The Express. — London, England, 1853-10-24 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 24, 1853. (HE SORTH-WEST PASS.IOE. 1%, continue our publication of the Arctic de yo( Captain M'Clure s3l art indication of open water occurred to-day (July i some distanec along the shore of Prince pia'. Lau d, m atet a mile in width ; the ice in every I imam . rapidly deesyiug , being much ateelerated b a 'set end rain, with a thernmeter standing at 43 o, ;r1 that by the 14th that which for the last few gels Iss-1 'ten slightly in motion, with large a aces of w ,ter r suddenly and noise:444y opened erased the ~ ..emg her in a pawl of forty yards; bat pectin no ,it of getting without its limits, we were compelled N'carr o t. tle g .0 which had for ten months befriended ; a nd, with the whole of the pack, gradually drifted to io; ..athwanl, towards the Princess Royal Islands, which ‘. posed on the eastern side within half a mile. Upon 1::h. o r Iv a.m , being among loose ice, we cast off pun the g.e and made sail, with the hope of getting spa Oar wasters shore, whirr the water appeared to be bat without dipping the rudder, in dunsequence of ;74 7 6 da e vitiate of eeveral large floe', mod at 2 p.m. mg ,. «cared to a floe, betel, ea the l'rincess Royal and Awls (we passed over a shoal having nineteen Ism 0: the 29th at Irk a.m., • light air from the gm' , eagle 'hocking the ice, gave hopes of making progress • N.E., is which directros I was anxious to get for the of ertering herons Strait, that, according to eir wg.;sace., 1 might be enabled to carry out my original istrationsot procadiag to the northward of Melville bland o a li:nied in nay lens r to the Secretary of the Admiralty of J s. ! :.0. POO or, should such nut be practicable, return ▪ Lea.and through the Strait. The ship was cast cif, and o sue :moot, when the wind died away, and we were beset On the mousing of the 224 open water appear. boil the N the rudder was shipped in esprit etion of • WA , nut, however, realised until the afternoon of :he ;rd, whin a Nth* S.W. wind set the ice to the E . csrrying us over a shoal upon which there was much ie.. and we gruunikil in Id fathoms: the corner or the die, to a ,hgt, wearers- atcachs d, r miag in contact with some of them 0,4., ease way, throwing pieces of 12 feet and 14 feet span completely out of the Wat er. It g razed the hard bottom with a ssomid not unlike distant thunder, all it maid. erisinged, and upheaved, throwing an enormous wool up in its metre. as if under the influence of volcanic genes. sod theu rest 'smiths', the part we were secured firmlrounded, hile he other and lih'er pinwit., beieg bree y d g onwards with ace t g elerated speed, came dine: air our unprotected stern. To let go warps and m o o r• viva bat the worn of a minute, and ao.t & r u ns .. were we in ateemplishing it; as, tney could be got on hoard. it struck the stern, forcing the snip ahead tit the per of two knots. A small space of open water, necaooned by the grounding of the Has, allowed of our advance ; when, b y " 'ul nae and towing, we speedily got beyond its in- Aseace. Had our position been len favourable, nothing m id Lave saved the vessel from momentary destruction, mail at 1130 p.m., with a breeze from the S.E., nude sail thr.o:h large leads of water toward, the eastern side of the mai , . and by the internam of the 'lick had nearly reached Point Arington!, upon which the ice was resting, arid Our tuut•r checked. 'Cher., was much driftwood on the beech, made American pine. The cutter wit, consequently despatched for a load, and some of the pieces appeared so fresh. that Mr. Ford, the carpenter, was of opinion that two pate is the extreme of their quitting the forest. The wind verging to the westward during the night, set large bodies of ice into the water we occupied, which was filling ri p i d;y. To prevent being forced on shore, we were obliged at a.m. of the 2.5 th to run into the pack. where we drilled, se eonlino to the tide, about a mile lad a half front the beach ; but daring the boars made about two miles and a half to the N.E.. from which, I am of opinion, when taken with the quantity of drift wood that is thickly strewed along the beech, that on this ride of the strait there is a slight current to the northeast, while upon the opposite one it seta to the southward, upon which there is scarcely any wood, and our progress, while similarly situated, was in a southern direc tion. We continued drifting in the peek, without meeting L ey obstruction, until 10 am. of the lit of August, when • gadder , and most unexpected motion of the ice swept us with mach velocity to the nOrth•eaat, towards a low point off which were several shoals, having many heavy pieces of groanded ice upon them, towards which we were directly entitty. decreasing the soundings from 24 to 01 fathoms. Deur - scion was apparently not far distant, when, most opportuuely, the ice eased a little, and a fresh wind coming from the land, sail was immediately made, which, assisted by warps, enabled the ship to be forced a-head about 200 yards that shot us clear of ice into 16, fathoms, ta which water we rounded the shoals; the ice then again closed. and the ship became fixed until the 14th, when the fcg,which since yesterday bad been very dense,again cleared, sad discovered open wane about half a mile from the vessel with the ice loose about her ; at noon commenced warping, and at d p.m. passed into it with a light breeze from the northeast that carried us some distance along the eastern shore. At 11 p.m., the fog was so thick that we were com pelled to make fast to a flue, having, while standing in shore, 'timed up the mud while in stays, shooting from no sound ings:li fathom, to a quarter less 3, which convinced me of the impracticability of remaining under weigh, as had we been set on the beach, the ice, which came in before • freshening north-eater out of Barrow's Straits, would moat effectually have detained us there Previous to quitting the floe, I was desirous of trying what effect blasting would base upon such • mass. A jar, containing 3dlbs. of powder, was let down 12 feet into the water near the centre, the • swop thickset' was 11 feet, and its diameter effti yards. The result was most satisfactory, rend ing it is every direction, 00 that with the greatest um we mild effect a passage through any part of h. Aug. 16.