manner as they were for the Antarctic Seas ; I do not know whether there are two ships suitable for the purpose, if not, two should be built, as they would always be useful for surveying purposes, if not eventually required for the contemplated service. In the present year the Hudson's Bay Company should be required to send out instructions for a supply of provisions to be kept in readiness at the more northern stations, and direct such other arrangements to be made as might appear to them likely to facilitate Sir John Franklin and his people's homeward journey, should any calamity befall their ships, and render such a measure necessary, as they would assuredly endeavour to make their way to the Hudson's Bay settlements, if their ships should be so in- jured as to prevent their proceeding on their voyage, or so en- tangled in the ice as to preclude every hope of their escape in any part of the Polar Seas westward of the extreme point of Mel- ville Island, as the shortest and safest route they could pursue. I remain, &c. (Signed) James C. Koss. Captain Sir Edward Parry, &c. &c. &c. Reply from Colonel Sabine to the Extract of Sir John Ros^s Letter. Woolwich, March 5, 1847. 1st. I never heard Sir John Franklin express either wishes or expectations that deposits of provisions should be made at parti- cular points for his relief. 2nd. In a letter which I received from Sir John Franklin from the Whalefish Islands, dated the 9th July, 1845, after noticing that, including what they had received from the transport, which had accompanied them so far, the Erebus and Terror had on board provisions, fuel, clothing, and stores for three years complete from that date (t. e., to July, 1848), he adds as follow: — " I hope my dear wife and daughter will not be over anxious if we should not return by the time they have fixed upon ; and I must beg of you to give them the benefit of your advice and experience when that arrives, for you know well, that even after the second winter, without success in our object, we should wish to try some other channel, if the state of our provisions and the health of the crews justify it." (Signed) Edward Sabine. 44 r -• Outline op a Plan submitted by Captain Sir James C. Ross. Outline of a Plan of affording Relief to the Expedition under the command of Sir John Franklin by t/ie way of Lancaster Sound, submitted for tlie consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. As vessels destined to follow the track of the expedition must necessarily 'encounter the same difficulties, and be liable to the same pressure from the great body of ice they must pass through, in their way to Lancaster Sound, it is desirable that two shij)s, of not less than 500 tons, be purchased for this service, and fortified and equipped in every respect as were the Erebus and Terror for the Antarctic Seas. Accurate plans have been preserved of the method adopted for strengthening those ships in the Dock Yard at Chatham, and I believe also in the office of the Surveyor of the Navy, and which, liaving been proved quite perfect, will materially facilitate tlio operation, whether the work is to be done in the Royal Dock Yard, or in a merchant's yard, under the supervision of an officer ap- pointed for the purpose. Each ship should, in addition, be supplied with a small vessel or launch, of about 20 tons, which she could hoist in, to be fitted with a steam-engine and boiler of ten-horse power, for a pressure to be hereafter noticed. The ships should be provided with everything proper for the health and comfort of their crews, and every provision made for wintering, as is usual in ships sent on discovery to those regions. They should sail at the end of April next, and proceed to Lan- caster Sound with as little delay as possible, carefully searching both the shores of that extensive inlet, and of Barrow's Strait, and then progress to the westward. Should the period of the season at which they arrive in Barrow's ' Strait admit of it, Wellington Channel should next be examined, and the coast between Cape Clarence and Cape Walker explored, either in the ships or by boats, as may at the time appear most advisable. As this coast has been generally found encumbered with ice, it is not desirable that both ships should proceed so far along it as to hazard their getting beset there and shut up for the winter ; but in the event of finding a convenient harbour near Gamier Bay, or Cape Rennell, it would be a good position in which to secure one of the ships for the winter. From this position, the coast line might be explored as far as it extends to the westward, by detached parties early in the spring, as well as the western coast of Boothia, a considerable distance to the southward ; and at a more advanced period of the season the whole distance to Cape Nicolai might be completed. 45 A second party might be sent to the south-west, as far as prac- ticable, and a tliird to the north-west, or in any other direction deemed advisable at the time. As soon as the formation of water along the coast between the land and main body of ice admitted, the small steam-launch should be despatched into Lancaster Sound, to communicate with the whale ships at the usual time of their arrival in those regions, by which means information of the safety or return of Sir John Franklin might be conveyed to the ships before their liberation from their winter quarters, as well as any farther instructions thj Lords Commissioners might be pleased to send for their further guidance. The easternmost vessel having been safely secured in Winter Harbour, the other ships should proceed alone to the westward, and endeavour to reach Winter Harbour in the Melville Island, or some convenient port in Banks' Land, in which to pass the winter. From this point also parties should be despatched early in the spring before the heading up of the ice. The first should be directed to trace the western coast of Banks' Land, and, proceeding to Cape Bathurst, or some other conspicuous point of the continent, previously agreed on with Sir John Richardson, reach the Hudson's Bay Company's settlements, or Peel River, in time to return with those people to their principal establishment, and thence to England. The second party should explore the eastern shore of Banks' Land, and, raalang for Cape Krusenstem, communicate with Sir John Richardson's party on its descending the Coppermine River, and either assist him in completing the examination of WoUaston and Victoria Land, or return to England by any route he should direct. These two parties would pass over that space in which most probably the ships have become involved (if at all), and would therefore, have the best chance of communicating with Sir John Franklin information of the measures that have been adopted for his relief, and of directing him to the best point to proceed, if he should consider it necessary to abandon his ships. Other parties may be despatched, as might appear desirable to the Commander of the expedition, according to circumstances; but the steam-launches should certainly be employed to keep up the communication between the ships, to transmit such informa- tion for the guidance of each other as might be necessary for the safety and success of the undertaking. (Signed) J as. C. Ross, Capt., R. N. Athcnseum, Dec. 2, 1847. m m 40 Sir Edward Parry's reply to the Admiralty letter is long, but it is only necessary to give the part applicable to the extracts of my letters, and which is given as the result of his communication with Sir J. 0. Koss and Colonel Sabine: — Haslar Hospital, Feb. 23, 1847. As to any communication which Sir John Franklin had with me before ho left England, with regard to expectations and in- tentions that depots should bo formed at certain places for his relief, I have no recollection whatever of any such communication, while it could scarcely have escaped my memory had it ever occurred. And I venture to add, that had any idea of this kind seriously suggested itself to Sir John Franklin, he could not have failed to make it the subject of an official representation to the Admiralty, as the only correct or practicable channel through which he could expect to carry out an intention of this nature. I have before remarked, that Sir John Franklin, know- ing the hostility manifested towards me by the opposite party, was not likely to communicate any suggestion or opinion of mine to them ; but the paragraph which Sir Edward has gratuitously " ventured" to add, carries on its face such absurdity as to require only this remark, that their Lordships could have nothing whatever to do with the establishment of notices and depots by Sir John Franklin, and that, therefore, his application to the Ad- miralty was wholly unnecessary and uncalled for. But Sir Edward's object, in " venturing" such a futile insinuation, is too obvious to require further notice. Sir Edward goes on to say, he agrees with their Lord- ships, that " the time was not yet arrived," while in another sentence he says " it has arrived," when due preparations should be made for instituting, if necessary, an active search *' for the ships, conveying supplies to the crews, in case no information should be received respecting them during the present year." After deprecating that of going into the expense of fitting out an expedition on the scale hitherto adopted, Sir Edward recommends that whalers should be employed, and that the northern coast of Ame- rica should be traversed, and, — as suggested by Sir John Barrow, — that a small vessel should be sent to Behring's Strait ; for to the improbable supposition the whale party continue to cling, that Franklin will make his appear- ance I 47 Reply of Sir John Richardson (dated Ilaslar Hospital, 21st February, 1847) to the extracts of Sir John Ross's letters is as follows. After acknowledging the receipt of Sir Edward Parry's letter, inclosing extracts of mine, he goes on to make the following observations. ** I had many conversations with Sir John Franklin up to the eve of his departure, respecting his future proceedings, and [ also received a communication from him, written on the coast of Greenland, but never heard him express a wish or expectation of a depot of provisions being stored for him on Melville Island, or elsewhere, and knowing him as I do intimately, I must express my belief, that he would have preferred such a request to Government alone." Here, indeed, is a wilful perversion of the extracts of my letters, which never contemplated that Government should establish depots of provisions for Sir John Franklin at Melville Island, or elsewhere, which it is evident could not be done without vessels sent for the express purpose; nor is it likely that Sir John would mention any sug- gestion of mine to that gentleman, who was not a sailor, and could know nothing of the necessity of complying with my advice, which was simply to leave some of his own stock of provisions at certain places. He, of course, argues with the rest, that if the expedition is not heard of next autumn, or January, "proper steps must be pur- sued." Those steps were to send such ships as the Erebus and Terror^ to sail in May, 1848, and then goes on to a long description of a land expedition, chalked out for himself, which I need scarcely add has, as I antici- pated, proved abortive ! I may here remark before proceeding further in my narrative, that the anxiety of Sir J. C. Ross to stigmatize my counsel as absurd, inadvertently admits the truth of my communication with Sir John Franklin, on the subject of depots. Sir John Franklin, according to Sir J. C. Ross, had mentioned to him my promise, but only characterized it as " absurd." This is no small concession from one of a party who had hitherto thought it expedient to tell the same story, entertain the same opinion, and almost agree in the very words which gave utterance to their sentiments. We get from these unwilling witnesses, most reluctantly, the admission of the truth of my statement But what became of this admission ? Did the Board of Admiralty i 48 I "^ 1 '1i *' Arctic CoKvcilf that Captain Austin and myself were dt ci- dedly against such a supposition, which was only sup- ported by Mr. Penny to suit his selfish motives, which are sufficiently apparent by his proceeding to England instead of examining the west coast of Baffin^s Bay, as he had promised to do, and on his arrival making an imme- diate application for another command ; but whose evi- dence, and that of his officers and men, equally desirous of another lucrative y^d, had unfortunately influenced this celebrated Arctic Council. The recommendation of the members of this Arctic Council to send large ships instead of small vessels, two of which, the Lady Franklin and Sophia y were actually ready for sea, while the large ships, being damaged, all wnnted repair, can be considered only another instance of men pertinaciously adhering to an absurd opinion. "Est stultum perseverare in errore ;" for with such facts before their eyes as the loss of the Fury and the damage all the ships of Captain Austin's squadron received, it could be nothing else ; as also the total disregard of the previous winter, which had never been taken by them into consideration, but by some called absurd. I understand that the reason I was excluded from this so-called Arctic Council^ was because they believed I was of a different opinion to them about the Wellington Channel, but which I submit was the very reason I should have been admitted ; and having spent fourteen winters in the Arctic regions, it cannot be denied that I had some experience. Consequent on their Report, whatever it was, my plans and of course my services were declined, and four large ships were employed, which I foretold would bo left in the ice ! Sir Edward Belcher's squadron sailed, May, ibo2, in an open season, after a mild winter, and having reached further up the Wellington Channel than any other ships, were frozen in, and constrained by the succeeding severity of the year 1853-4 to remain there, a memorial of the folly of all concerned ; while happily, the Resolute having reached Melville Island, the gallant M*Clure and his brave companions have been saved ! 59 Captain Penny. After the return of the expedition commanded by Cap- tain Sir James Clark Ross, in 1849, Lady Franklin, dis- appointed by the signal failure of that expedition, with that solicitude which has earned for her so large a share of public sympathy, repaired, without loss of time, to Scotland, to make inquiry among the masters of the whalers about her long lost husband ; and among them she became acquainted with Captain Penny, master of the Advice whaler, whose surgeon, Mr. Goodsir,had a brother acting-assistant- surgeon of the Erebus. As this gentle- man could not obtain an appointment in any of the searching ships belonging to the Royal Navy, he had, in natural and praiseworthy solicitude for his brother, em- barked as surgeon of the Advice, in search of his missing relative. It probably occurred to this gentleman, who had still the laudable desire of continuing the search, that if a good story could be made out by Captain Penny, that her ladyship might have influence to get that ingenious and active navigator employed by Government, and that he might thereby once more find an opportunity of searching advantageously for his brother. Captain Penny having been twenty-eight voyages to Baf&n's Bay (albeit he had never wintered there) pretended that he was much more competent to navigate those seas than the officers of the Royal Navy, and boldly asserted that, on the last voyage, when off the entrance of Jones' Sound, he had seen a cairn of stones near the entrance, and which could have been no other than one erected bv Sir John Franklin. However, being engaged in the whale fishery, he had no time to exainine it; but if sent out on purpose by Govern- ment, he would no doubt find not only the said cairn, but Franklin also. This plausible story had of course the desired effect on her Ladyship, who lost no time in using her own and her friends' influence with Lord John Russell, then Prime Minister, who, sympathizing with her Ladyship — whose requirements were so slight, asking only two small vessels to be purchased for Captain Penny to go on an auxiliary expedition to that already fitting out by Government — gave the order for the purchase ; and a vessel building at Aberdeen, which I had previously 00 I hi < * 1 «j(1 vised Government to purchase, was bought at £'100 more than she had been offered to me, and subsequently a second one, of less tonnage, was bought, and the t\No were in due time named itje Lad// Franklin and Sophia. As, however, the equipment of vessels was not the depart- ment of the Treasury, they were turned over to the Admiralty, and when the question of fitting them out came to be raised. Captain Penny very adroitly proposed that they should be equipped and stored at Aberdeen, in the same manner as whalers were fitted out, as he was un- acquainted with the manner these things were done in the Royal Navy. This was acceded to by Sir Francis Baring, then P^irst Lord of the Admiralty, probably from the idea that expense might, and at least trouble would, be saved. The Lady Franklin^ of 130 tons, and the Sophia, of 200 tons, were soon ready for sea, and Captain P^nny, elevated to the position (excepting the rank) of a post captain in the Royal Navy, with double pay (£800 a year), with coadjutor Captain Stewart, as a commander with double pay (£600 a year), sailed on the 12th of April, 1850, although they well knew it was impossible they could make any progress for at least six weeks; but the early commencement of their pay was an important element in their arrangement not to be lost sight of. The Resolute, Asfiistance, Pioneer and Intrepid, under the command of Captain Austin, having sailed early in May, soon overtook them, as also did the Felix and Prince Albert, having sailed nearly two months later, the former with the yacht Mart/ in tow. Captain Penny, having a command independent of Captain Austin, as will be seen by his instructions, destined to examine Jones' Sound, where he had boldly affirmed that he had seen Franklin's However, he had now heard that it was my opinion cairn. that Franklin had gone up Lancaster Sound, and of course, having no desire to let the reward of £10,000, offered by Government, slip through his fingers, we found him at the heels of Captain Ommanney, at the entrance of the Wellington Channel. He followed the Felix into the ice at Union Bay, Beechy Island, and never looked near Jones' Sound at all ! At this spot I remained two days longer than the rest of the searching ships, and until the ice had so considerably broken up as to enable the Felix to proceed several miles higher up, and we discovered < 61 land at the bottom of the Channel, bearing north, which we named North Victoria, which notwithstanding he made a bet with me that land did not exist there, he sub- sequently claimed as his discovery ! Having gone up to Cornwallis's Island, and convinced myself that Barrow's Strait was not navigable further westward, I was returning to take up my winter quarters at a harbour I had dis- covered on the west coast of Wellington Channel, when I unfortunately fell in with the Ladij Franklin^ and being informed that Captain Austin's squadron was returning to a bay discovered by the Assista/icCy and that he wished me to carry home his despatches, I followed him into the said anchorage, on the 13th September, and we were all three frozen in the next day. Time passed on; I found Penny an excellent and kind neighbour ; he had luxmies which I could not afford, and was liberal in sharing them with me, while we assisted him in fitting out his sledges, &c. ; and when the time arrived for travelling we mutually assisted each other. But I soon found that his ingenuity was little curbed by the unpropitioiis circumstances which surrounded him ; he loved romance, and was detected in little exaggerations in his accounts in travelling in many instances — a discovery which was to us very amusing — he had named an island for his friend and countryman Captain Baillie Hamilton, the secretary ; a bay for Sir F. Baring, the First Lord; and soon he had discovered water, and he would go in his boat to the Pole ! But when he talked about his becoming M.P. for Aberdeen, Doctor Porteous and I began to fear that he was wandering, or labouring under a temporary aberration of intellect. At last it appeared that he had made up his mind to make a good job of the Wellington Channel, and althougli no traces whatever of Franklin had been found, after keeping his secret for some days, he produced two bits, one six, the other three inches long, which he said he found ujwn the ice, of American elm ; at the same time, I saw one of his officers significantly put his tongue in his cheek, and no doubt they were purposely thrown on the ice for a piece of fun. It was evident to me that these pieces of wood, being found npon the ice, could not have been thrown from Franklin's ships, because they would, in such case, like everything else, have been found suni; in the ice ; but it I' i - I ■ i ■ fi2 Mil tras not Captain Penny^s game nt that time to insist on it being a positive fact that the missing ships hud gone up the Wellington Channel, because it would have caused Captain Austin either to remain himself, or order Ommanney to remain in the Wellington Channel, where he used to say " I represent Lady Franklin." On the contrary, when on the 12lh of August, 1851, the question was mooted on board the Resolute^ he positively aeclared that the Wellington Channel had been thoroughly examined, and nothing more could be done, and no traces could be found. 