of that of the late Antarctic expedition under Sir James Ross, while one of the objects would be precisely the same as that of the other, namely, observations on terrestrial magnetism-considered of such importance, that magnetic observatories have been established, through the influence of England, in almost every part of the globe. Thomas Blanky, Ice Master. 68 Total. The fitting up of the above vessels differed in Sir John Barrow further stated, that the ships Erebus and Terror, which had recently returned from the Antarctic expedition under Sir James Ross, were in such good order as to be ready to one respect from that of all ships previously sent be made available for immediate employment in out on Arctic expeditions. This consisted in their the Arctic seas, and that there was no want of being furnished with a small steam-engine and Arofficers well used to the ice, who were ready and chimedian screw. But in the experimental trip willing to embark on an expedition for completing the North-west Passage. It was understood that Sir John Barrow's proposition had been approved by Lord Haddington, then First Lord of the Admiralty, and the other lords commissioners; and the reader will be prepared to hear that the council of the Royal Society gave their support to the proposed expedition, not only as likely to increase geographical knowledge, but as a help to the progress of the science of terrestrial magnetism, which they have for many years been most zealous in advancing. Accordingly, government resolved on making one more attempt to solve the problem of a Northwest Passage; and in the early part of 1845 it became known that the intrepid, and we may add, veteran Sir John Franklin, who had but recently returned from an arduous and anxious service at made by the Erebus, to test the power of the screw, the utmost speed which could be attained scarcely amounted to three knots an hour, although every means, as we ourselves can attest, were The ships were sup taken to increase this rate. plied with fuel for twelve days-a quantity manifestly insufficient for their probable wants, but still as much as they could afford to stow away, having to carry provisions for three years. When the very small speed producible by the steam-power is considered, coupled with the great inconvenience likely to result from the most valuable part of the ship being occupied by the boiler and machinery, not to mention the great probability of the screw being nipped by the ice, we shall be quite prepared to hear that this part of the equipment has turned out a failure, and that the steam machinery has been thrown overboard, as happened in the case of the Victory, commanded by the antipodes, as Governor of Van Diemen's Land, had been nominated by the admiralty to command Sir John Ross, in his expedition undertaken in an expedition for the above object. Little time 1818. elapsed before the ships were ready for sailing. It is scarcely necessary to state, that the ships They were the Erebus and the Terror, commanded, officered, and manned as follows: The Erebus. Sir John Franklin, Captain. Henry T. D. Le Vesconte, Charles F. Des Vaux, } Lieutenants. Mates. H. F. Collins, Second Master. 70 Total. The Terror. Francis Rawdon M. Crozier, Captain. Edward Little, G. H. Hodgson, } Lieutenants. Frederick Hornby, Mates. were provided with the most improved magnetical and meteorological instruments, and with everything which the experience of repeated Arctic expeditions could suggest. On the 26th May, 1845, the expedition departed. We shall now give a résumé of Sir John Franklin's official instructions. They set forth, in the first instance, the expediency of making another attempt for the accomplishment of a North-west Passage, and then direct Sir John Franklin to proceed with the greatest possible despatch to Davis' Strait, taking the transport as far up that strait as he can, without allowing her to be beset by ice, or exposed to any violent contact with it. The transport is then to be cleared of the provisions and stores with which she is charged for the use of the expedition, and to be sent back to England. Sir John Franklin is next ordered to proceed into Baffin's Bay, and to enter Lancaster Sound with as little delay as possible. Lancaster Sound, and its continuation through Barrow's Strait, having been four times navigated without any impediment by Sir Edward Parry, and since frequently by whaling ships, will probably be found without any impediment from ice or islands; + Lieutenant Gore served in the Antarctic expedition and Sir Edward Parry having also proceeded from the latter in a straight course to Melville Island, * Since promoted to the rank of captain. under Sir James Ross. and returned without experiencing any, or very lit- | your judgment, in the event of your not making a tle, difficulty, it is hoped that the remaining portion passage this season, either to winter on the coast, of the passage, about nine hundred miles, to Behr- with the view of following up next season any ing's Strait, may also be found equally free from obstruction; and in proceeding 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 744°, till you have reached the longitude of that portion of land on which Cape Walker is situated, or about 98° west. From that point we desire that every effort be used to endeavor 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. 