—At 8 a.m, the fog cleared a little, which showed the base of the cliffs very close, altlionah we were in 42 fathoms. Having water to the westward, we instantly made sail in that quarter, and at 11 a.m. being unable to see in any direction, again made fast, having carried away the spankerhoom in breaking through • seek of ice, which forced the vessel from the wind, causing it to jibe. Our soundings increased to 62 fathoms, and the ice was lacer. Wald to be setting bodily a nails and a half an hour to the Ws-south-west, so that upon the weather clearing, at 30 minutes cm. of the 16th, we found the vessel bad been drifted 15 miles to the south-west. As there was, however, water to the eastward, every 'martian was made to reach it by warping, and at 3 a.m. succeeded, working slung the esthete shore to 'sesames what probability existed of being stde to round the pack, and thus get into Barrow's knits, from which we were sot distant man than 25 miss. At nine ass. all hopes disappeared, as a clear nee from the crow's mot hemmed the ice to beelosely pecked, rest's' spa Pala Lady Pim, extending in owe unbroken line to the opposite side of the *trait. This de termined me to give up . all Am of peasseating our search is this direct io n. Having bona foiled la attempting this paw the latter end Moth meson, and at the commenee mat of another, l •Iwebisted It not practicable, except ander the favourable alesamstance of a continuance of senth-westerly wads, alga weald drive the ice into Bar tow's Strait, by 1 Meg., then would be little difficulty ia eosin hem the midmost, from which quarter we head the winds peevail. Oar greatest advance in that dinghies was W. 73 13 43 N. long. 115 32 30 W. Ac esediagly, at 9.10 sm., we bon up with the intention of ran* to the seathweed of Nelson's Head, and cnitithe ese meek ay.g the western side of Barieg's Wald, with Me hap of resins the estrum of Barrow's Strait WHIM Nets ma, frees the report of Lieutenant Ceesewell, I alt etsvinewdthat by Basks' Land there is a from the Pas: Sea At p.m., passed the Peas= j d lamb with • Ilse Wiese; not • wads st its Is larsr &izNaha, whisk only a imath pei sesesem hoes, sad heavy Milme lying NOW their bess and urea the MINIIIMBII them, Irbil' IN stasidered had beta there paqasa likely is Rids, M many MOM • man lit bhp OINMe In hem throws aeon the imams lbws lasi webbed • se MN= vestige of that - _names{ bed pave d away, ler early 11 swift bad MK an be its trammels. Ups the 17th, while sea llidges's Sod, with a Sao bra's° gni the senth-tut, we empsineed a heavy swell from that thetti,a, causing the yawl to pitch the hawse-helm umber, sad send the sea as far aft as the fore-hatchww, • eir emanate n unusual was hailed as a favou ra ble save, Wag a coaviscing proof that we were in much open water ; sad, at 11.30 pia., rounded the heed. The land, for about 3d miles to the westward, is remarkably bold and lofty, whew Cope Lambton, jutting out and rising perpendicu larly 1,000 feet, presents a grand termination to it in that direetioa, whence it gradually recedes to the north-west, where it lose* this bold character, partaking more of that remarked in the Prince of Wales's Strait, being range, of hills, gradually sloping from the interior to the shores, bev ies has valleys and extensive plains, several small and the comiderable river, the water from the latter discolouring he sm two miles from its mouth, likewise many email him and harboun, which, however, would be only of utility for boats, as a heavy surf was breaking across their *strum ; much driftwood stzewed the beach, and the land was well covered with verdure, upon which were large locks of geese feeding, while du cks were flying in great Istabers, and have little doubt that a walk a short distance Woad would have discovered herds of deer and musk oxen. Nothing that was on the coast could escape observation, or saki anything be more favourable for the object we bad view, as, with a fair wind and flue clear weather, we ran gong it from the to two miles distant. At 4 p.m., of the 19th, being oft • very low spit of land (Point Kellett), which extended to the westward for about 12 miles in the bra of • horseshoe, having its sea side thickly studded vith grounded in, while its interior wee exempt from aay, I seat Mr. Court (second master) to examine, who reported 10 excellent and commodious harbour, well sheltered frail NW. to south, varying five fathoms within tea= the beach, whi c h was shingle and covered with A set of sights were obtained, and a cask, essisbdsgs attic*, was left there ; its position lat. 71.66 31. • twig. 125 . 29 W. From this the land turns abrupt*/ N. by E., and a great change takes plasm is its general aspect, gradually becoming low Mil fiat, so that near the beach it is scarcely discernab b resembling separate sandbanks, but, upen dosing it, a low spit, barely above the level of the water, was remarked, connecting them. The lead may be considered an infallible guide along the whole of this coast, as the soundinp ate regular from 3 to 30 fathoms, at from one to four maes elf shore. Cpon the morning of the 19th we left this low meth, sod passed between two small islands lying at the enema of what appeared • deep inlet, running E.S.E., sad this taming sharp to the N.E. It had • barrier of ice 'mead lag across, which prevented any examination. Wishing to keep between the northernmost of these islands and the mainland, la avoid the pack, which was very near it, we nareowiy escaped getting on shore, as a reef extended from the latter to within half • mile of the island. Fortunately, the wind being light, we rounded to with all the madding sails set, and let go the anchor in 2i fathoms, having about four inches to spare under the keel, and *loped into four, while Mr. Court was sent to find a Channel, which he succeeded, carrying three fathoms, Omagh *Lie-Jaw. ma for one mue,ensi then eontinued our course in eight, having from Mtge to four miles between the ice and laud. At 8 p.m. were user two other islands, the ice resting upon the westernmost, upon which the pressure must have been excessive, us large masses were forced nearly over its summit, which was upwards of 40 feet. Between these and the main we ran through &channel In front 9 to 1.5 fathoms, when en immediate and marked Mange took place in the general Appearance and formation of the land ; it became high, precipitous, sterile, and rugged, intersected with deep ravines and water-courses, having 66 a quarter of a mile, and 15 fathoms ICJ yards from the cliffs, which proved exceedingly fortouate, as the whole pack, which had apparently only just broken from the shore, was within half-a-mile, and in