1 had, however, at that time my buspicions, and, addressing myself to Captain Austin, I then said, '' I am a witness to what has been said ; but black and white is better, and I advise you to write to Captain Penny for an official report." This Captain Austin did at twelve o'clock, and after much evjission, he received it at four the next morning, of course to the same effect as he had stated before me. In a previous, and also in a sub- sequent conversation with Captain Penny, he agreed with me, that the missing shi])S were wrecked, or that the crews would be found on the west coast of Baffin's Bay, and he agreed to search that coast, because he had an interpreter, on which I took from him my despatches, saying it is 600 miles from Pond's Bay to Cumberland Strait, and it is impossible you can finish that before the 1st of November. I then agreed to search the east coast, and Captain Ommanney and Captain Austin agreed to search Jones' Sound (which Captain Penny had neglected), and Smith's and Whale Sound. Thus had Captain Penny so far suc- ceeded in disposing of us all, and the moment he gotoutof Lancaster Sound, he made all sail for England, to put into execution hisplan of a second expedition, with the addition of a steamer — and of course not only contradicted all he had said and written, but complained that Austin had refused him a steamer, or he would have explored the Wellington Channel and found the missing ships, which he now insisted (with the exhibition and assistance of his two bits of wood) that they had positively gone up the Wellington Channel, and could be found only by a steamer. He arrived in London on the 13th September, 1851, at which time the First Lord and Senior Sea Lord were on the continent, and his friend the secretary, Captain Baillie Hauiilton, could not undertake to fit him out until 64 their return; and in the meantime, the Fel'iXy which had been unable either to penetrate to the east coast or obtain provisions at Disco for another winter, arrived at Scot- land, on the 25th of September, and the whole plot was discovered, as will uppear by the following correspon- dence. Mr. Penny having been foiled in his hopes of obtaining another command for three years, at the rate of ilSOO a year, which it will appear hereafter to have been his grand and sole object, and the Arctic Committee having finally disposed of his services, he published a scurrilous letter, which he addressed to the Admiralty, complaining of the treatment he had received from their Lordships, and the Committee of Officers appointed to investigate his as well as the proceedings of other officers; and in this letter he had the imprudence to make the following refer- ence to my name, by which I was forced to make a dis- closure which could not but remove all doubt on the selfish object he had in view from the beginning. Extract of a Letter to the Secretary of the Admiralty from Captain William Penny. Adam Beck's story of the loss of the ships and the murder of the crews. The treatment of this by the Committee has, I believe, excited the surprise of every one who has read the Report. Surely, if they thought it worth while to notice sucli an absurd story (which Sir John Ross is the only man in the whole united squadron that believes) they were competent to express their contempt for it, instead of telling the Admiralty and the public that Sir John Ross attaches much weight to it, referring to his evidence where he states as much ; they should have asked, if he gives much weight to it after the paper was exposed which he had witnessed and put his name to, and which the Committee refer to. It must be left to Sir John Ross to explain why the convicted liar, Adam Beck (who says himself, " Adam Beck no good, I lie!") should be believed in his old story, when made to swear it before a magistrate at Godhaven in Greenland. His sub- sequent deposition, the Committee says, was sent to Copenhagen for translation, and has not been returned. It is a pity their Lordships should not call for it and make it public here. I am indeed surprised the Committee should seriously suppose their Lordships capable of deferring another expedition in consequence of its not coming in time. I can only suppose it is out of com- passion for another gallant brother officer. Gi ''•ill III ^ M* i. ' Extract of a Letter f rum ISir John Uom, It is with no leas concern than reluctance that I feel myself under the necessity of noticing the vain, silly, supercilious attempt which iMr. Penny has made in justification of his extraordinary conduct, while in charge of a Government Expedition in search of the missing ships, in an ill-advised letter to the late Admiralty, which he has published. . . . Mr. Penny left England in the month of April, when (taking into consideration the severity of the previous winter) ho must have been well aware that he coidd make no progress to the northward in BaiKn's Bay, but his dntihle pay of a Post Captain of the Royal Navy, to which he had been fortuitouhly elevated, became thus earlier paj'ablo ; and ho liad an object in visiting Uppeniavik — to procure from this northernmost of the Danish settlements the services of hv^fi'iend Mr. Peterson, whom he induced to leave his situation of .£20 a year,* without the permission of the Danish Governor, for tho position of interiireter with him at £16 a year. In the month of August the Felix overtook tho whole of the Government ships, when about tho 12th of that month the aboriginal Esquimaux were seen on tho margin of tho land-ice, and had on tho pre- ceding day been communicated with by Mr. Penny, and whoso note, delivered by them to the officers of the Intrepid and FeliXy proved that no inquiries had been made by them respecting tho fate of the missing ships. Adam Beck, the interpreter of the Felix, having obtained information from tho stranger Esquimaux which he could not communicate (the Felix being then at a distance), Mr. Penny's interpreter was sent for, and flatly contradicted the statement of Adam Beck, caUing him " a liar," which being ironi- cally repeated by the poor fellow, who was frightened (and no wonder, as it is well known that these Danish overseers are often severe on the poor natives of Greenland.) In the meantime a young Esquimaux was brought on board "the Assistance, and being tutored by Peterson, also denied the truth of Adam Beck's story ; and every one as well as myself believed it was a fabrication, although no one could conjecture why he should in a moment have conjured up such a story, and Petersoris motive did not at that time become apparent. We all proceeded on our voyage, arrangements having been made that Mr. Penny, according to his instructions, was to visit and examine Jones's Sound (which indeed was the origin of his being employed), and tho others to examine the positions in Barrow's Strait. But Mr. Penny did not wait near Jones's Sound for its opening, which could not be expected for * I afterwards learned that, besides his house free he had only £5 ! and thai he was sent back to the colony in disgrace, for being absent without leave. (id Bomc (lays, hut proceeded up Lancjister Sound, where he Hpoko the Notih >Star, and by her (h'spatchew were Mcnt home ; among others, a U'tter from Air. Peterson to his wife, which will Im noticed hereafter. Wo 8uh.»«e(imntly eommuniruted witli each other in Union Hay ; and liaving remained in Wellington Chan- nel two days h)nger than any other vessel in the Felii', and owing to a disruption of a part of tlio edge of the barrier, wo were enabled to seo tho land to the north of this barrier, which I named '* North Victoria," but which was subsccpiently claimed by Mr. Penny as his discovery, and named ** Albert Land." AftiT passing Wellington Channel and ascertaining that tho passage between (JrilHths and Cornwallis Islands was closed by ice for tho scjuson, we were returning to Wellington Channel, with tho intention of obtaining a position as far north in it as I could ; when wo unfortunately fell in with Mr. Penny, who informed us that Captain Austin's squadnm were pmceeding to a bay disco- vered in Cornwallis Island, to which we accomi)anied the /j(i(/t/ Franklin and Sophia; exjjccting that as nothing more could be done that season, I should be requested to return to England with despatches. On tho following day we were finally fro;?en in, and Captain Austin's squadron did not reach our harbour. During the whole winter Adam Beck continued to assert the truth of his statement rcsiiccting the fate of Sir John Franklin, and as he began to understand English, explanations and infor- mation were elicited from him, that convinced all on board tho Felix that he spoko the tmth. Before leaving our position at Cornwallis Island, I had several conversations with him in tho Danish langiiage, which he understands, and which convinced mo that there was at least much probability in his report, and I de- manded that a search in that locality should be made for tho wreck of the missing ships. It was, therefore, my determination to endeavour, even with the slender means and the small quantity of provisions I possessed, to make the search, which seemed to give nmch delight to Adam Beck, who exclaimed, " Now you see I not tell lie." I communi- cated to Mr. Penny that I intended to go round the north side of the main ice, and land Adam Beck at Disco, where I hoped to find provisions, directed to be landed there by the North Star ; and he communicated to me, in presence of several persons, that he believed the missing ships had been wrecked on the west coast of Baffin's Bay, and, as he had an interpreter, he would examine the whole coast between Lancaster Sound and Cumberland Strait, a distance of 600 miles, and knowing he could not reach England before November, I sent no despatches by him. We proceeded to carry our intentions into execution, but found that the land ice from the latitude of 77° to 74° extended thirty miles from the F 66 If ii # east coast, and as we were unprepared to winter, having only three months' provisions left, we had no alternative but to pro- ceed to Oodhaven in Disco Island, where we hoped to obtain a supply that would enable us to return to the northward. On approaching Disco, which we found quite clear of ice, we fell in with the Danish Government store-ship J/valJisken, Captain Humble, who kindly piloted us into Godhaven. On our arrival I discharged Adam Beck, and, in conversation with Captain Humble, I obtained the following astounding information : — " I have just come from Uppemavik, and have seen Mr. Peterson's wife, who had received a letter from her husband, dated July, Lancaster Sound (which I read), saying that it was now certain that they would comfortably spend the winter in some snug harbour, and as he would bo carried to England and spend another winter there, he would have plenty of money from the English Government, and that he would come out with Captain Penny, who would have the command of another expedition, and come home to Copenhagen, desiring her to sell his furniture, &c. Another came to his wife's sister, who is married to the mate of one of the Government ships — hoping that Peterson would be carried to England, as in that case he would return with suffi- cient money to enable him to quit this wretched country !" Thus it appears that Mr. Penny's plans, which it is evident he attempted to put in execution, by making the best of his way home,, had been organized as early as the 23rd of July, 1850 ; but as he could not have left England, with the addition of a steamer, before the 1st of October, 1851, it was impossible he could have reached the Wellington Channel that season. His object must have been, therefore, to have comfortably wintered at Ball's River or Holsteinberg, or some port in Greenland, on full pay (<£800 a-year), and proceed in June, 1852, and would have been just as far forward as though he had left England at that time. His plans, however, were happily frustrated by the absence of the First Lord of the Admiralty, and the decision of the Arctic Committee. In the meantime Adam Beck voluntarily appeared before the Resident at Godhaven, and deposed as to the truth of his for- mer statement, subsequently to which he wa^ examined by In- spector-General Lewis Platon, who has written to me that he is fully convinced that Adam Beck has spoken the truth. The following is the extract of a third letter I have received from Mr. Platon ! Montebello, Feb. 17, 1852. From the interest I take in the . uestion where Sir John franklin ought to be sought, and being afraid, as you know, 67 that Sir John Franklin was lost on his intended return, I feel bound to say a few words on this subject, which you will use as you think proper. I shall merely premise what you arc already aware of, that I have for four years and a half held a re3]:)onsible Government situation in Greenland. Three years of this time I resided at Holsteinberg, and had thus an ample oppor- tunity of observing the character of the natives generally, and of Adam Beck individually, as he during that time never omitted an opportunity of thmsting himself into my notice, and he several times was temporarily attached to my household. I think, therefore, I may without presumption claim to bo considered as not incompetent to judge of what confidence there ouglit to bo l)Uictd in what may bo deduced from such a document as his. From my knowledge of Adam Beck, I may safely assert that it is beyond a doubt that he has heard something al)out the two lost ships ; but certainly it would be difficult to say what it is he has heard, merely by reading his deposition. As I informed you in a former letter, I have seen this man after his discharge at Godliaven. I therefore look on the deposition in a far different manner than others unacquainted with those facts undoubtedly would do; and I maintain that it throws a light on the fate of Sir John and his gallant crew, and that it v/ould be shameful altogether to reject his evidence. I cannot but regret that you did not get a copy of the other deposition that he made, as it was fiir more satisfactory than the one you got, I nmst make haste for post, that leaves here at two o'clock, and must therefore conclude, angry with myself for not being able to write such as to convince any but myself that the greater reliance may be placed in his assertions. Pray write me as soon as possible. (Sig-ned) L. Platon. Mr. Platen's letters, with my own, have been sent to the Admiralty. In one of them he says, " The people of Denmark think it strange that the English Government are sending to search for Franklin in every place but where ho is to be found." Mr. Penny must no longer assert that I am tho only person who gives any credit to Adam Beck's assertion ; but in return I must be permitted to say, that I yield not the smallest credit to the assei-tion of Mr. Penny, that Sir John FranJdin ever toent up the Wdlington Channel. I was present at the interview he had with Captain Austin on board the Resolute, on the llth of August, when I can testify that Mr. Penny made no application at thai time for a steam-vessel ; moreover I can testify that the applica- tion for a steam-vessel would have been absurd, as it was quite impossible she could have ])rocecdcd up that channel. The Felix was the last vessel that left that spot on the 13th of August, at f2 C8 in:';! ■'! I. V ■* ■ : k which time the barrier of ice was still across it ; on that day no water could be seen from Cape Spencer to the northward, and then Mr. Penny's vessels were both to the eastward of Cape Kiley. Mr. Penny asserts that Captain Austin took the Felix in tow to take her home, that she might take the credit of his discoveries. But the truth is, that Captain Austin oflfered to tow Mr. Penny's vessels out of Lancaster Sound, which offer he did not accept, and it was then he offered to take us as far as Union Bay, Becchy Island, where Mr. Penny must have seen the Felix as he passed. I have now only one more subject to disabuse. Mr. Penny's whole idea that Sir John Franklin went up the Wellington Channel, was from the fact of his having found upon the ice two chips of wood, which, I verily believe, must have been throv/n on the ice by some of his own crew, for otherwise they would have been found sunk considerably below the surface, and they were such pieces of wood as were numerous where the ships wintered. But if Mr. Penny really believed that the missing ships had gone up what he now calls the " Victoria Channel" (not marked as such in the chart he gave to me), why did he not remain himself to explore it in the spring ? He ventured to say that he had not enough of provisions, because he had given some to the Felix, but this he denied on the Committee, as 2 cwt. of carrots and a bag of potatoes were all we got, and for which we would have supplied him with ten tons of coal and six casks of flour; but Captain Austin would certainly have supplied him up to three years; be- sides, the depot at Leopold Island was within sixty miles of where his vessel would be. When I said in my evidence that Captains Austin and Penny were both justified in coming home, it was with the conviction that both thought and believed that the locality was completely searched, and that they both believed (as I do) that the missing ships never went up the Wellington Channel. I have no doubt that they lost both seasons, 1845 and 1846, and finding that they had only provisions for another year (and perhaps less, as many of Goldner's canisters were found with only one cut at the top, and being convex, were clear proofs of their putrescent condition). But upon this part of the subject I have some further remarks to offer ; I shall, however, reserve them for a more con- venient opportunity at the close of this narrative. In conclusion, I deeply regret that Mr. Penny has been so imprudent as