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 refreshment and refitting as would be afforded by your return to England. Although effecting a passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific is distinctly stated to be the main object of the expedition, yet ascertaining the true geographical position of capes, coasts, &c., the set of the currents in the Arctic seas, and the collection of specimens in the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms, are specified as objects of high interest and importance. 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 1820, off Cape Dundas, the southwestern 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 the direction before ordered be arrested by ice of a permanent appearance, and that when passing the mouth of the strait between Devon and Cornwallis 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 consumed, 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 supplied with papers, on which was printed in sevto the open sea, where there would be neither eral languages a request that, whoever should find islands nor banks to arrest and fix the floating it, would take measures for transmitting it to the masses of ice. And if you should have advanced admiralty. 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 neighborhood, it will be a matter for your mature deliberation whether in the ensuing season you would proceed by the above-mentioned strait, or whether you would persevere to the south-westward, according to the former directions. In case of Sir John Franklin being so fortunate as to make the passage, he is ordered to proceed to the Sandwich Islands, to refit the ships and refresh the crews; and should opportunity offer, an officer is to be sent with despatches to England by Panama: but in the event of no such opportunity offering during his stay at the Sandwich Islands, he is, on quitting them, to proceed with the two ships to Panama, there to land an officer with despatches for England; after which, no time is to be lost in returning to England by way of Cape Horn. Considerable discretionary power is, however, given, as will be seen by the following extract from the instructions: For the purpose of ascertaining the set of the currents, as well as of affording more frequent chances of hearing of the progress of the expedition, Sir John Franklin is directed, after passing the latitude of 65° north, to-once every day, when in an ascertained current-throw overboard a bottle or copper cylinder, closely sealed, containing a paper stating the date and position at which it is launched; and for this purpose each ship was In the case of any irreparable accident happening to either of the two ships, the officers and crew of the disabled ship are to be removed into the other; and with her, singly, Sir John Franklin is authorized to proceed in prosecution of the voyage. In case of any fatal accident happen ing to the latter, the command is given to Captain Crozier, who is to act upon the instructions to the best of his ability. It will be seen by the foregoing that great latitude is given to Sir John Franklin, both as to the means he may employ to accomplish the great object of the expedition, and the time which he may devote to the task. It is well known by his relatives and friends, who conversed with him on the subject immediately before he sailed, that he did not calculate that the passage could be effected in one season. Writing to Col. Sabine from Whalefish Islands, under the date of July 9th, 1845, he says: I hope my dear wife and daughter will not be over anxious if we should not return by the time we have fixed upon; but I must beg of you to give them the benefit of your advice and experience when that time arrives, for you know well, that even after the second winter, without success in our object, we should wish to try some other channel In an undertaking of this description, much must always be left to the discretion of the commandingofficer; and as the objects of this expedition have been fully explained to you, and you have already had much experience on service of this nature, we if the state of our provisions and the health of the are convinced we cannot do better than leave it to crews justify it. As we have stated, the last accounts received of the expedition bore the date of July 26, 1845, when Captain Dannett, of the Prince of Wales whaler, fell in with the discovery ships in Melville Bay, in 74° 48′ N. lat. and 66° 13' W. long. It is worthy of notice, that although the above letter speaks of a quantity of ice as having come out of Barrow's Strait during the previous season, there was no trace or any vestige of the expedition, which might be expected when we are told A boat, with seven officers, boarded the whaler; of a current setting from the west, and remember and Captain Dannett was to have dined on board Sir John Franklin's ship the following day, but the wind favoring him he sailed during the night, and was, therefore, unable to be the bearer of letters which would otherwise have been sent by him. Captain Dannett says that the officers whom he saw, but of whose names (with the exception of Captain Fitzjames) he is ignorant, were all well and in high spirits. He represents the ice as being at the time very heavy, but loose the officers, he adds, expressed good hopes of soon completing the expedition. No intelligence whatever was gleaned of the Erebus and Terror during the summer of 1846. That summer is reported by the whale-ships to have been unusually severe. The thermometer was above freezing-point only twenty days, and the north ice remained