many pieces si close to it that, to avoid getting beset, we had nearly to touch the:laud ; in deed, upon several vet:attune, the Goats were compelled to he topped up, nod pelts used to amp the vessel from off the grounded ice, which tittle:, all alon; the coast ; Der could we round to, fearful of carrying,the jibboom awoy against its cliff', which here run nearly east and west. The cape forming its western extreme 1 have called Prince Alfred, in honour of his royal highness. There wire two apparently good harbours about 2 , 2 miles to the eastward of the Cape ; the westernmost had a lireaawater half a mile in lewgtl;, 20 feet high, facing the nor:lt, with entrance on its east and west sides abut yards iu breadth ; the other was circular, about three-quarters of a mi:c in diameter, with its entrance on the west side. Our critical position would not admit of any detention, otherwise they would have been sounded, being very auxi nes tie had a secure re treat in the smut of having to winter on this coast. The weather, which had been tine, with a S.E. wind, veered to the W.SW., bringing tug and rain, so that on the moruing of the 20th our further progress was impeded by finding the ice resting upon a point, which formed a slight indents tion of the shore, and was the only place where water cool i be seen. To prevent being carried away with the peck, which was filling up its space, we secured to the inshore side of a small nut heavy piece of ice, grounded in 12 fathoms, 7i yards from the beach; the only protection against the tremendous Polar ice (setting a knot per hour to the eastward before a fresh westerly wind), which at 9 p.m. placed us in a very critical position, by a large floe striking the piece we were feat to, and caused it to oscillate so considerably, that a tongue, which kappeued to be ;miler our bottom, lifted the vessel six fret, but, by great atten• Lien to the anchors and warps, we succeeded in holding on during the conflict, which was continued several minutes, terminating by the floe Min? rent in pieces, and our being driven nearer the beach. k min this until the 29th we lay perfectly secure, bat at 8 a.m. of that day the ice began suddenly to move, when a large fix, that must have aught the piece to which we were attached nutter one of its merhangiog ledges, rising it perpendicular 30 fees, pee -1 Sated to all on board a most frightful aspect. As it amesiled above the foreyard much apprehecsien was felt that it might be thrown completely over, when the ship Most have been crushed beneath it. Tide suspense was but fire s few minutes, as the floe rent, carryiug away with it a Mess piece from the foundation of our asylum, when it gave eseseal fearful rolls and resumed its former position ; bur, em longer capable of resisting the preesure, it was hurried Onward with the drifting mass; our proximity to the shore mespelled, as our only hopes of safety, the absolute neces sity of holding to it ; we consequently secured with a chain stream and hemp cable three six and two live-inch hawsers, three of which were passed round it. In tais state we were forced along, sinking large pieces beneath the bottom, and sustaining a heavy strain against the stern and rudder; the latter was much damaged, but to unship it at present was imposeible. At 1 p.m. the pressure eased, from the ice becoming stationary, when it was indium; and laid upon a large floe piece, where, by 8 a.m., owing to the activity of Mr. Ford, the carpenter, who is always ready to meet any emergency, it was repaired, just as the ice began again to be in motion, but as the tackles were hooked, it was run up to the davits without further damage. We were now setting fast upon another large piece of broken floe, grounded in nine fathoms upon the debris formed at the mouth of a large river: Feeling confident that should we be aught between this and whet we were fast to the ship must inevitably go to pieces, and yet beicg aware that to cast off would certainly send us on the beach, from which we were never distant 80 yards, upon which the smaller ice was hurried as it came in con'act with these gro.inded muses, I sent John Kerr (gunner's mate), under very diffi cult circumstances, to endeavour to reach it, and effect its dastresties by bleeds.. lie maid sot, lions's; Sri a solleiest epee dyads, to sink the charge, but remarking a large meaty wpm the sea face of the flue, he fixed it there, whieb MI itit needed that it slightly fractured it in three places, whisk at the cerement was scarcely observable from the heavy prewar. It was sustaining. By this time the vessel was. within • few feet of it, every one was on deck in anxious suspense, awaiting what was apparently the crisis of our fate ; moat fortunately the stern post took it so fairly that the pressure was fore and aft, bringing the whole strength of the ship to beat; a heavy grind watch shook ev.ry mast, and caused beams and decks to complain as she trembled to the violence of the shuck, plainly indicated that the struggle would be bat of short duration. At this moment, the stream cable was carried away, and several anchors drew ; thinking that we Lad new sufficiently risked the vessel, orders were given to let go all the warps, and with that order I had mado up my mind that iu a few minutes she would be on the beach, but, as it was sloping. conceived she might still prove au asylum for the winter, and possibly be again got afloat, while, should she be crushed between these large grounded pieces, she most inevitably p down in 10 fathoms, which would be certain destruction to all, but before the orders could be obeyed, • merciful Providence interposed, causing the ice which had been previously weakeeed, to separate into th.ree pieces, sad it leased onward with the mass, our stern tightly jammed ' eSliel, but now protected by it. The vessel, which bad hem Illwown over 16 degrees, and risen bodily 1 feet Undam, now righted, and settled in the water; the only Menge sustained was several sheets of copper ripped off eind rolled up like • sheet of paper,. bat not a fastening had Lesway, nor do any.leakage indicate thaislightest defect. dnight the lee was stationary and everything quiet, eilMliftesilnatil the 10th of September ; indeed, from the leaspeildure having fallen to 16 degrees, with all ap pliances of the setting in of the winter, I considered am further progress stopped until nest year. The crew WWII employed collecting ballast (of which they obtained if Saab and other arrangements making for such an event. lit and other parties made daily excursions inland ; is w hin rambles an exceedingly old Esquimau: encamp ment was met with, and a most interesting discovery of a range of hills, composed of one entire mass of wood in every stage, from a putrefaction to • log fit for firewood ; many largetrees were among it, but, in endeavouring to exhume them, they were found too much decayed to stand removal; the largest piece that we have been able to bring away being 3 feet 10 lathes in girth, and seven in length ; these were found by MINIM Sainsbury and Piers, at an ele vation of 300 feet above the beach (inlet. 