to publish what he had done ; I believed that he really had been actuated by feelings of philanthropy — touching the rescue of my gallant friend Franklin and his brave companions. He had at one time gained my esteem and regard, and he knows that I acted as peacemaker between him and those whom his virulent temper had offended. I was an admirer of his zeal and unflinch- ( 0.0 ing perseverance, c.a I then believed that he had no sinister motive. It has therefore been with mixed feelings of sorrow a?id pity that I have been constrained to change my opinion of an indi- vidual, who has proved that he ought not to have been elevated to the position in which he was unfortunately placed. John Ross, llcar-Admiral. The above letter, which appeared in the Nautical Standard of the 6th March, 1852, was sent to the Ad- miralty, and duly acknowledged by the Secretary. I may mention here, that the Committee of Investigation was not only misled by Mr. Penny's evidence, but by that of Mr. Abernethy, in whom, from his insubordinate conduct and habits of intemperance, I had lost all confidence, and who on that day, being detached with Captain Phillips inland, had no opportunity of seeing the Wellington Channel ; and yet (probably from a desire to serve his friend and countryman Mr. Penny) he said he saw (which he could not see) the Wellington Channel open; while John Jones, an active and trustworthy person, \^ho was sent by me to Cape Spencer, where the best view of it could be soen, reported that the channel remained closed with unbroken ice ! But Jones was not examined by the Committee. The Felix left Union Bay the next morning, and was to the eastward of tlie Wellington Channel before Mr. Abernethy was out of bed. With regard to Captain Ommanney's evidence, it was no doubt conscientiously given, that he did not believe Adam Beck's assertion after what Peterson said, other- wise it would have been his duty to have remained to continue the search ; but Peterson's motive had not come to ligbt, and as it is now evident that the ships must have been lost on the passage home, I have no doubt but that, as Adam Beck asserted, one of the boats came on shore at or near Cape Dudley Digges, and which may yet be cleared up when additional traces are discovered by the proposed expedition, undertaken by the Honourable the Hudson's Bay Company. I have now arrived at the point where my own expe- dition during the same period requires some explanation. In several conversations which I had with the late lamented Sir Henry Pelly, the Governor, and with Mr. Barclay, the talented Secretary of the Honourable the Hudson's Bay Company, my regret was expressed that m ii those who had advised the Government had pertina- ciously held their former opinions of large ships being the hest adapted for employment in the search for tho missing ships ; and I said 1 should not bo surprised if some of them suffered shipwreck, it being my opinion that some small vessel should be at hand to afford timely assistance. These honourable gentlemen being of tho same opinion, I wrote a letter, through the Secretary, to the Honourable Board at Hudson's Bay House, proposing the purchase of a small vessel by subscription, \jnder their auspices, and giving in an estimate of about £4000, including pay. In a few days I was sent for by the worthy Governor, and by him informed that my proposi- tion was approved of, and that the Honourable Company had begun a subscription with the liberal sum of £500. I need scarcely say that I was delighted, as there was still a faint hope that I might at last be the means of the rescue of my valued friend and his brave companions. It was indeed only what I had anticipated, from the known liberality and humane sympathy of that Honour- able Company ; but it did not end there, for most of them, as n^ay be seen by the list, added about £100 to the original subscription, including the Secretary, whose en- deavours were indefatigable ; till the amount of the sub- scription became sufficiently large to induce me, with the promise of £1000 from my munificent and worthy friend Sir Felix Booth, to prepare to fit out the expedition. 1 purchased a schooner of 91^ tons, at Ayr, from Messrs. Sloan and Gemmel, who were also liberal subscribers, and named her the Felix, after my worthy friend the baronet above-mentioned; and I appointed as second in command Commander C. Gerrans Phillips, an officer of tried courage, and furthermore possessing all the scientific acquirements necessary for such an enterprise. My old shipmate Abernethy was offered an appointment as master in one of the royal discovery ships, but preferred sailing in the Felixy as being, in his opinion, the most efficient for the service in the icy re^^ions. Mr. David Porteous, the surgeon, a talented and highly educated young man, joined the vessel with the rest of the crew at Ayr; and together we numbered eighteen souls. The following circular was issued by the Secretary from Hud- son's Bay House. I had provisions to eighteen months, 1^ which were all my limited means eouid afford, and finding I could stow one year more, I applied for a year's pro- visions to the Admiralty, although, if not used, they would either be landed at the depot or paid for if not leturned, but was refused ! Sir John boss's Expedition in search of Sir John Franklin. The time for equipping Sir John Ros-s'a expedition having arrived, those who arc disposed to assist the undertaking are earnestly requested to give in tlieir subscriptions without delay. The amount required for the outfit of tlie expedition, uicluding provisions for two years, is only £3000 — less than half the sum subscribed at New York for an expedition having the same humane object in view. A groundless rumour that the expedition has been abandoned has been circulated, which, there is reason to believe, has pre- vented many persons from subscribing. It has also been reported that this expedition is in opposition to that of the Government. Nothing can be fiirther from the truth, as the following extract of a communication from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to Sir John Ross will show : — Admiralty, March 16, 1850. " I have it in command to express their Lordships' approbation and good wishes relative to the expedition in question, and also their authority to you to state the same. (Signed) "W. A. B. Hamilton." On the subject of Sir John Eoss's qualifications, Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, Hydrographer to the Admiralty, thus reports to the Lords Commissioners : — "With regard to Sir John Ross, he is well acquainted with the management of steam : he possesses a singularly hardy constitution ; he has acquired much dear-bought experience in the ice ; is full of inventive resources ; and would feel a degree of pride in carrying out this his favourite scheme." The Hudson's Bay Company have set on foot this expedition from a sense of duty — to satisfy, in some small measure, the sacred claims of Sir John Franklin and his companions upon the sympathy and assistance of their countrymen. It is sanctioned by the Admiralty, and is to be commanded by a Naval Officer of dauntless courage and well-tried ability, who has calculated the risks of the undertaking, and in humble reliance on the protection of Providence is determined to carry it through, whatever it may cost him. Rather than it should be abandoned from want of funds, he has devoted to its equipment the proceeds of his half- pay and two pensions accruing during his absence, but it is con- 72 " i < ■i|; fitlcntly hoped that tlic public will come forward with subscrip- tions sufficient to render unnecessary this pecuniary sacrifice in addition to his gratuitous personal services. Let it be borne in mind that this is most probably the last effort that will be made to rescue from a miserable death one hundred and forty of the bravest and most devoted seamen that ever trod the deck of a ship. Hudson's Bay House, April 4tli, 1850. Extract of a Letter from ilie Rigid lion, the Earl of Ilarclwicke to Sir John Boss. Sydney-Lodge, Southampton, April 9. A man at your time of life undertaking on his own means so severe and arduous a service, is a rare and splendid example of devotion to friendship and science. If my refusal to subscribe towards it would stop you, I would act on this selfish and stingy suggestion ; but as I see by the sub- scription list you are likely to gain the required sum, I shall give my mite to so good a cause. You will therefore find £50 at your disposal at Messrs. Cocks and Co., 43, Charing-cross. Wislung you from my heart all possible success, Believe me, My dear Ross, Ever most sincerely yours, Hardwicke. Sir J. Ross, 267, Strand. This expedition was undertaken before that under Mr. Penny was agitated ; and owing to the delay in obtaining subscriptions, and in launching and fitting out the vessel, we did not leave Loch Ryan until the 23rd of May, under the colours of the Northern Yacht Club, and registered at the Port of Stranraer. On the 2()th of June we arrived at Holsteinberg, in Greenland, with my little yacht the Mary, of twelve tons, in tow, and having obtained as inter- preter of the Danish language Adam Beck, we remained there until the 24th of June, on which day I entered my seventy- fourth year in perfect health. We were as many days at Whale-fish Islands, where we took in water and coals which had been deposited there for us by a whaler, and passing through the Waygutt Channel, we overtook Captain Austin's squadron, and was soon after that under the command of Mr. Penny, when arrangements were 73 r made and concluded for a simultaneous examination of every part in which it was thought probable the missing ships would be found, my opinion being (see my letter to the Admiralty) as before mentioned, that we should obtain the first intelligence of them at the eastern cape of the Wellington Channel; which turned out to be true, namely, Beechy Island, where they wintered. The following extract of a letter to the Admiralty will best describe my proceedings until the date of my letter sent by the North Star, Felix, Lancaster Sound, Augast 22, 1850. On the 1 3th of August natives were discovered on the ice near Cape York, with whom it was deemed advisable to communicate. On this service Lieut. Cator, of the Intrepid, was detached on the part of Captain Austin, and on my part Commander Phillips, with our Esquimaux interpreter, in the whale boat of the Felix. It was found by Lieut. Cator, that Mr. Penny had left with the natives a note, but only relative to the state of the navigation ; however, when Commander Phillips arrived, the Esquimaux, seeing one apparently of their own nation in the whale boat, came immediately to him, when a long conversation took place, the purport of which could not be made known, as the interpreter could not explain himself to any one either in the Intrepid or the whale boat (as he understands only the Danish besides his own language) until he was brought on board the Prince Albei't, where John Smith, who had been some years at the Hudson's Bay settlement at Churchhill, and understands a little of the language, was able to give some explanation as to Adam Beck's information; which was deemed of such importance that Captains Oramanney, Philhps, and Forsyth proceeded in the Intrepid to the Resolute; and it was decided by Captain Austin to send for the Danish interpreter of the Lady Franklin, which having been unsuccessful in an attempt to get through the ice to the westward, was only a few miles distant. In the meantime it was known that, in addi- tion to the first information, a ship, which could only be the North Star, wintered in Wolstenholme Sound, called by the natives Ominak, and had only left it a month ago. This proved to bo true, but the interpretation of the Dane was totally at variance with the information given by the other, who, although for obvious reasons, he did not dare to contradict the Dane, subsequently main- tained the truth of his statement ; which induced Captain Austin to despatch the Intrepid with Captains Ommanney and PhiUips, taking with them both our interpreters, Adam Beck, and a young native who had been persuaded to come as one of the crew of the Assistance, to examine Wolstenholme Soimd. In the meantime it 74 .'■> had boon unanimously decided that no alteration should be made in our previous arrangement, it being obvious that wliile there remained a chance of saving the lives of those of the missing ships who may yet be alive, a further search for those who had perished should be postponed, and accordingly, the Resolute, Pioneer, and Prince Alhtii parted company on the ll3th. It is here unnecessary to give reports made to mo by Commander Phillips, which are, of courae, transmitted by me to the Secretary of the Hudson's Bay Company, which, with the information written in the Esquimaux language by Adam Beck, will no doubt bo sent to you for their Lord- ships' information ; and it will be manifest by these reports that Commander Phillips has performed his duty with sagacity, circum- spection, and address, which do him infinite credit, although it is only such as I must have expected from so intelligent an officer. And I have much satisfaction in adding, that it has been mainly owing to his zeal and activity that I was able, under disadvan- tageous circumstance,?, to overtake her Majesty's ships ; while, by his scientific acquirements and accuracy in surveying, he has been able to make many important correctious and valuable additions to the charts of this much frequented eastern side of Baffin's Bay, which has been more closely observed and navigjited by us than by any former expedition, and much to my satisfaction confirming the latitude and longitude of every headland I had an opportunity of laying down in the year 1818. 1 have only to add, I have much satisfaction in co-operating with her Majesty's expedition. With such support, and with two such vessels, so particularly adapted for the service, no exertion shall be wanting on my part. I cannot conclude this letter without acknowledging my obligations to Captain Austin and Captain Ommanney for the assistance tliey aflbrded me, and for the cordiality and courtesy with which I have been treated by these distinguished officers, and others of the ships under their orders. Animated as we are with an ardent and sincere desire to rescue our imperilled countrymen, I confidently trust that our united exertions and humble endeavours may, under a merciful Providence, be completely successful. I am, with truth and regard, &c., John Ross. The sequel of this voyage has been published both in the Parliamentary Reports and by several who served in the expeditions, and need not be further alluded to, ex- cepting as to the report of the small vessels, although exposed to great pressure. Mr. Penny, in his letter to the Admiralty, says, "I am sure their Lordships will be pleased to hear that my little vessels sustained an immense pressure in North-east Bay, on tlie I3tli ult. (May), willi- out the slightest damage, and that they have otiiorwise shown themselves all that I could wish." — (N.H. The Ijidt/ Fi'(UikHn was the vessel I recoujmended Government to purchase.) The Felix on several occasions sustained very severe pressure, without the smallest damage. The voyages made by that enterprising and talented officer, Lieutenant now Captain Ingletield, which obtained his well-merited promotion, are before the public, and require no comment excepting what is contained in the following letter to the Secretary of the Admiralty, which fully ex])lains its object— and is in answer to an extract of that officer's report of his voyage in the Prifice Albert^ in the extraordinary open season of 1852, after a very mild winter. To which is addedj an extract of my letter to the Secretary of the Admiralty touching Sir Edward Belcher's Expedition, and since which my anticipations have been so fully realised. London, 22ad Nov., 1852. Although we believe that Sir Edward Belcher's Expedition •will not obtain any further information of the fate of the missing ships, those under the command of Cai^taina Collinson and McClure may possibly require assistance, and therefore the expe- dition was highly necessary. But the main object of this letter is to call the attention of Government and the public to the most probable position of all the vessels now employed on that inte- resting service. If Sir Edward Belcher or Captain Kellett succeed in finding a north-west passage, they will be heard of in the month of Af arch next ; but if not, they will most probably be meoctricahly frozen in, because on reference to the records of Greenland for thirty years, it appears that all open or mild seasons, such as the last, have been succeeded by several of great severity, as was the case with us in the Victory; consequently, according to their orders not to risk two winters, they will have to abandon their ships in the autumn of 1853, and proceed to the depot ship North Star; and as it is even probable that she, having then 250 officers and men on board, may not be able to extricate herself, and taking also into consideration the possibility that the crews of the Entei-j^rise and Investigator may likewise be on board — it will become highly necessary to despatch relief in the spring of 1854 at furthest. We regret to observe that all accounts from the north agree that the winter has set in with unusual severity. John Koss, Kear-AdmiraL TIIR EXPEDITIONS NOW IN SEARCH OF THE MIS8IN0 SHIPS. L^ ■■ To Augmtm Stafford, Esq., M.l'., Secretary to the Admiralti/. Sir, In rcfcronco to an official letter from Captain Inglcfiold, dated the IGth September, off (?apo Adair, liaffin'H Bay, to the Secretary of the Admiralty, in which 1 observe the name of "Adam Beck," who was interpreter with me in the Felijc, has been men- tioned in a manner that calls for some exjjlanation from me, I beg, therefore, through you, most respectfully to disabuse their Lordships on that interesting matter by the following remarks : — Ist. By Captain Inglefield's own account he has passed the only place where Adam Beck stated that part of the crews of the missing ships had landed, and where materials could be found that would identify that they belonged to the said ships, without having made any search there or within many miles of the locality. 2nd. The locality re-examined near Omanak was not "the reputed scene of the murder of Franklin and his crew," nor did Adam Beck ever make such a statement, or ever mention to mo that any cairn was constnutr^d, or the bones of the crew concealed in them; and I was the i person on board who could speak to him in the Danish language, which he understood. These mis- representations, therefore, existed only in the imagination of Mr. Abernethy. 3rd. I regret that Captain Inglefield did not avail himself of my personal offer and written desire to give him every assistance and information in my power, and I should have had much satis- faction in pointing out to him the exact spot to be examined, and to have given him letters to the residents in Greenland, that would have secured him a good interpreter, without which a com- munication with the Esquimaux was more likely to mislead than otherwise ; but I was given to understand that the intention was the survey of the west coast of Baffin's Bay. My letter was not answered, and my attempts both at the Admiralty and on board his own vessel were unsuccessful, and it appeared that he pre- ferred the information of Mr. Abernethy to any communication with me. 4th. The statement of Adam Beck may or may not be true ; but I emphatically deny that the misguided expedition of the Isabel, as regards that question, has in the smallest degree shaken the testimony of Adam Beck, or that the question has been for ever set at rest. This expedition, in corroboration of the reports of Captains Austin, Ommanney, and Phillips, has — aided by the mildness of the season — decided beyond a doubt that the missing ships never passed through any of the northern sounds, and if ever ^ 77 tlicir fate is to bo decided, it will lie hy the Htricf cXiimimition of the east atul west coast of liaffin's Hay, with an interpreter who unclerstands the Danish and Ks(|\iiinanx languages. 