unbroken. None of the whalers appear to have approached Lancaster Sound during this season. The summer of 1847 was equally barren of information, although, as will be seen by the annexed letter from the captain of a whaler, a much higher latitude was reached than during the previous year: Aberdeen, 17th November, 1847. SIR-In answer to your questions I respectfully beg to state, the Saint Andrew crossed Baffin's Bay from Cape York in lat. 76°, long. 67°, to Pond's Bay, our usual fishing ground, in lat. 72° 45', long. 76°, July 23d. The whales having disappeared, I determined to proceed to Lancaster Sound, both with a view to the capture of whales and in search of her majesty's ships. I contended for a week against an adverse wind and a strong swell down the sound; we attained no higher long, than 78°, August 5th; no appearance of ice in the that Sir John Franklin's instructions were to throw a bottle, or copper cylinder, containing a paper, stating his position, overboard daily after passing the latitude of 65° north. A striking instance of the direction of the current to the south and east from Barrow's Strait has been recently afforded us by the Prince of Wales whaler having picked up, on the 2d of October last, in latitude 68° 10' N. and longitude 64° 30′ W., a cask containing a paper, which was thrown from the Investigator on the 28th of August, 1848, in latitude 73° 50′ N., and long 78° 6' W. This cask was, therefore, drifted 5° 40′ southward, and 14° 36' eastward. The captain of the Lady Jane whaler attained the latitude of 76°, and the longitude of 80°. He represents the ice, during the whole of the fishingseason in 1847, as being unusually thick and heavy, and adds In places where it has been generally found six feet thick, this year it was ten feet; and this the natives accounted to me for by the wind having prevailed so much from the south-east all the winter, which pressed the ice upon the west land. My ship was the only one in Sir James Lancaster's Sound as far as Navy Board Inlet; and in the middle of that Sound there was nothing to be seen to the westward but a few pieces of smali ice. I was most anxious to obtain some information about her majesty's ships, and endeavored to effect a landing on both sides of the sound; but the ice was so heavy and packed on the coast, that travelling was quite impossible. So closed the year 1847, and the public began to feel like the king and princess who watched the third disappearance of Schiller's diver; for three years had nearly elapsed without receiving any intelligence of the expedition. sound, and none but detached streams within 100 miles of it to the east. In consequence of a very mild winter, there will be very little ice left in DaIt should be observed, too, that the Hudson's vis' Strait this season: the last two winters were Bay Company, with their usual energy, instructed the mildest the Danes have experienced for a great their officers to give intimation to the natives to be number of years at their settlement of Opernavick, on the look-out for the expedition, which would, in lat. 72° 45′ N., long. 56°. The Saint Andrew in all probability, endeavor to approach the shore re-crossed the Strait in lat. 72° 15', in August; near the Mackenzie or Copper-mine river, with the not more than 40 miles of ice, and very light. In lat. 70° N. fell in with very heavy ice, which conview of landing despatches; and to convey to the tinued so to lat. 64° 55'; that ice must have come nearest establishment any papers or letters that out of Barrow's Strait the previous season. might be entrusted in their charge, for which Being a little acquainted with the Esquimaux they would be liberally rewarded. Further dilanguage, I made every inquiry of the various tribes rections were given to take every possible measure I met at Pond's Bay, but could procure no informa- for the protection and maintenance of the party in tion respecting Sir John Franklin, who, I think, the event of their landing. must have attained a very high longitude. The Saint Andrew left Cumberland Strait off Baffin, on The offer held out by the Hudson's Bay Company," the 15th of October, where we had been at anchor of a reward to the natives, may, in some degree, for six weeks. No other'ships attained longitude this season in Sound. Yours, &c., higher a WM. PENNY. account for the rumor which was so recently circulated of their having seen two boats filled with white people to the east of the Mackenzie, in the fall of 1846. This appears to be Sir John Richardson's opinion, for he says in his letter to the admiralty-" I place no confidence in the rumors, as Lancaster Sound, and then to but merely consider that they have originated in the queries of the traders, and the desire of the Indians to, excite the curiosity of the questioner, in the hope that they may obtain something thereby." Before the close of the year 1847-indeed, in the early part of it-several conferences were held by the most experienced Arctic voyagers respecting the best mode of succoring Sir John Frank commence searching; one, also consisting of two ships, to be sent to Behring's Strait; and the third, consisting of a boat-party, to descend the Mackenzie and search the American coast eastward of that river, leaving the coast to the west to be explored by boats belonging to the ships despatched from Behring's Strait. The command of the first expedition was given lin. As early as September, 1846, Sir John Ross, to Sir James Ross, who volunteered his services; to his credit