74 27 N., long. 122 13 16 W.), which is strewed with chips and small bite of wood, m are the water-courses and rarities as far as any person has walked inland, evidently malted down by the thaw beet thins Ligneous hills. The country has fine Tallies, well covered with verdure, and at some period of the year mast be frequented by large herds of animals, as the heads of mask oxen and the well-picked carcases of deer an every where met with, many quite fresh. Two large wolves were disturbed in the act of finishing a fawn which they bad just killed, but ally two musk oxen were seen, besides a few hares and 'ptarmigan shot by our parties. To-day the tem ps:stars, from a change of wind to the southward, rose to 29 degrees, accompanied by rale ' which bad the effect of so loossaing the lee that the main pack separated from the ship, opening a lane of water, about 16 miles to the east ward, varying in breadth from 60 to 200 yards, which, however, did not promise any release to theveseel, until 11.60 a.m. (while the other of the watch and quartermaster wire examining the tide pole Med on the beach, through a bole cut in the ioe, about 40 yards from the shore, which puzzled them both to find that they could not keep the guar erect, as i t slipped from their hands while endea vouring to dose) it so l 7 opened, and drifted towards the pack which it was impossible to avoid, and were carried to the N.S. a Mot per hour, at the distance of half* mile from the shore, in soundings from 107 to 134 fathoms. All methods by warps and saws to extricate the vessel from hey perilous position proving abortive, having masses of ice frozen to ner bides * reeearse was had to gunpowder, which fortueeddlediebill Mr release by the expenditure et 1601 h" is doope of Mot Elb. to 201 b , according to the alma item So wed, which by an other means maid use Wutemliewsi. sod saved us from being set against enhegm t" iq 1114.1 ) 1 , l i r rto re t: t h i i n ct u w i r have by C4.ve lejeeist let sioutes' longer detention, laving Medp Mum le Mein sell and shoot the vessel, with out rad. it OR pine we had been so long frozen to, babe l the water, waft the hawsers, which canted us, just as it watered the sill mass, upon the weather edge of which we WOO grazed as we worked into the land, when at 7 p.m. of the 11th we again secured toe large grounded floe, seventy yards from it, in tan fathoms. At 10 p.m. our position was hazarded by a portion of the main pack, which had ex tended itself over the open water, coming in violent will dem with the corner of our floe, turning it partially round, able the smaller ice pressed with so much strain upon the ddp that the anchors began to draw and hawsers carry away ; the stream chain luckily held until the pressure leased by the peek giving way, and our being pushed a few Oldies* owner the shore. At 2.60 a.m. of the 13th a lane of win weed about 60 yards from the vessel, and towards min a dee is the temperature of 45 deg , with heavy rain, liewitail Imes of liberation, an object of the highest import amt with respect to the views with which the ex was fitted out, hat for the safety of the ship, at mem in a most expelled position, being upon the eastern side of a large bah la the whole pressure of the Polar pack, and gib masses of ice 18 and 18 feet thick, while tee geeesiell lees were from 30 to 67 feet in depth. To remove these impedimenta, or at all events en deavour the formals of • dock, blasting was had recourse en, with ample ahem 161 b. to 6.51 b. ; those made little klegilike. espl OW the explosion, therefore a 26-gallon ftraaia 2551 b., was now sunk five fathoms mew ewe elys 11111111004, at 30 yards from the vessel. Its ales yes met earitesive, shivering them to atoms, rending ant to which west attached, and which was 67 feet thick ea the outer base, mad 36 on its inshore edge, asunder, without the coneumion being very much felt on board. All hands were employed in floating the loose ico into the water, having vainly attempted to force the ship through, aided by a strong wind, and p a nine-inch hawser brought to the patent capstan (such resistance front merely this sludge is incivdible),which work was continued until the afternoon of the 14th, when all was drifted away, leaving a snug har bour, 40 yards in width, flanked by heavy grounded floes, forming an excellent protection. The rudder was now hung, in anticipation of F a start on the following morning ; but at 11 p.m. the wind freshened from the W.N.W., bringing the whole pack down upon this coast, filling our little harbour with loose and small ice, its entrance being too narrow to admit the large pieces ; an enormous floe, how ever, carried away one of our flanks, but without disturbing the vessel in the slightest. At daylight on the morning of the Mb, thaw expectations were sadly blighted, it blowing hard from W.N.W., with sleet and mow; nor was a drop of water to be observed in any direction, and the ice ap patently was again unhung, which, with the thermometer at 14 degrees scarcely afforded any probability of its being reshipped this season. In the course of the forenoon, Messrs. Court (second master) and Newton (ice mate) were sent to examine the coast and state of the ice to the eastward of Point Culetehoun, distant about four miles. Their report was such as to confirm the opinion previously entertaieed, with this consolation that the position which we occupied was better than any they had seen, as the ice to the east ward was much larger and more massive than that we were encompassed by. The soil on this coast is composed of gravel and limestone, and M the valleys near the beach the quantity and richness of the moss is quite surprising; but on reaching the first range of hills, about a mile distant, a more sterile landscape never met the eye. The whole country appears nothing but one MALI of limestone, without the slightest vegetation ; the traces of animals su numerous 15 mites further west, are no where in this barren ground to be met with. On the 17th the westerly wind ceased,and was succeeded by one from the eastward, with a rise of tem perature from 11 to 21, which, by daylight of the 19th, had increased to 32, with water extending song the coast three miles in width. We immediately cast off, and at 7 a.m. , rounded the point, whence the land falls back E.S.E. ; our progress was slaw front many causes, the copper being torn cud pr .jectiog from four to twelve inches from the bottom,. light winds, and an ie.