6th. It is also to be regretted tliat the energetic endeavours of that gallant officer, ('aptain Inglefield — who appears, in an emi- nent degree, to posses.s all those (pialifications which are conducive to the success of such an arduous enterprise — should have been unfortunately misled, and that the f/olJen opportunity of an un- usually open season should have been lost — for it most probably will, as in my own case in 1829-30, and, according to the records of Greenland for thirty years, bo siicceeded by several severe Reasons, which may render the navigation of Baffin's Bay diflicult, if not impracticable. (itli. But it has been the practice with those whom the late Ooveniment have consulted, and even the relatives and friends of the gallant Franklin, to treat my plans, opinions, and suggestions, as in this case, with unmerited contempt. But the time fast ap- proaches when the Government and the public will find that all my statements have been founded on truth ; and then. Sir, who will envy the feelings of those who have, some from aelf-intercnted motives, pertinaciously adhered to the needlessly expensive plans, and heedlessly absurd opinions, which have been the occasion of audi deplorable results ] I am, with truth and regard, Sir, Your very obedient servant, John Boss, Beur-Admirul. London, 30th Nov., 1852. With regard to the numerous documents which liave appeared touching the expedition under the command of Sir John Franklin, which are now " cast to the winds" by the melancholy report of Doctor Rae ; those who are inclined to amuse themselves by reading the absurd and supercilious notions which have, during these eight years, appeared in print, have only to examine the Reports called for in the House of Commons, and the Proceedings of the Geographical Society, and they will find them- selves highly gratified — while they will be astonished at the tenacity with which some maintain their opinions in defiance of common sense. But I am confident that had my plans been adopted, and had my endeavours to redeem my pledge not been frustrated, a very different result might have ensued. But I trust that 1 have made it appear to my readers that I have conscientiously used every exertion in my power to perform the sacred pro- I 78 inist! I ina«lc, under pecii'iar circuinstimcos, to my viiluod and t!vcr-t()-l)t!-luiiu'ult'(l fVieiul and brother oHieer, the gallant Sir .lohn Tranklin, who, I truHt, is enjoying the rich reward of piety and virtue in a better world 1 t : T ','.■» Tlius far 1 hav(! confined my nnrrative to the series of events in whieli 1 liav(! bei^n more or h'ss eoneiMued, and 1 hope that in speaking of otliers 1 have neitlier exag- gerated nor distorted wliat I have deemed it my duty to reveal. No personal considerations liave in any way in- iluenced the course of conduct which 1 have tluuight j)roper to adopt: and if my strictures may in some cases appear severe, I wish it to bo understood that it is not severity at which I aim, and that truth alone is the object and end of my endeavours. Hitherto 1 have confined my observations to the fitness or unfitness of successive expeditions, and I have deferred up to the ])resent moment ofl'ering any remarks upon the results which have been actually obtained ; and, I shall, therefore, uow conclude the task imposed u|)on me, by suggesting a few remarks, which seem called for bv the conduct of the 1)arties concerned in the miserable series of failures which lave crowned labours, bestowed with much affected pomp and pretension. Results which lay a fearful amount of responsibility upon some, and upon others have set a seal of incai)aciiy and weakness which the country was unprepared to see revealed. Be it remembered that I impute motives to no man, but when the cap fits, let the blockhead wear his ornament, if he can, without blushing It may easily be conceived that the position in which 1 have been placed under the circumstances detailed, in soliciting employment, has not been fraught with agree- able accompaniments, nor was it one in which a man of independent feelings, or generous spirit, could embark without some self-sacrifice ; and, in the eyes of some, probably the loss of a certain amount of dignity. It is always mortifying to be refused the means of doing one's duty, ana that mortification becomes the more aggravated •when the supercilious assumption of neglect or studious rudeness are superadded. 1 repeat that I shall not attri- 7S) ?)iito motives to uny of tlic actors in tlu; fiircu wliirh Ims l)iH5omo the niiteccdent to tlio tenible tnigidy foniiinf; tlio proiiiint'iit subject of tliesu details I have no doubt all ])erHou8 enj,'age(l have acted up to tlie aniount of their ability, au, or in dam))ing the energies which have been sustained by a religious conviction of duty. TIjc last words of my lamented friend were inscribed too deeply upon my mumory to be effaced by such opj)osition, and his last farewell ejaculation, "Ross, YOU ARE TIIK ONLY ONh WHO HAS VOI.UNTKKKKI) TO LOOK FOR MK ; GoD ULKSS YOU !" arose to my mind as often as some fresh obstacle interfered between me and the obvious dictates of the obligation cast u])on me. I have already detailed the circumstances which led to the fitting-out of the exj)c(lition commanded by Sir James Clark Ross, together with an account of my fruitless efforts to procure such an expedition as 1 thought, under Divine Providence, seemed the best calculated to avert the threatened calanuty, and which, it is now but too certain, we must deplore. It is unnecessary for me, in this place, to recapitulate my suggestions then made to the Government ; suffice it to say, that I insisted upon the imperative importance of adopting ships of a lighter tonnage, not only because such ships were better adapted for navigation in the Arctic Seas, but because by means of the same amount of outlay which would fit out an ex- pedition necessarily limited to a narrow range of search, several ships might have been employed cotemporaneomlij, so as to visit within the space of one summer the whole of the expanse of country which gave any promise of being the prison-house of the lost navigators. At this period, Ms 80 time ought to have been the essence of every endeavour, and by a well organized sclierae of search, made cotempo- raneously at difl'erent stations, skilfidly arranged and completely co-ordinated, information might have been obtained and results securcul, which, up to the present time have pertinaciously eluded the imperfectly-organized plans of search which have continued to succeed one another. What were the fruits of Sir James Clark Ross's expedi- tion ? Absolutely nothing, although it is now perfectly clear that one of his travelling ])arties must have passed within a comparatively short distance of the vcr}' spot which Dr. Rae's informants point out as the scene of the frigutful tragedy which his indefatigable exertions have revealed. W a greater number of ships, and a wider distribution of searching parties, had been at this time adopted, as I advised, it is more than probable that results of a very different kind might have been obtained. Nor is it the only misfortune that at this time the Admiralty listened to counsel which preponderated in favour of the course which was actually adopted ; for, limited as were the means of search, as a consequence of the means adopted by selecting the Enterprise and Investigator instead of a number of smaller vessels, which might have been distributed over a larger surface, and have sent out well- organized searching par ;ies, both to the north and south of Lancaster Sound, thesa disadvantages were aggravated by the mode in which the search was conducted, so as even further to limit itsj usefulness. Sir James Clark Ross, by an extraordinr.ry amount of delay, which has hitherto been unaccounted-for, lost the chances oflered by his first season ; for he did not reach Lancaster Sound until three weeks after the whalers. And by this most untoward circumstance, any effective search was neces- sarily postponed until the April of the following year, when searching parties were sent out. And what could these parties have effected with the liu)ited means at their disposal, and confined as they were to one centre of action in Leopold Harbour } Mr. Cljcyne, with a party of ten men, was dispatched from this centre of action with a week's provision, and they swept over about fifteen miles to the westward. Another party got over about fifteen miles to the southward. Such puny efforts^ compared I 81 ! with the ntcessities of the case, arc too ridiculous to invito criticism, and, but for the stern and tragic associations of the expedition, one might be provoked to ridicule. In such a case, sober criticism would bo out of place. Subsequently, however, a more serious eflort was made on the part of Sir James Ross, on the 15th of May, when that officer, with Lieutenant MacClintock and twelve seamen, travelled to the westward from Cape Clarence as far as Cape Bunney, along the shore of North Somerset, crossing to the southward to a distance of about 140 miles, and then for lack of provisions returned to their ships. Here we are again met by the same difficulty which my plan of search would necessarily have prevented or obviated. It is true there were in all four diffiirent parties despatched from Leopold Harbour, but as they were necessarily restricted in their exertions for want of deposits at convenient distances upon a large extent of surface, the extent of their labours was exceedingly cur- tailed, and their residt totally barren of any information or advantage. It is, indeed, exceedingly difficult to under- stand what was the real object of these searches. That they never promised any probable advantage must be too apparent, as their extent bore no comparison with the actual behests of the case, or the extent of country which ought to have been cotemporaneously examined. It is not for me to speculate upon Sir James Clark Ross's reasons for adopting this superficial and imperfect range of search. For aught I know, the same counsels which excluded my suggestions as absurd and unreasonable, might for a season have clouded his better judgment, and led him to adopt a course which I am sure under other circumstances would have done outrage to his judgment and capacity. It cannot be that he felt himself curbed and restrained by the iustnictions of the Board of Admi- ralty ; for, so far as is apparent by his own reports, these instructions were too little regarded; for it is in vain we seek to reconcile the actual course adopted by Sir James C. Ross with the instructions issued for his guidance by the Board of Admiralty. In this manner were two precious years entirely lost. Sir James Ross travelled to the southward, to a point indicated by 72° 45' north, and then retraced his steps to Leopold Harbour. Ft is now melancholy to contemplate G m \-\^M I Jii ^^i• if r I-- r ' 82 this most deplorable beginning of a scries of unsuccessful expeditious, which have cost the country the expenditure of a vast treasure, and uniformly led only to failure and disa])pointment. It is not my vocation to enter into a critical examination of the conduct of Sir J. C. Ross on this occasion, nor even, if such a course were relevant, is it my inclination t{ do so. But I think that the failure of that officer is to be attributed rather to the original defects of organization than the faults which were undoubtedly committed by him. That the defective character of the expedition was rendered still more useless by subsequent events (to be recorded) is not to be denied ; but in fairness to Sir J. C. Iloss, we must refer the main cause of his ill success to the incapacity of the projectors and managers of the ex- pedition. The great defect in the plan of the expedition Avas the limited number of ships, and their excessive amount of tonniige. If the same number of men had been dispatched in foitr vessels, the result might, and most probably would, have been attended with more success. By multiplying centres of action and distributing search- ing parties over a wider extent of the continent intended to be examined, the chances of falling in with the lost navigators would have been greatly multiplied, and it is now exceedingly probable that such parties might have fallen in with some of Sir John Franklin's people ; for, according to Dr. Rae's statement, the advance of Sir J. C. Ross to the southward must have been nearly cotempo- raneous with the passage of Sir John Franklin's party over the spot indicated by Dr. Rae. Sir James Ross left Leopold Harbour on the 15th May, 1849, and travelled to the southward, attaining his furthest point southward on the 5th June in the same year ; so that it is highly jiro- bable that Sir John Franklin's party was close in the neighbourhood at this time, and must have been fallen in with had the searching parties of Sir James Clark Ross been skilfully distributed over the place of search. There is one circumstance in this part of the case which must now be deeply regretted both by Sir James Ross and his coadjutor Captain I3ird. Captain Sir James Ross, in his report says : — " We were accompanied for the first five days of our journey by Captain Bird, in command of a large fatigue party, which increased our number to forty- 83 two. lie (Captain Biid) would wiHin<,dy liavo exlcndcd bis valuable assistance still fuvtber, bad [ not Celt tbat bis presence at tbc sbi])s would be more beneficial to tbe service, in sending Ibrtb sucb otber ])arties and conipletinj^ sucb furtber measures as I proposed sbould be adopteil during my absence." Wliy, it may be asked, was Captain Bird brougbt away from a position in wbicb bis services were wanted, and kept for a period of five days, and t])en sent back without making tbe labour and time tbus ex- pended in any way available, as migbt bave been done by distributing searcbing parties in this latitude ? If Captain Bird's services were required in Leopold Harbour, be ougbt not to bave been brougbt away; and under any cir- cumstances tbe labours of bis party ougbt not to bave been sacrificed to wbat appears to bave been a most unlucky aftertbought of Sir James Clark Ross. Why did not Sir James Clark Ross on tins occasion, in obe- dience to bis instructions, extend bis searcb to tbe westward ? and wby was tbis sacrifice of time and labour made without any apparent reason ? Upon tbe whole, I am sure that Sir James Clark Ross himself must be the first to regret the serious sacrifice of precious time and labour on the very threshold of the series of searches which have ended in nothing but a loss of treasure and an abandonment of ships. In looking at this first expedition, and without insisting upon the fatal error of employing two larr/e ships rather than ncirra/ smaller ones, it is im- possible not to see that this expedition was, for want of plan and organization, necessarily doomed to failure. The effort of Sir James Ross ranged over a locality bearing an insignificant jjroponion to the whole continent to be searched, and as there was no reason why that particular locality should be searched in i)reference to the extent of surface which was entirely neglected, it is manifest that the chances of Sir James Clark Ross's success were only as unity against many thousands. The serious amount of time which was sacrificed before entering Lancaster Sound was also a most fatal mistake ; and this post- ponement of any serious effort, and absolute loss of opportunity, as we now know it to have been, was never afterwards compensated. I shall not take upon myself the invidious task of distinguishing any one individually as the author of this great and fatal blunder, nor shall I o 2 'I- 1, J m 84 seek to apportion responsibility between the Arctic Coun- cillors and the Board of Admiralty ; but there were men of experience who approved of this arrangement, and it is difficult now to understand what could have been their object, believing as I do — and all subsequent experience has proved my views to be correct — that no navigators of any Arctic experience ought to have believed, or respon- sibly advised, that it was within the limits of probability that with such ships the objects of the expedition could be attainable ; and I cannot believe, even now, that it was ever the intention of the persons who selected those ships, to have attempted to navigate them hcjjoud Leopold Harbour. It is hardly yjossiblc to suppose that the Board of Adiniralty would have made such a selection without availing themselves of the judgment and experience of Sir James Clark Ross ; and yet, it is still more difficult to believe that this officer would himself have made such a selection ; for no man knows better than himself that such ships were utterly unfitted for navigating to the westward. Let any one cast his eye over a map of the Arctic seas, and in particular those marked out by the instructions given to Sir John Franklin ; and then ask himself whether two such shi])s as the Enterprise and Investigator ^xvs\\X.Q(S. throughout the voyage like the Siamese twins, and finally laid-up in Leopold Harbour, could contribute more than the smallest modicum of utility in a search which required a distribution from six to twelve parties at least, properly organized, with depots of pro- visions, and distant and well co-ordinated centres of action and relief in case of necessity? All that was done on this occasion was a partial examination in Barrow's Strait and to the westward of Leopold Harbour, to about 95° 53' Long. W., and from thence along the western coast of North Somerset, to about 72° 45' Lat. N. ; and, be it remembered, in a direction which offered no greater pro- mise of success than other parts which were left entirely unexamined. If we had nothing more to complain of than the mere sacrifice of treasure which this expedition cost, it would be a matter of little consequence ; but when it is recollected — as subsequent discoveries have shown — that at least a portion, and an important one, of the party of Sir John Franklin was wandering within 150 miles of Sir James Clark Ross's party, on the brink of famine, III 85 and probably worn-out by disease, calamity, and fatigue, it is impossible not to regard this parsimonious exorcise of effort and fatal loss of time as one of the greatest calamities that has ever befallen our happy country. What extraordinary infatuation could have in- duced Sir James Ross in the first instance to have lost three weeks before entering Lancaster Sound ? and what but the veriest passion for inactivity could have induced him to lay-up on the 11th September — a period of the year so far from being severe in these regions under ordinary circumstances, that it is said, by those competent to afford information upon the subject, that three out of every five days which elapsed between the 1 1th Se])tember and the 1st November, after the laying-up of the ships, would have furnished the means of getting the ships out of harbour, hud such a course been deemed expedient. A witness, in all respects competent to offer testimony, stated that on the 1 1th September, the day on which the ships entered the harbour, Regent's Inlet was perfectly clear of ice, and the lowest degree of temperature recorded was, of the air, 27°, and of the sea, 30°. Even so