be it recorded, addressed a letter to that of the second to Commander Moore; and the the admiralty, volunteering to head an expedition third to Sir John Richardson, who, although but in search of Sir John Franklin in 1847. To this recently married, holding a lucrative government the adiniralty replied by stating, that whilst they appointment, and no longer in the enjoyment of appreciated the gallant and humane intentions of the writer, it was not intended immediately to despatch any relief expedition. The admiralty, however, lost no time in collecting the best practical opinions as to the measures to be adopted for obtaining tidings of, or rendering assistance to, the missing ships. It may be proper here to state, that it was the firm determination of Sir John Franklin not to abandon the enterprise until he had exhausted all the channels leading to, or supposed to lead to, the sea west of Melville Island. We have often heard him thus express himself; and Sir John Richardson, who may be regarded as one of Sir John Franklin's warmest friends, confirms this. He says: I had many conversations with Franklin up to the eve of his departure, respecting his future proceedings. His plans were, to shape his course, in the first instance, for the neighborhood of Cape Walker, and to push to the westward in that parallel; or, if that could not be accomplished; to make his way southwards, to the channel discovered on the north coast of the continent, and so on, to Behring's Strait; failing success in that quarter, he meant to retrace his course to Wellington Sound, and attempt a passage northwards of Parry's Islands; and, if foiled there also, to descend Regent's Inlet, and seek the passage along the coast discovered by Messrs. Dease and Simpson. Colonel Sabine, who, though a landsman, has bestowed much attention on the fascinating subject of a North-west Passage, and whose opinion is entitled to great consideration, has long conceived that the most probable passage lies through Wellington Channel. He says:-"The east and west sides of Wellington Channel should be especially searched for notices, which may not improbably have been deposited there; and one of the ports in the vicinity might be made one of the temporary stations for the depot ship." Thus, it is evident that a large tract of Arctic sea must be swept, and many hundreds of miles of coast examined, before the search for Sir John Franklin should be abandoned as hopeless. Let us turn now to an examination of the measures which have been taken to find the ice locked Erebus and Terror. It was determined that three expeditions should be equipped; one, consisting of two ships to follow in the track of the Erebus and Terror as far youth, had in the noblest manner, utterly regardless of the fearful privations which attach to an Arctic land and sea expedition, and with which former expeditions of a similar nature have made him familiar, volunteered his services. Availing ourselves of the official instructions to these officers, we hope to be enabled to give our readers a correct idea of the plans which it is proposed to adopt. First, with regard to the expedition under Sir James Ross. This consists of two ships, the Enterprise and Investigator, of four hundred and seventy, and four hundred and twenty tons respectively. They were built expressly for this expedition, and are in every way calculated for Arctic navigation. Each ship, at the suggestion of Sir James Ross, is provided with a launch fitted with a steam-engine and screw, of sufficient power to propel them at the rate of about five knots an hour. The ships carry ninety tons of coal, and provisions for three years. Sir James Ross is directed, in the first instance, to proceed without delay to Lancaster Sound. In passing through that inlet to the westward, he is to carefully search both its shores, as well as those of Barrow's Strait, for any notices that may have been deposited there, and for any casual indications of their having been visited by either of Sir John Franklin's ships. Should the season be sufficiently open, a similar examination is to be made at one of the shores of Wellington Channel. The several intervals of coast that appear on our charts to lie between Capes Clarence and Walker are next to be carefully explored; and, by means of the steam-launches and ships' boats, it is confidently expected that all this will be completed during the present season (1818.) It is recommended that the Investigator should be secured for the winter in a fit and safe port near Cape Rennel, from which position a considerable extent of coast may be explored on foot; and in the spring of 1849, detached parties may be sent across the ice to look thoroughly into the creeks along the western coast of Boothia, as far as Cape Nicolai, while another party is to proceed to the southward, and ascertain whether the blank space shown there in our charts consists of an open sea, through which Sir John Franklin may have passed, or, on the contrary, of a continuous chain of islands, among which he may still be blocked up. soon as the returning summer shall have opened a As passage between the land and the main body of the ice, the Investigator is to detach her steamlaunch to Lancaster Sound, in order to meet the whale ships which usually visit the western side of Baffin's Bay about that time, and by which further instructions and communications will be sent out. The Enterprise is directed to press forward to the westward, and endeavor to reach Winter Harbor