-encumbered sea, so that at 3 p.m. cur further advance was arrested by the pack touching the land, and extending with unbroken line to the northward as far as the eye could reach. Our day's work did not exceed 15 miles, when we were compelled to make fast to the land ice which along the whole of this coast is of the must Me sire and terrific dimensions I have ever witnessed; them was little selectiJn of berth on a coast line nearly straight, but a alight indentation, protected east and west by two large pieces of a broken floe 30 feet above the water gave hopes of some shelter, when at 0 p.m. the water and loose ice, which was before perfectly still, suddenly rushed for ward at the rate of two knots an hour, and striking spinet the vessel forced her from her anchors with such violence that she wee driven astern upon a hard point of the floe, which roan her 12 inches ; but, fmtunately, held until this rush was over, which swept our eastern bulwarks, but did no other damage ; we then warped to the western side of the floe, where a small space was blasted for the bow, in which we quietly remained during the night ; at daylight of the 20th, finding the ice loose and drifting though • per fect calm a mile and a half en hour to the eastward east off, and, laying hold of a large floe piece, was dragged along close by the grounded ice, which with some difficulty was avoided by shifting round the floe as it canted towards us. At noon, having a light air from tho westward, made sail, but soot; bad reason to regret it, as it shortly faded, and the ice filling the land water it gradually forced the vessel into the pack, which hitherto we have been so anxious and careful to avoid, as the only hope of navigating this sea con sists in keeping close to the shore, it now became evident that every exertion must be made by warping to regain the land, which, under the circumstances of the ice being in motion with much that was small and loose filling up the in tervals between the larger pieces, which allowed a secure footing for the men, was difficult, laborious,and anxious in the extreme, as with every precautien they fregueutly fell in. After seven hours' incessant work we succeeded as the night closed in reaching a huge and solid floe that had just been upturned, three of its sides being 25 feet perpendicular, grounded in 29 fathoms on the outer edge, and having ten and a half upon the inner one, around which was scatterer; much debris part of its original self that had crumbled from the pressure against • cliff up wiaich it had been forced full 70 feet, and where a large mass was still remaining about • mile to the westward of a cape (Austen) 400 feet in height, which is stratified, and of the same description es Nelsou's Head, where we secured for the night. At daylight of the 2lst a thick fag, with bail, permitted a very circumscribed view ; but, as the ice appeared loose in the direction of the Cape, at 5 a.m. started, and grazing round it within 16 yards found ourselves in a large bay, entirely steered with ice, formed by another cape three miles S.E., compelling us at 6 30 a.m. to make fest immediately beneath the cliff, whose summit nearly plumbing the hatchways rendered our position very sate, many fragments appearing so loose from the action of frost and water that a slight concussion would have brought them down. At 11 a.m. the ioe eased a little from the land, when we again endeavoured to force towards the S.E., aided by a westerly wind and warping, but in the afternoon the fog became so dens* with an easterly b that we made fast to the lend floe, in which a smell dock was formed with the assistance of a little powder about a mile from oar forenoon's position, remains big until the morning of the 22nd, when a little progress was made towards the S.E., our operations by warping being brought to a termination. At 1 p.m., having reache d the Cape (Crosier) upon the south eastern side of which the ice was resting, therefore securing to a ridge 20 feet in height, laying at its base, I proceeded with Mr. Court to its summit fur the purpose of examining the coast line towards the S.E., a deep bay extending 30 miles in that direction filled with ice, which was commencing to move bodily to the westward, and of a much less formi dable a character to that we had been subjected to, while what was laying along the shore was small and widely detached, well repaid the toil of assent ; indeed, sines rounded Cape Austea, it has lost much of its terrible aspect, which led to the inference that we were fairly in Barrow'," Strait, and that the main polar pack take a direct line from the last-mentioned cape to the E.N.E., and that which fills these bays and is carried down " B arrow's " Strait is the comparatively small ice which drifts from its southern edge, as we have invariably re marked that there is a dewdedly easterly current, which impels the enormous polar floes on that course, while the lighter, influenced by wind, is oftentimes setting in an opposite direction. This caps (Crosier) is 250 feet perpen dicular, presenting among its debris many interesting geo logical specimens, it is composed of lime and sandstone, having fossilliferons shells imbedded, also pieces of coal and petrifactioas of weed, identical with what has been met with upon other parts of this large island, and upon the " Princess Royal " Isles. At 3.30 a.m. of the 23d, although not daylight, open water was ascertained to be at band, from the dark appearance of the horison to seaword, the vessel was cast off, and standing in that direr ' tion, found we had not been deceived, the wind during the forenoon coming from the westward, enabled our running close along the shore, on which still rested a line of thin ice, rendering the entrance of what appeared three good harbours inaccessible ; the land was mach less ragged, having swill hills gradually sloping to the beach, and large 'allot s well calculated for the pasture lands of animals, but no