late as the 19th of the same month, the mouth of the har- bour was clear of ice, and on the •2'2nd the ice in tho harbour was so loose and unconnected that it broke away from the land and drifted out to sea ; and, indeed, it was not until the 28th that the ice assumed that degree of solidity which rendered it an obstacle in the way of the expedition, while at this late period Barrow's Strait still remained clear of ice. I ask, then, why this inaction from the 11th September until the 28th of the month, unless it was that the Etiterprhe and Invesii'/ator were utterly unfitted for the service in which they were engaged ? On the return of Sir James Clark Ross, the Board of Admiralty, by some extraordinary intellectual process, which has never yet been explained, suddenly adopted different views and opinions to those which they had en- tertained a year before. They now looked to Behring's Straits as the probable scene of Sir John Franklin's im- prisonment. It would appear that the advisers of their Lordships, in May, 1848, entertained the opinion that Sir John Franklin might be found somewhere about I-an- caster Si>und. Barrow Strait, or elsewhere to the westward 80 h: 1 'i ■ of Cape Walker; but although Sir Jauics Clark Ross failed in bringing home any evidence which could either confirm, modify, or contradict these views, the Board gra- tuitously determined to send out an ex])edition by way of Behring's Straits. ]f such an expedition had been des- patched upon an extensive plan of search, co ordinating the course through Lancaster Sound, and the extensive portion of the earth between Baffin's Bay and Behring's Straits, the boldness of the undertaking would have com- manded our admiration; but being what it actually was, an isolated expedition, it oflered no promise of success, and was in the last degree chimerical, if not absurd, having regard to the then state of information on the subject. The several expeditions which succeeded this were all open to the objections which I have previously stated. There was no sufficient distribution of searching parties — no plan, nor organization, which would secure an adequate examination. Ship after ship passed over the same ground, and, in one instance, as many as six were con- centrated in the Wellington Channel at the same time. If ever plan and organization of parts were necessary in any case, it was in a search having for its object the recovery and relief of the lost navigators; and yet, strange to say, from the first to the last, no plan of search was ever preconcerted; and the consequence was, that the examinations made were regulated entirely by the accident of the mere locality where the ships happened to winter. Of course, the results of such a system could not be otherwise than a series of failures, and but for the single-handed exertions of Dr. Rae, we might yet be without a tittle of evidence upon the fate of the much- lamented Sir John Franklin and the one hundred and thirty-seven brave fellows who most probably shared with him his melancholy fate. It remains for me to offer a few remarks upon the recent discoveries of Dr. Rae ; and it afibrds me real gra- tification to have found an opportunity of expressing my warm admiration of his labours It is impossible, how- ever, to read Dr.Rae's Report without feeling that in some im])ortant particulars it requires confirmation by evidence of a very sn])crior character to that, upon which at present it entirely rests. All that we really know, with any degree of certainty, about Sir John Franklin, amounts to this.— .. H7 that on tlic 2(ltli May, 1845, tlio Erchiis ami Terror saiU-d from tho Thaiiies, in company with thu tran8j)ort liarrvtlo Junior — that on the 2()th .hily, in hit. 74° 48' N., long. GQ° 13' \V., Sir John Franklin was scon by the Prince of Wales whaler, being at this time moored to an iceberg, and waiting for an opening in the great body of ice in IJaffin's Bay, in order to make Lancaster Sound. Lieut. Griffiths, who commanded the fhirre//oJ////ior,siiys, " We left then) with every species of provisions for three entire years, independently of five bullocks. They had also stores of every description for the same time.'' The next information which has reached us was through the united expeditions of 1850, which brought to light evidence which clearly and satisfactorily ])roved that Sir John Franklin passed the winter of 1845-40 at the entrance of Wellington Channel. The three graves, and various fragments of stores, ])roved to demonstration that a con- siderable period had been spent in this j)osition, but amongst these fragments, those to which the greatest share of importance ought to be attached, were a number of tin canisters, still containing tlie putrescent remains of what was once called " (J oldner's Preserves." The number* of these canisters was sufficiently considerable to lead to the belief that it is probable this might have been the turning point upon which Sir John Franklin's expe- dition had been regulated. It will be recollected that, after a most rigid and laborious search, no records were found of the actual movements nor the intentions of Sir John Franklin: a circumstance of great im])ortance, and leading to an inference which, to my mind, is irresistible. It will not be forgotten, that in the instructions given to Sir John Franklin, there is found the following direction : " 19. For the purpose not only of ascertaining tlic set of currents in the Arctic seas, but also of affordinr/ more frequent chances of hearing of your 'progress, wc desire that you do frcfiuently, after you have passed the latitude of 05° north, and once every day when you shall be in an ascertained current, throw overboard a bottle or copper cylinder, closely scaled, and containing a paper, stating the date and position at which it is launched ; and you will give similar orders to the commander of the Terror, to be executed in case of separation; and for this purpose we have * There were about two hundred. i 88 caused each ship to be supplied with papers, on which is printed, in several languages, a request, that whoever may find it should take measures for transmitting it to this Office." "•«ii "■.it Now, I think, it is in the last degree improbable, having regard to these instructions, that Sir John Franklin would have left this point of his progress with the intention of proceeding to the westward, without leaving some inti- mation of that intention, and the intended direction of his course. Whilst, on the other hand, I think it very probable, that if he left this station with the intention of returninfi homeward instead of advanchKjy that he might, and most probably would, have considered the deposit of such an indication useless and unnecessary. 1 am there- fore induced to believe, that when Sir John Franklin quitted this spot, he did so with the intention of making his wa} home. Of course, the question arises. What were the probable circumstances which would induce sucli a course on the very threshold of the expedition ? My answer to this question is, that his discovery of the con- dition of his preserved meats, to the extent indicated by the discovered canisters, would have justly alarmed him for the consequences which might have ensued if he con- tinued his course outward; and leave it exceedingly un- certain, with such evidence before his eyes, to predicate of the extent of the mischief which might exist in this portion of his stores. He would therefore prudently, under such circumstances, have returned home in pre- ference to incurring the risk which such a condition of things threatened in the event of his reaching a remoter point of the expedition, where he would be out of the reach of the means of rescue or relief. Up to this point there are data which furnish ample means for supplying conjecture, but subsequently there is a total absence of any evidence upon which reliance can be placed, until the discovery of Dr. Rae. The substance of this discovery is, that while crossing Franklin Isthmus, in 1854, he received from the Esqui- maux the following statement — namely, that in the spring of 1850, about forty white men were seen travelling south over ice, dragging a boat and sledge near the north shore of King William Land. That they reached the continent by the ice on the west side of that land ; that they could not 89 speak much Esquiinaiix, and that their ships were sup- ])osed to have been crushed by the ice. It was also stated lliat they were short of food, and h)oked thin, and that they bought a seal of the Esquimaux. It was further stated tliat they were going south, in the expectation of finding deer, nnd that they were in tiie possession of tents. Later during the same season, and before the ice broke up, on a low shore of the continent (Point Ogle), about a long day's journey north-west of a large river (Back River), some thirty corpses were seen lying about ; some in tents, others under the boat, which wiis turned over, apparently for shelter. It was moreover stated that some graves were seen on an island (Montreal Island). It was also suggested that some perhaps survived till the end of May, and that they had shot wild-fowl, because fresh bones of geese were seen, and much ammunition v.ua discovered below high-water mark, which had probably been left close to the beach before the thaw. Various articles were obtained from the Esquimaux, such as telescopes, guns, watches, compasses, silver spoons, and forks, with crests engraved, a walking-stick head, of silver, with the words Sir John Franklin, K.C.H., engraved on it. Sir John Franklin's Hanoverian order of knighthood, &c., were also found. Some of these articles were purchased and brought home by Dr. Rae. None of the Esquimaux who commimicated this information to Dr. Kae had seen the white men, either alive or dead, nor tlic place where they are supposed to have perished. They had received their information, and the articles which Dr. Rae j)urchased, from natives living further to the west, the latter of whom had actually seen the party travelling on the ice. The data thus obtained sustain a conclusion that Sir John Franklin passed the winter of 1845-46 at Beechy Island, and that in 1850, about forty of the party were seen near the north shore of King William Ijand, and that later in the same season, some thirty corpses were seen on a low shore of the continent, probably Point Ogle, and that some graves were also seen on Montreal Island ; and the articles secured by Dr. Rae prove incontrovertibly that some calamity must have happened to Sir John Franklin's party, and that a portion of his companions must have crossed in this direction. The great difficulty is to con- nect the evidence discovered at Beechy Island with that 80 ' found at tho spot indicated hy tho Esquimaux. Sir John I'rauklin might havo travellod to tho wostward and been lost in liis ])rogross in that course; or, he might liave met with a simihir calamity somewhere in his passage througii ])afrin*s Bay or Davis's Strait. It may then be asked, what circumstance distinguishes between these two pos- sible cases, and what are the known conditions which make one ot these events more probable than the other. I tliink the fact that no record was left by Sir John Franklin at lieechy Island, at his wintering place, is almost conclusive, that at the time he left this station he intended to steer homewards ; for be would naturally reason that, under such circumstances, the leaving of a record of his departure in that direction was unnecessary and unrequired by a fair construction of the orders under wlicli he was acting. On the other hand, if he had left Bcechy Island with the intention of persevering in his course to the westward, according to his instructions, it is impossible to suppose that he would have neglected so manifest a duty, imposed upon him by his instructions, to leave some record of the course of his progress. Even if Sir John Franklin had not thus construed his orders, still prudential motives would have suggested such a course ; and it is, therefore, of all things, the most improbable that Sir John Franklin would not, in such a case, be actuated either by an impulse of duty or a suggestion of prudence. 1 therefore think, that Sir John Franklin took his departure from Beechy Island to the eastward; but I shall not attempt to distinguish amongst all t. o possible cases which might equally have led to a calamity which the testimony of the Esquimaux seems to sustain. I must confess that, with the evidence hitherto procured, I am unable to limit any of the numerous possible cases which may have led to the same result. But there is one remarkable circumstance, supported by most satisfactory evidence, which leads to the probability that these ships of Sir John Franklin were crushed in the ice, somewhere near the eastern side of Baffin's Bay or Davis's Straits, and that thev were abandoned bv the crews, who made to- wards the spot where they were found, with the intention of seeking food. The statement of Mr. Shore, laid before Parliament, on the motion of Sir 11. H. Inglis, is to the effect that, about the beginning of March, 1852, he was > r > r 91 in comj)any with a merchant captain of the name of Story, wlio had made to liim the foHowing statement : — "In reference to icebergs, I know a captain, at present in Shicldn harbour, who told me that when proceeding to North America, in the spring of 1851, tlie mate who had the morning watch reported an iceberg in sight, ahead of (he ship. On a nearer approach, the ice under the water couhl be observed shelving out to a conaitUirable distance at the leo side, this acting like a vane in kcei)ing that part to leeward. l)n passing as eloso as pnidence would allow, two three-masted vessels were observed close to the berg, but out of the water: they were regularly housed, with their top-sail yards and top-gallant masts down. No human beings could be seen." The statement of Mr. Coward, the master of the brig Reno rat ion y the person referred to, was as follows : "When near the east edge of the bank, in lat. 45° 30' N,, wind N.E., fresh breezes and clear weather, as much as I could carry fore-toi)mast .studding sail, fell in witli icebergs ; one of whicli was very large, with field-ice attached to it, in which were two three- masted ships, having their masts struck and yards down, and all made snug ; to all appearance, they had pa.ssed the winter together on the ice. At about 5 o'clock in the morning, when within ono mile of them, the mate called me to see the berg and ships. ]iy the time I got up and dressed, and on deck, my shij) was abreast of them. I took a spying-glass and carefully examined them, to sc if any one was on board, but could see no one. At the time, 1 !.. I not think of Sir John Franklin's missing sliips ; anxiety to C ahead out of the danger whilst the weather was clear from and being too far passed before I could make up my mind, «aus. d me not to reduce .sail, and examine them more accurately. I am 4nce of opinion they might possibly be the missing ships." Such was the substance of the statement made by Mr. Coward, who was afterwards circumstantially examined. Ofber witnesses also < orroborated Mr. Coward's statement, so that the apparition of the two ships may be considered as well authenticated as need be. Of course there is no evidcnoe of identity, but the description of the ships so clos< ly corresponds with the character of the two vessels under the command of Sir John Franklin, that it is impos- sible not to feci the weight and influence of the statement, and arrive at the conclusion that it is hi. hly probable that these ships actually were the Erebus anc> Terror, and IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // ^ .^'i // ^"J^ 4i 1.0 |5o ■^~ H^H ■^ b^ |Z2 la lift ^" 1.1 l.-^iss 1.8 1-25 1 U. ||.6 stasis II ^:ss^ IIIII^^^S ■ "'■ " /' ■ ' ■ ^ 6" >■ V] ffiotographic ScMices Corporation •SJ \ iV <^ 23 WEST MAEN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) •72-4503 J '^ 92 If ^1 , that they had been deserted by their crews as they were then seen. With regard to the evidence furnished by Dr. Rae, it must not be forgotten, that, excepting the possession of the several articles — a fact too pregnant of itself with information not to carry its own weight — is only secondanj. None of the Esquimaux had conversed with, or had seen the whites, nor had they ever been at the place where the bodies were found ; but they had their information from those who had been there, and who had seen the party when travelling. Such evidence can only be taken for what it is worth ; and when it is considered by how many possible accidents it may have miscarried between the original relators and the informants of Dr. Rae, little reliance can be placed upon its particulars, though, upon the whole, it may be substantially true. It is somewhat remarkable that a spot clearly indicated as holding forth considerable prospect of success, and which late discoveries have shown to be so, was never searched. Captain Beechy placed considerable reliance upon the importance of examining Regent's Inlet, about the Felly Idands^ in a letter of the date of the 7th of February, 1850, and it is believed that he again expressed the same opinion in a memorandum submitted to the Board or Admiralty. Yet no organized plan which would have included a search in this direction was ever enter- tained by the Admiralty. Expedition after expedition has passed over the same course, and crowded together upon the same spot, but nothing like an intelligent organization seems ever lo have been dreamt of. Nothing appears to me more certain, than that Sir John Franklin would have obeyed his instructions, if no untoward obstacles had pre- vented the course of his progress. He would, no doubt, after reaching the longitude of Cape Walker, try to make his way to the south-west ; but I have already stated that I believe his ships could never, under the circumstances known to exist in these latitudes, have succeeded in getting so far as this to the westward. Again, if he found that a probability existed of a large proportion of his provision being unsound whilst he was yet in the Wel- lington Channel, he would not have risked a further west- ward progress, but would most probably have steered homewards, leaving no record of his departure. Taking, 93 therefore, all circumstances into consideration, we are forced to the conclusion that the preponderance of pro- hability lies upon the supposition that the ships were lost somewhere in the Eastern Channel, on their passage homeward; and that the ships, being locked in the mass of ice, floated up and down Baffin's Bay and Davis's Strait for several seasons, until they were ultimately liberated in 185*2, the crews having previously abandoned them, and made the spot indicated by the testimony of the Esquimaux. If ever the dictates of humanity, and the natural sym- pathy of our kind, were .lacrificed upon the altar of party prejudices and scientific cotericH, it has been in this un- happy case. To suppose for a moment, that the succes- sive Boards which have from time to time despatched the several seaiching expeditions, were actuated by any other motive than an honest desire to relieve Sir John Franklin and his companions in danger, would be absurd. But it is impossible to acquit them of grave error3 : and it is also impossible to conceal the fact, that they have exhi- bited a want of sound judgment. In asking for the opinion of a number of experienced officers, they acted prudently, and would have removed from themselves a great weight of responsibility, if they had summoned to their councils all whose antecedent experience had made their counsel worth having. This they did not do, and narrowing this means of information, as they did, by con- fiding it to a party who were committed to a particular set of views, they lost the only advantage which a candid and unbiassed deliberation might have insured. It was known that I was desirous of despatching smaller ships, and thereby distributing searching parties over a wider extent of ground. Such a mode of action was of course open to the serious objection that it would abridge the patronage of the Board of Admiralty. This would be alone a serious objection in some eyes. And as the majority of the counsellors of the Board entertained similar views, it is quite manifest why such hostile and determined opposition met my pertinacious endeavours to realize my own particular views upon the subject. We can now only regret that patronage and personal con- siderations were not entirely overlooked, in a case which involved the lives of one hundred and thirty-eight human I wj 94 beings. Doubtless, all concerned in this unhappy affair, from the originators down to the last searching expedition, have lived to regret the share which each has contributed to every successive failure. And though it may be now too late to hope for any successful results from a change of proceedings, yet am I inclined to think that the country has not yet fulfilled all that is due to the missing navi- gators, and although the field of inquiry is now narrowed within the limits of a small compass, it is not to be en- tirely neglected, whilst it is possible that a single survivor may yet live to reveal the sad history of the fate of the Franklin Expedition. *< i !