in Melville Island, or Banks' Land. From this western station active parties are to be despatched, to make short and useful excursions before the season closes, and still more effective ones in the ensuing spring. One party is then to pursue the coast in whatever direction it may seem sea as soon as we can. The whalers' accounts are not so favorable as I expected; but they have given up the attempt to cross to the west land at a very early period of the season. The strong southerly gale will have produced a very beneficial effect on the ice to the northward, and I have no doubt of being able to get along famously. Later accounts show that Sir James Ross was in latitude 73° 50′ N., and longitude 78° 6:30′ W., on the 28th of August, at which period all the officers and crew were well. We pass now to the expedition despatched to Behring's Strait. This consists of the ships Plover and Herald. The former is commanded by Commander Moore, and is fitted for Arctic navi Sitka, for the purpose of procuring interpreters and a supply of fresh meat. likely to have been followed by Sir John Frank-gation. The instructions order the Plover to prolin; and thus determine the general shape of the ceed to Panama, where she will be met by the western face of Banks' Land. It is then to pro- Herald, commanded by Captain Kellett; the latceed direct to Cape Bathurst, or Cape Parry, on ter is then to take on board such provisions and the main land; at each of which places Sir John stores as will be required for the service; and the Richardson is directed to leave provisions for its two ships are to proceed to Petropaulowski and 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 usual route of traders. Another party is to explore the eastern coast of Banks' Land, and from thence make at once for Cape Krusenstern, where, or at Cape Hearne, a caché of pemmican will be placed for Sir John Richardson. The party are to communicate with They are then to push on to Behring's Strait. and should arrive there about the 1st of July, and proceed along the American coast as far as is consistent with the certainty of preventing the ships being beset by the ice. Four whale-boats are then to be despatched along the coast, to look for a harbor in which to receive the Plover for the win the latter, and placing themselves under his orders, ter; and when a suitable place is found, two of are to assist him in examining the shores of Vic- the boats are to conduct the Plover to her winter toria and Wollasten's islands, and finally return quarters, and the other two to proceed along the with him to England by whatever route he may coast in search of the voyagers, and to communicate, if possible, with the party which it is in deem advisable. The admiralty desire the foregoing instructions tended shall descend the Mackenzie river under to be regarded as the general outline only of their the command of Sir John Richardson. As soon desires, leaving Sir James Ross free to institute any other plans which local circumstances may render necessary or desirable; and they add " If Providence should not be pleased to crown your efforts with success, we leave it to your own judgment when, and from whence, to return to England, as soon as you are convinced that every means within your reach have been exhausted." We have only to add, with respect to this expedition, that the Enterprise and Investigator sailed on the 12th of May, 1848, and reached Opernavik, in latitude 72° 40′ N. and longitude 56° W., on the 13th July. Sir James Ross, writing from thence, says: The natives informed him the winter had been unusually severe, and that they had all suffered greatly from hunger. (He adds) The appearances of the sea and sky since we have left Whale Islands as symptoms of winter appear, the boats are to return to the Plover, which ship being fitted with fuel and provisions and stores from the Herald, will house in and make all snug for the winter. The Herald is then to return to the south, to give intelligence of the spot where she left the Plover. Extensive excursions are to be made early in the spring, by small parties from the Plover, in every possible and practicable direction, from the winter station; but as soon as the water has formed along the coast, boat expeditions are to be despatched towards the Mackenzie river, again to communicate, if possible, with Sir John Richardson's party. When the month of July, 1849, arrives, the Herald will again proceed to communicate with the Plover; and the captain of the Herald will be guided by his own discretion and judgment, the information he may receive, and other existing induce me to believe that the present season will circumstances, in reëquipping the Plover for passnot prove unfavorable to navigation, although a ing a second winter on that part of the coast, strong blink in the sky to the westward proves that and for continuing her in the search for Sir John the main pack is not far distant in that direction, Franklin. so that we shall be obliged to go to the northward to round the north end of it, before we can stretch across to Lancaster Sound. **** Last night a strong gale came on from the southward, and has this morning brought so heavy a sea into the harbor, that I think we shall be obliged to get off to In addition to the provisions necessary for the crew of the Plover, she is provided with large quantities of preserved meats for the use of the party under Sir John Franklin, should they be compelled to abandon their ships and travel over 1 |