w ields et driftwood could be °Waved, which article has not bssemseaapp4ng the small chips near the ligneous hills slam! ileilaffing P "Kellett," on the western shore, At pml. are sew MO nearly obstructed from the ice "roffileg spa a rid about two miles distant ; the studding mils were taken in, but almost immediately reset, as it gutheally opened, allowing just sakient space for our per by tipping up the lower booms ; the shore shortly needling more to the southward increased our water, but mow and thick weather with night coming on rendered the land not 200 yards distant barely discernible. Most anxious, however, at the dose of the season to embrace every oppor tunity of getting to some plate of security our coarse was continued with may canvas, when, under other circum stances, we should have most assuredly secured for the night, and at 7.30 'Ls., with the lead going, went from 15 fathoms, upon a mad bank, having only six feet under the bow, and at the distance of 10 feet from t he aters, only 18 inches while the stern was in five fathoms, the stream anchor and cable wen laid out, which service was well performed by Messrs. Wynniatt, Sainsbury, and Court, it requiring four boats in consequence of the freshening N.W. gale and pieces of loose ice with snow, which, caking as it reached the water, formed so thick a coating over its surface, and offering sue:, resistance, that it was scarcely possible to pull through, which, with clearing the forehold and warrant-officer's storerooms, and bringing all the weight abaft the Lalien mast at 10 p m., we were enabled to heave off, end brought up with both bowers in six fathoms and a half. The re mender of the sight was occupied in stowing the holds, weighing the stream-anchor, Ac., so that at daylight of the 24th we were in perfect readiness to move. On a view of our position we hand that we were on the N.W. side of • large bay, whose NUM limit bore N.B. eight miles, which we subsequently howl "lewd the western point of " Bank's"!4 e and num* to the S.S.W. about seven, which was liaise up with ice flowing in before • hash gale Ma Polar Sea. Still wishing to NM if any possibility remelted of getting down Barrow's Strait, we wethed, and steel se ffirr as the ice would allow to the N.Y., when, obsening hem the crow's-neat no water in that direetioe, I del__.._sil to make this our winter quarters, aad, Weise rerl sai rla the south side of the bank on which we had a well protected bay, Mr. Court wen despatche d to mead it ; and, shortly making the that there wee eaficiont water, we here up, and at signalam. we anchored in four sad a halt fathoms, and that Wight were firmly bees* in, in what has shoe proved a most safe and szeellent harbour, which, is gratefal remem brance of the many perils that we had during the passage Mast terrible Polar sea escaped in reaching, we have named the " Bay of Messy," thus finally terminating this short asasm's operations, being actually only five entire days under weigh. Prepanatieas were now made for housing so, and everything was completed, except hauling over the cloth, by °timber 1, which was not done, that the daylight should be enjoyed as long as possible, and a saving in lights effected. On that day, as • precautionary measure, the crew were placed upon two-thirds allowance of all species of provisions. Upon the 4th Mr. Court was sent with a travelling party to connect our ration with that visited by Lieutenant Cresswell in May last, from which we were only distant 18 miles. On the 7th he returned,lwhich service completed the search round the entire coast line of this island ; he reported open water a few miles from the shore, which, gradually extend ing, reached the cliffs of Bank's Land. Upon the 6th, as wfeh two men he was examining • few miles to the south eastward of his tent, that detached the heavy grounded had ice from their base, drifting the whole party off shore to the N.W., fortunately being unencumbered with the sledge, they succeeded, with difficulty and by much agility, jumping from piece to piece in regaining the shore, and that evening no ice could be remarked in the Strait, the whole being set into the Polar sea. On the 10th Mr. Lsinsbury (mate), with a travelling party, went to examine an inlet, which appeared to run some distance te the S.W. from the Math side of the bay, but, upon the following day returned, lading it extended only 12 miles, the water shoaling, until k finally terminated in • large marsh, which, from the numenus traces of animals and wild fowl, may be con sidered as a favourite resort during the summer As *ors appeared much game in the vicinity, and the wee eher continuing mild, shooting parties, under Lieutenant Croswell, Messrs. Wynniatt, Court, and Piers, and the Marines, under Sergeant Woon, were established in diffe rent directions between the 9th and 23rd, so that, with what was killed from the ship, our supply of fresh provi de= on the commencement of the winter consisted of nine deer, 63 here", and 44 ptarmigan, all in tine condition, the former having from two to three inches fat. The wea her during the winter has been much more boisterous, but iii each month several degrees more mild than was experienced in the Prince of Wales Strait, nearly a de gree and a half further south, last year, which, in conjunc tion with the animals remaining in numbers in this locality the entire winter, must, I suppose, be taken as a proof of its mildness, although laying exposed to the north-west winds, direct from the Polar See, which, upon our first being frczen in, led to the anticipation of having to encoun ter a severe season. In consequence of our favoured po-i -tion, the crew were enabled to ramble over the hills almost daily in quest of game, and their exertions happily supplied a fresh meal of venison three times a fortnight, with the exception of about three weeks in January, when it was too dark for shooting. The email game, such as ptarmigan and hares, being scarce, were allowed to be retained by the sportsmen as private property. This healthy and exhili rating exercise kept us all well and in excellent spire's during another tedious winter, so that on the lit of April we had upwards of 1,000 lb. of veneron hanging at the yard arms. All wearing so fair an aspect, and being desirous of visiting Winter Harbour, Melville Island, with the hope of meeting an officer there with whom arrangements might be made in the event of any accident occurring which would render it necessary to quit the ship, 1 proceeded on the 11th