* APPENDIX. (A.) Cojyy of instructions addressed to Captain Sir John Frankli K.G.H., Her Majesty's Ship Erebus, dated 5th May, 1845, — By the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of tlie United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 1. Her Majesty's Government, having deemed it expedient that a further attempt should be made for the accomplishment cf a north-west passage by sea from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, of which passage a small portion only remains to be completed, we have thought proper to appoint you to the command of the expedition to be fitted out for that service, consisting of Her Majesty's ships Erebus and Terror; and you are hereby required and directed, so soon as the said ships shall be in all respects ready for sea, to proceed forthwith in the Erebus under your com- mand, taking with you Her Majesty's ship Terror, her Captain. (Crozier) having been placed by us under your orders, taking also with you the Baretto Junior transport, which has been directed to be put at your disposal for the purpose of carrying out portions of your provisions, clothing, and other stores. 2. On putting to sea, you are to proceed, in the first place, by such a route as, from the wind and weather, you may deem to be the most suitable for despatch, to Davis' Strait, taking the trans- port with you to such a distance up that Strait as you may be able to proceed without impediment from ice, being careful not to risk that vessel by allowing her to be beset in the ice, or exposed to any violent contact with it ; you will then avail yourself of the earliest opportunity of clearing the transport of the provisions and stores with wliich she is charged for the use of the expedition, an d you are then to send her back to England, giving to the agent or master such directions for his guidance as may appear to you most proper, and reporting by that opportunity your proceedings to our Secretary, for our information. m ^iil '1 •i j I'" * *' I ... ■i-\> I' 3. You will then proceed in the execution of your orders into Baffin's Bay, and get as soon as possible to the western side of the Strait, provided it should appear to you that the ice chiefly prevails on the eastern side, or near the middle; the object being to enter Lancaster Sound with as little delay as possible ; but as no specific directions can be given, owing to the position of the ice varying from year to year, you will, of course, be guided by your own observations as to the course most eligible to be taken, in order to ensure a speedy arrival in the Sound above mentioned. 4. As, however, we have thought fit to cause each ship to bo fitted with a small steam-engine and propeller, to be used only in pushing the ships through channels between masses of ice, when the wind is adverse, or in a calm, wo trust the difficulty usually found in such cases will be much obviated, but as the supply of fuel to be taken in the ships is necessarily small, you will use it only in cases of difficulty. 5. Lancaster Sound, and its continuation through Barrow's Strait, Jiaving been foUi times navigated Avithout any impediment by Sir Edward Parry, and since frequently by whaling ships, will probably be found without any obstacles from ice or islands ; and Sir Edward Parry having also proceeded from the latter in a straight course to Melville Island, and returned without expe- riencing any, or very little, difficulty, it is hoped that the remain- ing portion of the passage, about 900 miles, to Behring's Strait may also be found equally free from obstruction; and in pro- ceeding to the westward, therefore, you will not stop to examine any openings either to the northward or southward in that Strait, but continue to push to the westward without loss of time, in the latitude of about 74^°, till you have reached the longitude of that portion of land on which Cape Walker is situated, or about QS° west. From that point we desire that every eflfort be used to endea- vour to penetrate to the southward and westward in a course as direct towards Behring's Strait as the position and extent of the ice, or the existence of land, at present unknown, may admit. 6. We direct you to this particular part of the Polar Sea as affording the best prospect of accomplishing the passage to the Pacific, in consequence of the unusual magnitude and apparently fixed state of the barrier of ice observed by the Hecla and Griper, in the year 1 820, off Cape Dundas, the south-western extremity of Melville Island; and we, therefore, consider that loss of time would be incurred in renewing the attempt in that direction ; but should your progress, in tne direction before ordered, be arrested by ice of a permanent appearance, and that when passing the mouth of the Strait, between Devon and Comwallis Islands, you had observed that it was open and clear of ice, we desire that you will duly consider, with reference to the time already con- i)7 Bum«;.a, as well as to the symptoms of a late or early close of the season, whether that channel might not offer a more practicable outlet from the Archipelago, and a more ready access to the open sea, where there would be neither islands nor banks to arrest and fix the floating masses of ice ; and if you should have advanced too far to the south-westward to render it expedient to adopt this new course before the end of the present season, and if, therefore, you should have determined to winter in that neighbourhood, it will be a matter for your mature deliberation whether in the en- suing season you would proceed by the above mentioned Strait, or whether you would persevere to the south-westward, according to the former directions. 7. You are well aware, having yourself been one of the intel- ligent travellers who have traversed the American shore of the Polar Sea, that the groups of islands that stretch from that shore to the northward to a distance not yet known, do not extend to the westward further than about the 120th degi-ee of western longitude, and that beyond this, and to Behring's Strait, no land is visible from the American shore of the Polar Sea. 8. Should you be so fortunate as to accomplish a passage through Behring's Strait, you are then to proceed to the Sandwich Islands, to refit the ships and refresh the crews, and if, during your stay at such place, a safe opportunity should occur of sending one of your ofiicers or despatches to England by Panama, you are to avail yourself of such opportunity to forward to us as full a detail of your proceedings and discoveries as the nature of the conveyance may admit of, and in the event of no such opportunity offering during your stay at the Sandwich Islands, you are on quitting them to proceed with the two ships under your command off Panama, there to land an officer with such despatches, directing him to make the best of bis way to England with them, in such a manner as our Consul at Pauama shall advise, after which you are to lose no time in returning to England by way of Cape Horn. 9. If at any period of your voyage the season shall be so far advanced as to make it unsafe to navigate the ships, and the health of your crews, the state of the ships, and all concurrent circumstances should combine to induce you to form the reso- lution of wintering in those regions, you are to use your best endeavours to discover a sheltered and safe harbour, where the ships may be placed in security for the winter, taking such mea- sures for the health and comfort of the people committed to your charge as the materials with which you are provided for housing in the ships may enable you to do — and if you should find it expedient to resort to this measure, and you should meet with any inhabitants, either Esquimaux or Indians, near the place where you winter, you are to endeavour by every means in your I' I H-i; t&i* m ■ power to cultivate a friendship with them, by making them pre- sents of such articles as you may be supplied with, and which may be useful or agreeable to them ; you will, however, take care not to suffer yourself to be surprised by them, but use every precau- tion, and be constantly on your guard against any hostility : you will, by offering rewards, to be paid in such manner as you may think best, prevail on them to carry to any of the settlements of the Hudson's Bay Company, an account of your situation and proceedings, with an urgent request that it may be forwarded to England with the utmost possible despatch. 10. In an undertaking of this description, much must be always left to the discretion of the commanding officer, and as the objects of this Expedition have been fully explained to you, and you have already had much experience on service of this Ucature, we are convinced we cannot do better than leave it to your judgment, in the event of your not making a passage this season, either to winter on the coast, with the view of following up next season any hopes or expectations which your observations this year may lead you to entertain, or to return to England to report to us the result of such observations, always recollecting our anxiety for the health, comfort, and safety of yourself, your officers, and men ; and you will duly weigh how far the advantage of starting next season from an advanced position may be counterbalanced by what may be suffered during the winter, and by the want of such refresh- ment and refitting as would be afforded by your return to England. 1 1 . We deem it right to caution you against suffering the two vessels placed under your orders to separate, except in the event of accident or unavoidable necessity, and we desire you to keep up the most unreserved communications with the commander of the Terror^ placing in him every proper confidence, and acquainting him with the general tenor of your orders, and with your views and intentions from time to time in the execution of them, that the service may have the full benefit of your united efforts in the prosecution of such a service ; and that, in the event of unavoidable separation, or of any accident to yourself, Captain Crozier may have the advantage of knowing, up to the latest practicable period, all your ideas and intentions relative to a satisfactory completion of this interesting undertaking. 12. We also recommend, that as frequent an exchange take place as conveniently may be of the observations made in the two ships ; that any scientific discovery made by the one, be as quickly as possible communicated for the advantage and guidance of the other, in making their future observations, and to increase the probability of the observations of both being preserved. 13. We have caused a great variety of valuable instruments to m to bo put on board the ships under your orders, of which you will bo furnished with a list, and for the return of which you will be hold responsible ; among these, are instruments of the latest improve- ments for making a series of observations on terrestrial magnetism, which are at this time peculiarly desirable, and strongly recom- mended by the President and Council of the Royal Society, that the important advantage be derived from observations taken in the North Polar Sea, in co-operation with the observers who are at present carrying on an uniform system at the magnetic observatories established by England in her distant territories, and, through her influence, in other parts of the world ; and the more desirable is this co-operation in the present year, when these splendid establish- ments, which do so much honour to the nations who have cheer- fully erected them at a great expense, are to cease. The only magnetical observations that have been obtained very partially in the Arctic Regions, are now a quarter of a century old, and it is known that the phenomena are subject to considerable secular changes. It is also stated by Colonel Sabine, that the instruments and methods of observation have been so greatly improved, that the earlier observations are not to be named in point of precision with those which would now be made ; and he concludes by observing, that the passage through the Polar Sea would afford the most important service that now remains to be performed towards the completion of the magnetic survey of the globe. 14. Impressed with the importance of this subject, we have deemed it proper to request Lieut.-Colonel Sabine tc allow Com- mander Fitzjames to profit by his valuable instructions, and we direct you, therefore, to place this important branch of science under the immediate charge of Commander Fitzjames ; and as several other officers have also received similar instruction at Woolwich, you will therefore cause observations to be made daily on board each of the ships whilst at sea (and when not prevented by weather, and other circumstances) on the magnetic variation, dip, and intensity, noting at the time the temperature of the air, and of the sea at the surface, and at different depths ; and you will be careful that in harbour and on other favourable occasions those observations shall be attended to, by means of which the influence of the ship's iron on the result obtained at sea may be computed and allowed for. 15. In the possible event of the ships being detained during a winter in the high latitudes, the expedition has been supplied with a portable observatory, and with instruments similar to those which are employed in the fixed magnetical and meteorological observatories instituted by her Majesty's Government in several of the British colonies. 16 It is our desire that, in case of such detention, observations h2 100 Pi' Rhould be nmdo with thcHc instruments, according to the HyHtcni adopted in the aforesaid observatories, and detailed directions will be supplied for this purpose, which, with the instruction received at Woolwich, will be found, as we confidently anticipate, to afford full and sufficient guidance for such observations, which will derive from their locality peculiar interest, and a high theoretical value. 1 7. We have also directed instruments to bo specially provided for observations on atmospherical refraction at very low altitudes, in case of the expedition being detained during a winter in the high latitudes ; on this subject also particular directions will bo supplied, and you will add any other meteorological observations that may occur to you of general utility ; you will also take occa- sions to try the depth of the sea and nature of the bottom, the rise, direction, and strength of the tides, and the set and velocity of currents. 18. And you are to understand that although the effecting a passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific is the main object of this expedition, yet, that the ascertaining the true geographical position of the different poinio of land near which you may pass, so far as can be effected without detention of the ships in their progress westward, as well as such other observations as you may have opportunities of making in natural history, geography, «fec., in pai-ts of the globe either wholly unknown or little visited, must prove most valuable and interesting to the science of our country ; and we therefore desire you to give your unremitting attention, and to call that of all the officers under your command, to these points, as being objects of high interest and importance. 1 9. For the purpose, not only of ascertaining the set of the currents in the Arctic Seas, but also of affording more frequent chances of hearing of your progress, we desire that you do frequently, after you have passed the latitude of 65° north, and once every day when you shall be in an ascertained current, throw overboard a bottle or copper cylinder closely sealed, and containing a paper stating the date and position at which it is launched, and you will give similar orders to the commander of the Terror, to be executed in case of separation ; and for this purpose, we have caused each ship to be supplied with papers, on which is printed, in several languages, a request that whoever may find it should take measures for transmitting it to this office. 20. You are to make use of every means in your power to collect and preserve specimens of the animal, mineral, and vegetable kingdoms, should circumstances place such within your reach without causing your detention, and of the larger animals you are to cause accurate drawings to be made, to accompany and elucidate the descriptions of them. In this, as well as in every other part 101 of your scientific duty, wc trust that you will receive material assistance from the otlicers under your command, several of whom are represented to us as well quaiitied hi these respects. 21. In the event of any irreparable accident happening to either of the two ships, you are to cause the oftlccrs and crew of tho disabled ship to be removed into the other, and with her singly to proceed in prosecution of the voyage, or return to England, according jis circumstances shall appear to recpiire, understanding that the officers and crews of both ships are hereby authorized and required to continue to perform the duties according to their respective ranks and stations on board either ship to which they may be so removed, in the event of an occurrence of this nature. Should, unfortunately, your own ship be the one disabled, you are in that case to take command of the Terror, and in tho event of any fatal accident happening to yourself. Captain Crozier is hereby authorized to take the command of the Erebus, placing the officer of the expedition who may then be next in seniority to him in command of the Terror. Also, in the event of your own inability, by sickness or otherwise, at any pericxl of this service, to continue to carry these instructions into execution, you are to transfer them to the officer the next in command to you employed on the expedition, who is hereby required to execute them in the best manner he can for the attainment of the several objects herein set forth. 