with a Mr. Court (second muter) and a sledge party for that port, but in consequence of thick weather coming on a new hours after leaving the vessel, and continuing unintermit tingly for several days, we did not reach until the 28th. Coos the 15th we observed a very lofty cape bearing N.H. by E. 30 miles. which I have rolled Queen Victoria, in honour of her Most Gracious Majesty (the same which had been remarked lust autumn from the high land near the ship), the land to the north-east forms the bottom of Syudon Gulf, while that upon its western aide stretched to the N.W. in one unbroken mountain line as far as the eye could reach. A-. Winter Harbour we obtained a set of sights for the purpose of testing our chronometers, which were ascertained to be going exceedingly well ; and, having deposited a notice of our visit under the same cairn that Lieutenant M'Cliotock left one last year, upon a large frag ment of sandstone, bearing this inscription, viz , His Britannic Majesty's ships Hecla and Griper, Commanders Perry and Lyddon, wintered in the adjacent harbour during the winter of 1519 20, A. Fisher, sculpsit," at 6 p.m. com menced our return, travelling upon flat ice nearly the entire way, accomplishing in 10 days whet occupied 18 upon the outward trip, and reached the ship upon the 9th of May, when I had the gratification of receiving the moat satis factory reports concerning our sanitary condition, and like wise that the supply of venison continued abundant, having 20 head of deer on board. In eousequcnce, the ration of venison was increased to 11 lb. thrice a week, as the crew were at hard work, clearing the holds, collecting and bring ing off ballast ; the latter a very laborious occupation, from the large space they had to search over in picking up a suf ficiency of stone to complete 100 tons, which was not ac complished until the 25th, after which we commenced watering, obtaining it from a lake about a mile from the ship, by boring through 7 feet 10 inches of ice, and cutting a reservoir to receive it: this forming a species of Artesian well, which gave a bountiful supply, enabling the watering to be completed by the 13th of June, previous to the commencement of the thaw, which was a great advantage to the crew, as it kept them dry footed. About this time flocks of wild fowl, con sisting of swans, geese, and all descriptions of ducks, began to arrive, bat finding no water, merely took a flight round the north west extreme of the land and retutned to the southward, from which it would appear that the season is late; indeed, the land is as much covered with snow as in the depth of winter, nor was it until the 2.5 th of the month that any alteration took place, when small streams com menced trickling down the sunny slopes of the ravines, and little ponds formed upon the ice. On the 30th we had an entire day of heavy snow, with ens of the most severe northerly gales I ever witnessed at so advanced a period of the season ; and upon the Ist of July found that the ice had increased its thickness four inches during the last month, being seven feet two inches, a moat unusual circumstance, as both at Port Leopold and in the Prince of Wales Strait we found a very considerable decrease ; during the month of June the temperature likewise was very low, showing an average of 31f deg. The appearance of the crew at their monthly inspection elicited a more unfavourable report from the surgeon than I have hitherto received ; evident symp toms of debility among . the generality or them, and 16 having a decided scorbutic tendency, plainly the effect of the late heavy labour in ballasting and watering ; but as all our work is now on board, their gradual return to perfect health may be anticipated without encumbering the sack list. On the Bth of July, Sergeant Wool, of the marines, while in pursuit of a wounded deer, unexpectedly met a couple of musk bulls, which be succeeded in killing, evinc ing the most soldierlike coolness and intrepidity during the entire transaction ; having expended his ammunition as one of the wounded and infuriated menstera rushed towards him, he fired his worm when at a few yards, hut without much effect; as he continued his advance, evidently, how ever, weak from loss of blood, till he had reached within six feet, when putting his head to the ground previous to his final rush, the Sergeant, se his last resource, fired his iron ramrod, which entering behind the left shoulder, passed through the heart and out at the right flank, drop ping him dead at his feet; they are flue animals, whose gross weight are 1,3301b5., and yield, after deducting offal and hunter's perquisites, 6501 b,., of excellent beef, which providential supply is most opportune, as our reindeer were expended last week. Two Esquimau: huts upon a small islet in the centre of the bay, and the site of an encamp ment on a peaked hill on the western shore of the main land, are the only indications we have met with of that ex traordinary and hardy people, having at some period long- past inhabited this coast ; we have now discovered traces of them upon all sides of this island ; bat where are they gone, for certainly there is not one upon it at present, or why should they have quitted an island so abound , ing throughout the entire year with game, except as the Esquimau: interpreter observes, there may be a great paucity of seals, without which luscious food they , cannot exist, and this may be the reason, as, we have seen very few. During the month of July, the little thaw, which a tem- Feature falling te 31 degrees every night and rising only,to 39 and 42 degrees in the day weld effect, has not been much, but the water draining from tho land rotted the ice round the entire bay and detached it from 100 to 300 yards from the shore, so that it has power to move, and only re quires open water in the offing to allow of its going out, which joyful event we entertained hopes of realising, as upon the 10th of August, some lanes of water were observed to seaward, and along the cliffs of Bank's Land thee was • clear space of six miles in width, extending along thee as far as the eye could reach from the north-west hills at an elevation of 1,000 fest ; and on the 12th, the wind which had been for some time from the northward veered to the south, which had the effect of separating the se Me from that of the bay entirely IMPS the entrance ; but, shortly shifting to the north, it closed again, and never after moved. On the 20th, the temperature fell to 27 degrees, when