22. You are, while executing the service pointed out in these instructions, to take every opportunity that may offer of acquaint- ing our secretary, for our information, with your progress, and on your arrival in England you are immediately to repair to this office, in order to lay before us a full account of your proceedings in the whole course of your voyage, taking care before you leave the ship to demand from the officers, petty officers, and all other persons on board, the logs and journals they may have kept, together with any drawings or charts they may have made, which are all to be sealed up, and you will issue similar directions to Captain Crozier and his officers. The said logs, journals, or other documents to be thereafter disposed of as we may think proper to determine. 23. In the event of England becoming involved in hostilities with any other power during your absence, you are nevertheless clearly to understand that you are not on any account to commit any hostile act whatsoever, the expedition under your orders being only intended for the purpose of discovery and science, and it being the practice of all civilized nations to consider vessels so empfoyed as excluded from the operations of war; and, confiding in this feeling, we should trust that you would receive every 1. 10'2 asHistance from the ships or subjects of any foreign power which y«>u may fall in with ; but Hpccial application to that cifect has been made to the respective govcrnmciits. Given under our hands, this 5th day of May, 1845. ' (Signed) Haddington. G. COCKBURN. W. H. Ga«k. Sir John Franklin, K.C.H. Captain of H.M.S. irVefttM at Wuulwich. By command of their I.iordships. (Signed) W. A. B. Hamilton. 11^ (B.) To tlie Moat Noble the Marquess of Northampton, K.G., President of the Royal Society, d'c. d;c. , 16, Park Street, Groavenor Square, Loudon, nth February, 1847. My Lord Marquess, I have the honour to inform your Lordship, that during the last spring, I had projected a plan for the double purpose of measuring an arc of the meridian of Spitzbergen,and making another attempt to reach the North Pole, which was to havo been undertaken by myself, at the expense of my patriotic friend Sir Felix Booth, but which was subsequently abandoned by him, in consequence of animadversions contained in the late publication of Sir John Barrow, who, he said, might impute sinister motives. In May last, I addressed a letter to the talented hydrographer of the Admiralty, at the desire of the Earl of Haddington, the extract of which I now enclose, will fully explain my plan, but which, for obvious reasons, was never acted upon. 1 have now been induced to renew my application to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. First, from the fact of my having promised to Sir John Franklin that I would volunteer to rescue him and his brave companions, if not heard of in the spring of 1847, and nothing having been heard of the expedition by the whalers that have all arrived from Baffin's Bay, the pro- bability is, that the ships are both frozen up, or that some misfor- tune has befallen them. My proposal is, therefore, that an expedition should be pre- pared, such as described in the extract of my letter to Admiral Beaufort; and that, if no accounts are received from Sir John 10:3 Franklin bcforo tho lat of July, 1847, tho expedition uhali proceed to Lancaster Hound, in Hearuh of the gall.mt otfieers and men employed in ascertaining the existence, or otherwise, of a north- wo.st passage. But if, on the contrary, they return by that time, or if they have happily passed IJehring's Strait, tlun tho expe- dition under my connmuul will proceed to Spitzbergen, in order to perform tho service 1 have described. Having pointed out how the expedition could bo fitted out at a very moderate expense, I have earnestly stated tho necessity of commencing without delay tho fitting out of this expedition, because it will be absolutely neces- sary to provide Lapland clothing for the otKcers and men, who aro employed either in travelUng from the ship to search for tiir John Franklin and his crew, or in travelling to tho Pole, and this clothing can only be procured during the winter, through tho Consul-General at Christiana in Nonvay. Secondly, steam-machinery for the vessel I have selected, and thfl fitting out of both, will require a considerable timo to bo completed. It having been intimated to me by Sir Charles Adam, tho Senior Sea Lord of tho Admiralty, that an application should come from tho Koyal Society, at whose instance the Franklin Expedition was undertaken, to tho Board of Admiralty, I trust that your Lordship's candour will excuse my zeal for the advance- ment of science and geographical knowledge, and do justice to the sincerity of my desire to rescue the gallant officers and crews who are now probably looking forward to the promise I made to tender them assistance. And 1 venture to request that your Lord- ship, as the President of the Royal Society, will submit my pro- posal to the Council, and by taking it into favourable considera- tion, transmit to mo your high recommendation and approval, for tho information of the Lords Commissioners of tho Admiralty. And I have now only to add, and to express my unqualified readiness to receive any communication made to me by the Royal Society, and pay every attention to theii* wishes that lies in my power. I have the honour to be, with the highest respect, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient and humble servant, John Ross, Captain Royal Navy. The Most Noble the Marquess of Northampton, iic. &c. &o. 104 III h 5 s! (C.) No. C. Sir, North West Castle, Stranraer, 10th March, 1852. I am to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated the 6th instant, and the therein enclosed copy of the translation of a letter written by Adam Beck, the Esquimaux interpreter of the Felix, being the deposition sworn to by him in my presence at Godhavn, in the island of Disco, Greenland, and requiring my consideration, and my report on the aume as .-elative to the missing expedition under Sir John Franklin. And I have to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that I have carefully considered the said translation made by Professor Nosted, and am decidedly of opinion that it confirms the statement often made to myself by Adam Beck, during the voyage, when I put questions to him in the Danish language on the subject, namely, that the two missing ships were lost on the east coast of Baffin's Bay in the Autumn of 1846. Had his deposition been more coherent, I should not have placed so much reliance on it as I now do ; because then it would not have been his own composition. Keferring also to Mr. Platon's letters, before transmitted to you for the information of their Lordships, it will be seen that Adam Beck had subsequently made a more satisfactory deposition, and had been strictly questioned by that gentleman, who then held a responsible situation under the Danish Government at Greenland, and who is decidedly of opinion that Adam Beck has spoken and sworn to the truth, and the evidence he has given touching the fate of the missing ships ought not to be rejected in consequence of its incoherency and its contradiction by the Dane, Petersen, who did so for obvious reasons. Having seen in the weekly paper, Naviical Standard, that Mr. Penny had published his letter to the Admiralty, in which I am called on to explain " Why I believed Adam Beck's assertion '(" I obtained his pamphlet, and in the same paper I have published the enclosed reply, to which I beg to refer, and which will account in a satisfactory manner fov the disbelief (in the first instance) of Adam Beck's story, and the observations made b> the Arctic Com- mittee, and evidence touching the document written on board the Assistance, which arose from his being taken there against his will, to write down what the Esquimaux boy said (who had been tutored by Petersen to say nothing about the lost ships), but not what he himself had heard, and of course (from Petersen's contradiction) ( — ' 105 Captains Austin and Ommaney believed that Adam Beck had been telling a falsehood, because otherwise it would have been their duty to have made a search in that locality. It will be impossible that the expedition now fitting out can examine the east coast of BaflBn's Bay, and the Wellington Channel also, during this season, besides which a knowledge of the Danish language is a qualification absolutely necessary, as the Esquimaux of Danish Greenland understand only the Danish and their own language ; and in fact, I was the only person in the seven ships who could obtain the information from Adam Beck touching the fate of the ships. And referring to my plan for effectually examining the said locality, as the only chance of setting the question at rest, ' ' ' ■:■>■'■ I have, &c. (Signed) John Ross, Rear- Admiral. Captain W. A. B. Hamilton, R.N. Secretary of the Admiralty, &c. &c. &c. Sir, Enclosure to No. 6. ' ■■ f i'. ■-■■ - ■ To the Editor of the Nmvtical Standard. It is with no less concern than reluctance that I feel myself under the necessity of noticing the vain, silly, and supercilious attempt which Captain Penny has made in justification of his extraordinary conduct while in charge of a Government Expe- dition in search of the missing ships, by an ill-advised letter to the late Admiralty, which he has published. For being employed on the same interesting service, and our vessels being frozen up within two hundred yards of each other, and rendering each other every assistance in our power for eleven months, i have to acknow- ledge many marks of his kindness, in bountifully sharing with us some of those luxuries supplied to him by Government, which my limited means did not enable me to procure ; a circumstance wluch was, without doubt, conducive to the comfort, if not to the health, we enjoyed during the severity of an Arctic winter. I shall not, however, notice the many misrepresentations with which his almost unintelligible statements are replete, leaving Captain Austin either to reftite them, or to treat them with their merited contempt. But I am called upon by Captain Penny to explain why I continue to believe the assertion of Adam Beck, and in doing sOj I have tu regret that I must make an exposure which cannot be agreeable to him, and which, but for his temerity in demanding it, would have been buried in oblivion. As, how- r-^ 100 ever, this circumstence is closely connected with the fate of the gallant Franklin, all personal considerations must give way to truth and justice. Captain Penny left England early in the month of April, when (taking into consideration the severity of the previous winter) he must have been well aware that he could make no progress to the northward in Baffin's Bay, but his double pay of a Post- Captain of the Royal Navy, to which he had been fortuitously elevated, began earlier, and he had an object in visiting Upper- navik, to procure from this northernmost of the Danish settle- ments, the services of his friend, Mr. Petersen, whom he induced to leave Ids situation of £20 a year (with which he was dissa- tisfied), for the position of interpreter with him at £75 a year, and without the Danish Governor's permission. In the month of August, the Felix overtook the whole of the Government ships, when about the 12th of that month the aboriginal Esquimaux were seen on the margin of the land-ice, and had on the preceding day been communicated with by Captain Penny, and whose note delivered by them to the officers of the Intrepid and Felix, for Captain Austin, proved that no inquiries had been made respecting the fate of the missing ship", Adam Beck, the interpreter of the Felix, having obtained information from the sttanger Esquimaux, which he could not fully communicate (the Felix being then at a distance). Captain Penny's interpreter was sent for, and flatly contradicted the statement of Adam Beck, calling him " a Har," which being ironically repeated by the poor fellow, who was frightened (and no wonder, as it is well known that these Danish overseers are often severe on the poor natives of Greenland). In the meantime a young Esquimaux was brought on board the Assistance, and being tutored by Petersen, also denied the truth of Adam Beck's story, and every one, as well as myself, believed it was a fabrication, although no one could conjecture why he should, in a moment, have conjured up such a story ; and Petersen's motive did not, at that time, become apparent. We all proceeded on our voyage, arrangements having been made that Captain Penny, according to his instructions, was to visit and examine Jones's Sound (which indeed was the origin of his being employed), and the others to examine the positions within Bar- row's Strait ; but Captain Penny did not wait near Jones's Sound for its opening, which could not be expected for some days, but proceeded up Lancaster Sound, where he spoke the Nori^ Star, and by her his despatches were sent home, among others, a letter from Mr. Petersen to his wife at Uppemavik, which will be noticed hereafter. We subsequently communicated with each other at Union Bay, Beechey Island, where Captain Penny, un- justly to Captain Phillips and Mr. Abemethy, appropriated to 107 himself the credit of discovering the graves of the deceased men that had belonged to the Brebus and Terror. Having remained in the Wellington Channel two days longer than any other vessel, the Felix, owing to a disruption of a part of the edge of the barrier which crossed, we were enabled distinctly to see land to the north of this barrier, which I named " North Victoria," but which was subsequently claimed by Captain Penny aa his dis- covery, and named "Albert Land." After passing Wellington Channel, and ascertaining that the passage between Griilith's and Comwallis Islands was closed by ice for the season, we were returning to Wellington Channel with the intention of obtaining a position as far north as I could, when we unfortunately fell in with Captain Penny, who informed us that Captain Austin's squadron were proceeding to a bay discovered in Comwallis Island, to which we accompanied the Lady Franklin and Sophia, expect- ing that, as nothing more could be done that season, I should be requested to return to England with despatches. On the following day we were finally frozen in, and Captain Austin's squadron did not reach our harbour. During the whole winter, Adam Beck continued to assert the truth of his statement respecting the fate of Sir John Franklin, and as he began to understand English, explanations and informa- tion were elicited from him that convinced almost all on board the Felix that he had told the truth. Before leaving our position at Comwallis Island, I had several conversations in the Danish lan- guage, which he understands, which convinced me that there was at least so much probability in his report, as demanded that a search in that locality should be made for the wreck of the missing ships. It was therefore my determination to endeavour, even with the slender means and small quantity of provisions I possessed, to make the search, which seemed to give much delight to Adam Beck, who exclaimed, "Now you see I not tell a lie !" I com- municated to Captain Penny that I intended going round the north side of the main ice, and land Adam Beck at Disco, where I hoped to find the provisions directed to be landed there by the Jforth Star, and he communicated to me (in presence of several persons) that he believed the missing ships had been wrecked on the west coast of Baffin's Bay ; and, as he had an in- terpreter, he would examine the whole coast between Lancaster Sound and Cumberland Strait, a distance of 600 miles, and know- ing, in that case, he could not reach England before November, I sent no despatches by him. We proceeded to carry our intentions into execution, but found that the land ice, from the latitude of 77° to 74°, extended thirty miles from the east coast, and as we were unprepared to winter, having only three months' provisions 108 ]i w loft, we had no alternative but to proceed to Godhavn, in Disco Island, where we hoped to obtain a supply that would enable us to return to the northward. On approaching Disco (which we found quite clear of ice) we fell in with the Danish Government store-ship Ili/aljisken, Captain Humble, who kindly piloted us into Godhavn. On our arrival I discharged Adam Beck, and in con- versation with Captain Humble, I obtained the following astound- ing information. Captain Humble said : — " I have just come from Uppemavik, and have seen Mr. Petersen's wife, who had received a letter from her husband, dated July, Lancaster Sound (which I read), saying that it was now certain that they would comfortably spend the winter in some snug harbour, and as he would be carried to England and spend another winter there, he would have plenty of money from the English Government, and that he would come out with Captain Penny, who would have the command of another expedition, and come home to Copenhagen, desiring her to sell her furniture, &c. Another came to the wife's sister, who is married to the mate of one of the Government ships — ^hoping that Petersen would be carried to England, as in that case, he would return with sufficient money to enable him to quit this wretched country." Thus it appears that Captain Penny's plans, which it is evident he attempted to put into execution, by making the best of his way home, had been organized as early as the 23rd July 1850, but as he could not have left England with the addition of a steamer before the let October 1851, it was im- possible he could have reached the Wellington Channel that season. His object must have been, therefore, to have com- fortably wintered at Ball's Kiver, or Holsteinsborg, or some port in Greenland, on full pay (£800 a year), and proceed in June 1852, and would have been just as far forward as though he had left England at that time. His plans were, however, happily frustrated by the absence of the First Lord of the Admi- ralty, and the decision of the Arctic Committee. In the meantime, Adam Beck voluntarily appeared before the resident at Godhavn, and deposed as to the truth of his former statement, subsequent to which he was examined by Inspector- general Lewis Platon, who has written to me that he is fully con- vinced that Adam Beck has spoken the truth. The following is an extract of the third letter on the subject which I have received from Mr. Platon : — "Montebello, Feb. 17, 1852. "From the interest I take in the question where Sir John Franklin ought to be sought, and being, as you know, most deci- dedly of opinion that Sir John Franklin was lost on his intended return, I feel myself bound to say a few words on this subject, which you will use as you think proper. 10}) " I shall merely premise what you are already aware of, that I have, during four years and a half, held a responsible government situation in Greenland. Three years of this time I resided at Holsteinsborg, and had thus ample opportunity of observing the character of the natives generally, and of Adam Beck individually, as he during that time never omitted an opportunity of thrust- ing himself into my notice, and he several times, temporarily, was attached to my household. I think therefore I may, without presumption, claim to be considered as not incompetent to judge of what confidence there ought to be placed in what may be deduced frf)m such a document as his. From my knowledge of the character of Adam Beck, I may safely assert, that it is beyond doubt that he has heard something about the two lost ships ; but certainly it would be difficult to say what it is he has heard, merely by reading his deposition. As I informed you in a former letter, I have seen this man after his discharge at Godhavn; I therefore look on the deposition in a far different manner than others unacquainted with these facts undoubtedly would do ; and I maintain that it throws a light on the fate of Sir John and his gallant crew, and that it would be shameful altogether to reject his evidence. I cannot but regret that you did not get a copy of the other deposition he made, as it was far more satisfactory than the one you got. I must make haste to be in time for post that leaves here at two o'clock, and must therefore conclude, angry with myself for not being able to write such as to convince any but myself that the greater reliance may be placed on his assertion. Pray write me as soon as possible, and believe me, &c., &c. (Signed) " L. Platon." Mr. Platon's former letters, with my own, have been sent to the late Admiralty. In one of them he says, "The people of Den- mark think it strange that the English Government are sending to search for Franklin in every place but where he is to be found." Captain Penny must no longer assert that I am the only person who gives any credit to Adam Beck's assertion ; but in return I must be permitted to say, that I yield not the smallest credit to the assertion of Captain Penny, that Sir John Franklin ever went up the Wellington Channel. I was present at the interview he had with Captain Austin on board the Resolute, on the llth of August, when I can testify that Captain Penny made no applica- tion at that time for a steam-vessel ; moreover, I can testify that the application for a steam-vessel would have been absurd, as it was quite impossible she could have proceeded up that channel. The Felix was the last vessel that left that spot on the 13th of August, at which time the barrier of ice was still across it; on 110 that day, wo water could be seen from Capo Spencer to the north- ward, and then Captain Penny's vessels were both to the cast- ward of Cape Riley. Captain Penny asserts that Captain Austic took the Felix in tow to take her homo, that she might take the credit of his discoveries; but the truth is, that Captain Austin offered to tow Captain Penny's vessels out of Lancaster Sound, which oflfer he did not accept ; and it was then that he oflFered to take us as far as Union Bay, Beechey Island, where Captain Penny must have seen the Felix as he passed. I have now only one more subject to disabuse. Captain Penny's whole idea that Sir John Franklin went up the Wellington Channel, was based on the fact of his having found upon the ice two chips of wood, which I verily believe must have been thrown on the ice by some of his own crew, for otherwise they would have been found sunk considerably below the surface, and they were such pieces of wood as were numerous where the ships wintered. But if Captain Penny really believed that the missing ships had gone up what he now calls the Victoria Channel (not marked as such in the chart he gave to me), why did he not remain himself to explore it in the spring? — He ventured to say that he had not enough of provisions, because he had given some to the Felix; but this he denied on the Committee, as two cwt. of carrots and a bag of potatoes were all we got, and for which we would have supplied him with ten tons of coals, and six casks of flour ; but Captain Austin would certainly have supplied him up to three years ; besides the depot at Leopold Island was within sixty miles of where his vessel would be. When I said in my evidence that Captains Austin and Penny were both justified in coming home, it was with the conviction that they both thought and believed that the locality was completely searched, and that they both believed (as I do) that the missing ships never went up that Channel. I have no doubt that they lost both seasons of 1845 and 1846, and that finding they had only provisions for another year (and perhaps less, as many of Goldner's canisters were found with only one cut at the top, which being convex were clear proofs of their putrescent condition), that they were lost on the passage home. Captain Penny's assertion (page 10), that the loss of two ships with the whole crews is next to impossible, and con- trary to all experience ; this observation cannot apply to ships wrecked in Baffin's Bay; after the month of September there is no experience of any ships being lost in Baffin's Bay, but in the summer. In conclusion, I deeply regret that Captain Penny has been so imprudent as to pubLsh what he has done ; I believed that he really had been actuated by feelings of philanthropy, touching the rescue of my gallant friend Franklin and his brave com- Ill panions ; he had at one time gained my esteem and regard, and he knows that I acted as a peacemcaker between him and those whom his virulent temper had offended. I was an admirer of his zeal and unflinching perseverance, and I then believed that he had no sinister motive ; it has been, therefore, with mixed feelings of sorrow and of pity that I have been constrained to change my opinion of an individual who has proved that he ought not to have been elevated to the position in which he was unfortunately placed. (Signed) John Ross, Rear- Admiral. No. 7. Admiralty, 13th March, 1862. Sir, I have received and laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 1 0th instant, with its enclosure; on the subject of Adam Beck's deposition relative to the missing ships under the orders of Captain Sir John Franklin. I am, &c. (Signed) Augustus Stafford. Hear Admiral Sir John Ross, G.B. Sir, No. 8. 267, Strand, Loudon, 23rd March, 1852. Enclosed you will receive the extract of a letter I have this day received from Inspector-general Lewis Platon, touching the fate of Sir John Franklin's expedition, which I am to request that you will be pleased to lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for their Lordships' serious consideration, and to inform their Lordships that I entirely agree with the Danish Inspector- general that there is no chance of deciding the question of the missing ships but by the examination I have recommended. I have, &c. (Signed) John Ross, Rear-Admiral. To Captain W. A. B. Hamilton, B.N., &c. &c. &c. 112 Enclosure to No. 8. Extract of a Letter from the Danish Inspector-General of Greenland touching t/ie Fate of Sir John Franklin*8 Expedition. Montebello, Denmark, 5th March, 1852. My dear Sir, Yours of the 26th ult. I had the pleasure of receiving this day. I am really both surprised and vexed that nothing yet has been decided on. The season is already far advanced, and it is time Government should decide whether they will indeed search after Sir John Franklin in earnest, or if they intend to rest satisfied with sending the expedition under Sir Edward Belcher in a direc- tion where others have failed in tracing the unfortunate voyagers farther than Beechey Island, and where the chances are a thousand to one that the expedition will return as wise as they leave. I really do hope the Government will pay less attention to the representations of others, and listen somewhat more to the voice of reason. The people of England are strangely infatuated as regards this question. The more I think, and the more I put this and that together, the more convinced I am that Sir John Franklin never committed such an act of madness as to push his way farther on. after leaving Beechey Island, having most likely at the time, scarcely provL«»ions enough loft for the space of time it had taken him to reach this place. Don't tell me about his procuring, and with ease too, such a lot of provisions as the officers of the different expedition ships seem to lay such weight upon. I know the country too well for that ; but even suppose they could get an inexhaustible supply of birds, had he salt enough to cure such a number) Still an Englishman is no Esquimaux, and no one but an Esquimaux or a Bussian can live and do his duty on board any length of time on such a diet, in such a climate Sir John was too old a hand in those regions not to know that, and it is my firm belief that having made up his mind to return to England, he was lost on his home passage. Should you consider my presence in England likely to forward the cause, pray let me know, as I take a very deep interest in the solution of the question. I wish to Heaven that your next would contain the joyful intelligence that Government had at last decided in your favour, as I feel confident that it will be the only expedi- tion with any chance of success. I remain, «fec. (Signed) L. Platon. 113 No. 9. Sir, Admiralty, 2flth March, 1852. I have received and laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 23rd instant, with its enclosures, respecting the ftirther search after Sir John Franklin's expedition. I am, &c. W. A. B. Hamilton. Rear Admiral Sir John Robs, C.B. (D.) By the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, d'c. ring of 1848. 4. Von will be aware that the case virtnally stands now as it did then. — Sir Janus Koss, from adverse circumstances, failed in discovering traces of the missing Expedition. 5. Our orders of the Dth May, 1 848, to Sir James Ross, will still serve as the indication of our views of the general course you will have to pursue ; but, it being our desire that a certain Strait, known as Alderman Jones's Sound, and which would not appear to have been as yet examined, should be searched ; you are hereby required and directed to proceed in the first instance to that Sound, closely examining the shores for any traces of Sir Jo)m Franklin's course, and proceeding, should it oflfer the means of your doing so, in the direction of Wellington Strait, and on to the Parry Islands and Melville Island. G. On your proceeding in the above direction, too much vigi- lance cannot be observed in your search along the various shores, for traces of the missing Expedition ; at the same time you will bear in mind that Sir John Franklin's orders were " to push on through Lancaster Sound, without stopping to examine any open- ings north or south of that Sound, till he had reached Cape Walker." And although it may be possible that the obstructions, incident to navigation in those seas, may have forced Sir John Franklin north or south of his prescribed course, yet that his principal object would be, the gaining the latitude and longitude of Cape Walker. 7. To that point, therefore, failing your discovering traces of the Expedition in your course by Jones's Sound and the Pariy Islands, your efforts will be directed, and beyond this, your own judgment must be your principal guide. 8. The circumstance of Sir James Ross having partially searched the shores of Lancaster Sound and Barrow's Strait, as far west as Cape Rennell, without discovering traces of Sir John Franklin's ships, has led, in some quarters, to the supposition of an extreme case, viz. : — that, failing to get into Lancaster Sound, Sir John Franklin had proceeded in the direction of Smith's Sound, at the head of Baffin's Bay. 9. We do not deem it expedient to direct your attention spe- cially to this Sound (or supposed Sound) ; but should your passage by Jones's Sound, to which you are specially directed, be early and absolutely impeded, and there should appear to you to be the time (without hazarding the only remaining chance of proceeding to Wellington Strait, the Parry Islands, and Cape Walker by Lancaster Sound,) for examining Smith's Sound, you are at liberty to do so ; but this is a contingency scarcely to be contem- plated : as, in the event of your being frustrated in the attempt to get to the westward, and towards Wellington Strait by Jones's 115 Sound, — the late period of the year when Smith's Sound is said to bo open, would render it difficult, if not impossible, to combine a search in that quarter, with the securing a passage into Lancaster Sound before the season closed. 10. Much of the painful anxiety that now exists respecting the missing Ships might possibly liave been avoided, if greater care had been taken to leave traces of their progress. You will con- sider it rigidly your duty, and a matter of the utmost importance, that every means should be adopted for marking your own track. For this purpose you will provide yourself with an ample supply of red and white lead for making paint ; and in addition to the usual polo or staff, or cairn of stones, usually looked for on a cape or headland, you will, wherever the colouring of the clitf or shore admits of a mark behig made in strong relief, paint a red or white cross, as the case may be, depositing as near to its base as possible, and at right angles with the perpendicular part of such cross, a bottle or other vessel containing a short summary of your proceedings up to the date of the dei)osit ; an account of the state of your sui)plie3 and resources, the health of your party, and your further intended course. 11. There remains but to caution you as to your return with your ships to this country. These ships have been provisioned and stored for three years ; but you will bear in mind that this liberal supply is to meet con- tingencies separate, on the one hand, from the victualling of your own people, and, on the other, from a needless, reckless, and hazardous continuance in the Arctic regions. You have been victualled to supply the missing Expedition, or any part of it you may providentially discover — here is the one contingency; unforeseen impediments, or a certain prospect of coming up with any part of the missing Expedition compelling you to pass a second winter in the ice, is another; but our direc- tions to you are — 1st, to use your utmost endeavours (consistent with the safety of the lives of those entrusted to your conmiand,) to succour in this summer the party under Sir John Franklin, taking care to secure your winter quarters in good time; and, 2nd, that the same active endeavours will be used by you in the ensuing summer of 1851, to secure the return of your own ships to this country. 12. We refer you to the instructions contained in par. 21 of Sir John Franklin's orders, for your guidance in the event of one of your ships being disabled ; or in case of any accident to yourself; and in par. 22 of the same orders, are full instructions as to transmitting reports of your progress to our Secretary, for our information, to both of which you will strictly attend. 13. In conclusion, we have only to repeat the expressions of no ' our confidonco in your skill, and in your known nrdour in n generous cause ; and wo commend you, and those with you, to a good Providence, with our earnest wislies for your success. Given under our hands this 11th April, 1850, (Signed) F. T. Baring. J. H. D. DUNDAS. By Command of their Lordships, W. A. B. Hamilton. Mr. Willinm Peiiny, Hhip " Ludy Frunklin," in churge uf uii Gxpcditiun to tho Arctic Scau, at Aberdeen. Sir, Admiralty, April 10, 1860. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Ad- miralty to send you herewith the original and duplicate of a letter addressed to Mr. Saundera, Master, commanding Her Ma- jesty's Store Ship NoHh IStar^ in the Arctic Seas, containing in- structions for his guidance, one of which my Lords request you will take charge of yourself, for delivery to that officer, should you fall in with him ; and the other you are to put in the pos- session of Mr. Stewart, of the shij* Sophia, for the same purpose. I have, &c. (Signed) W. A. B. Hamilton. Captain Penny, ship " Lady Franklin," Aberdeen. Sir, Admiralty, April 10, 1850. I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Ad- miralty to acquaint you, \. That Sir James Boss having returned to England in the month of November last, without having discovered any traces of the Missing Expedition under Sir John Franklin's orders, and the necessity for the stores and provisions with which he was charged being deposited as directed being all the more urgent, my Lords can only trust that you have been able to land them accordingly. 2. That as our last Reports from you were dated 19th July, 1849,. lat. 74*' 3', long. 59" 40', W., the a'nxiety on the part of 117 their Lordships to receivu further intelligeiico of your proccedingH is great ; and they cnn therefore only hope, in the event of tliis despatch reaching you, and of your not having succeeded in affording succour to any of Sir John Franiclin's party, that it may find you returning with Her Majesty's ship under your coni- niaud to England. 3. And that in order that you may be in full possession of all that has occurred, or that has been done since your departure, relative to the relief of Sir John Fraidilin, you arc herewith fur- nished with a printed return which will put you in complete [)08scssion of the state of the aise ; and to which my Lords have only to add, that four ships under the conunand of Captain Austin, two of them being auxiliary atcam- vessels, are now fitting at Woolwich; in addition to the two vessels under Captain Penny's orders, and by which this despatch is sent, for the pur- pose of continuing tlio search after Sir John Franklin's Expe- dition (irrespective of private expeditions from this country and the United States); and that as supplies of stores, especially coals, would bo most needful for these vessels, as an auxiliary, you are to land at the Whale Fish Islands, or at Disco, whatever proportion of coals or provisions you consider you can with pro- priety spare, returning without loss of time to England. I am, &C. (Signed) W. A. B. Hamilton. Mr. James Saunders, Master Commanding H. M.S. "North Star," THE £Ni). pp 118 Lfiter referred to in j)j). 18 ami 49. 27 til November, 1849. I shall not trouble ray Lords Cu»nmis8ioneTS of the Admiralty with a detailed refutation of the published opinions given by the several officers in favour of large ships being employed in the Arctic regions instead of small vessels, as the question must now have been sufficiently decided by the recent failure of the Enter- priae and Investigator, proposed by them in the place of the four small vessels recommended, which would have not only extended the search and carried an equal quantity of provisions, but would have been more efficiently navigated with half the number of men and at half the expense, while il would have saved the necessity of despatching the now missing ship with supplies, and at half the expense. And it is to be regretted that their Lord- ships were led, by those who were by them supposed to know what was best, into that unfortunate determination. But I must beg leave to state, and that too from experience, that Captain Beecliy's objections to the use of a steam vessel among ice are totally without foundation, and could only have arisen from his consummate ignorance of the subject. My little steam vessel, the Victory, was fitted with paddle-wheels (which Captain Beechy never saw) of a peculiar construction, for use among ice ; they could be taken entirely out of danger by two men in less than a minute, and the sponsons, instead of endangering the vessel, contributed mainly to her safety, the ice coming under them in a collision (which was often the case in the Victory)^ assisted the vessel in rising up to the pressure, instead of being crushed by it, on which mainly depends her safety. And the engine itself, being fixed totally independent of the straining of the vessel, can receive no injury whatever from the distortion of her frame. The only further observation I think it necessary to make, is, that (page 46) Sir James Ross's assertion in contradiction to Dr. King, that " Barrow Strait was not ice-bound in 1832," is a wilfiil misrepre- sentation of the fact, and can be contradicted by Sergeant Park, of the E division of Police, Robert Shreeve, of Lower Seymour-street, and Thomas Abemethy ; and it is also true, that on that year and several others, no ship could get up Bfurrow Strait for ice, where at length he himself found it unnavigable. Provisions being already stored at Whaler Point, the following vessels only will be required, the expense of which, the sale of the Enterpri-e and Investigator, which are only fit for employment in the whale fishery, would more than cover. John Ross.