the entire bay was sempletely bones over, and on the 27th to 19 deg., so that the whole aspect was cheer less in the extreme, the young ice being two-and-a-half inches thick, so that the whole bay may be safely perambu lated ; indeed, the summer was fairly gone, for the uplands are all snow covered, the wild fowl all departed, and the flowers, which gave cheerful variety to this bleak land, are ell withered. The very season may be considered as one long sunless-day, as since the latter part of May that luminary has been scarcely visible, or his influence felt, upon those icy manse which block " Barrow's " Strait entirely across ; nor do I imagine that the Polar Sea has broken up this mace, as not • drop of water has been sees in that direction. g July, and the early part of August, the crew were daily employed gathering sere', of which there was a great quantity, upon the hills in this vicinity, and eaten, as • salad, with vinegar, or boiled, when it resembled spinach, was found • most desirable anti-scoebatie, and • great benefit to all, being exceedingly relished ; but that hardy and °getable herbage meld not withstand this rigorous summer beyond the 15'h of the month. For several days the ice had been perfectly stationazy, and no water visible in any direc tion, that along the Cliffs of Banks' land being from, is that I felt ensured that the winter had fairly set in, and all hopes of any release this totally annihilated, the ice being five inches Having previously dot what course I should adopt, Rader circumstances thus un favourable, upon the Bth of September I announced eny tendons ro the crew of leading half of them to Baglaad next April, with all the °Seers not in charge of stores, via Baffin's Bay (taking the boat from Cape Spenser) and the Mackenzie, detaining the remainder with the hope of extri cating the vessel during the summer of 1853, or, failing that, to proceed with sledges in 1864, by Port Leopold, oar pro visions admitting of no other arrangement; although we had already bee. 12 months upon two-thirds allowance, it was asesseaty to make preparations foe meeting 18 months moire—• Vey seven deprivation and constitutioaal test—but one mid* the service we are employed upon calls for ; the vend bass es sound as the day she entered the ice, it wadi themelbre be discreditable to dewrt the ship in 1853, when • lawiewable season would run her through the Straits, and obit of reaching England in safety, where the esesseMil sublimates* of the long-sought for and almost hopeless disersery of the North West Passage would be received with • satisfaetio• that will amply compensate for the serial's made, and hardships endured in its most try ing and tedious accomplishment. This statement was wall received, and its execution will, I hope, be carried out without difficulty. On the 17th the wind shifted to the 5.5.8., and blew hard, which a few days earlier might have been attended with favourable results, but now it had no effect, the ice being eight inches thick, was too firm to be moved, the sails were consequently unbent, and prepara tions commenced for housing in. September 24. This is the anniversary of our arrival; the contrast is very remarkable; we entered the bay with temperature at 33 secs., and not • particle of ice in it ; to-day, the thermometer stands at 2 degs. with ice which had oved, and every indication of a very mere winter. Upon the 25th of October, closed the hatchways and housed the vessel over, it b damp and cold* between decks, the vapour funnels, of there are five, giving a sufficient ventilation, thee over the hatchways being lased, carry off all impurities, so we enjoy • clear wholesome atmosphere below. This has very much contributed to the excellent preservation of our health', and the 28th being the second anniversary of our discovery of the postage, and the last that we should all be together, the occasion was celebrated by • small additional allowance of provolone and an extra glees of grog, which had the effect of putting all in high spirits, so that the evening was passed most jovially in singing and dancing. On November 8 completed the banking up and other outside work, finally terminating our winter arranfements upon the 18th, by ri coveng the upper deck with 8 inches of snow. The deer for the last few days have been coming from the southward to their winter quarters among these ravines and sand hills —3O have been met with at one time and 40 at another, but so very wild that few have been shot. Our two seasons' ex- ; perienee show that these ululate do not migrate to the I south as is generally supposed, but bear the extreme rigour of the climate and exist upon the scanty herbage, chiefly the dwarf willow, from off which they break the snow with their feet, which tapping can be heard at a considerable distance when the weather is calm, and frequently leads to their discovery. The hares and ptarmigan have also des cended fr sin the high ground to theses ridges, so that a sup ply of game has been k e pt u p d u ri ng the winter, which has enabled a fresh meal to be b l ued twi ce wejilT, and the usual Christmas iestivities to p ww o ff w ith the greatest cheerfulness; as it was to be our tut, the crew were atter mined to make it memorable, and their exertions were corn. pletely succeasful—each mess was gaily illuminated and decorated with original paintings by o ur lower-deck artists, • exhibiting the ship in her perilous positions during the transit ut the Polar Sea and divers other subjects ; but the grand feature of tha day were the enormous plum puddings, some weighing 261b5., haunches of venison, hares routed, au d soup matte of the same, with ptarmigan and sea pies. Such dainties, in such profusion, I should imagine never before graced a ship's lower deck. Any stranger to have witnessed this scene could but faintly imagine that he saw a crew which had passed upwards of two years in these dreary ft gions,and thrown entirely upon their own re s ources, enjoying such excellent h e ulth, so joyful, so happy, indeed such a mirthful assemblage under uuy circumstances woul I be moat gratifying to any officer ; but, in this lonely simian:a, I could nut but feel cieeply impressed, as I con templated the guy and plenteous sight, with the many and great mercies which a kind and beneficent Providence had sr ended towards us. 6latch L— Ili;uTtet dreary and dark titno is now passed, and segue and trying it ha. been. The cold of the last two months was exceasive, January IP.owing a mean of 44 d, g.— being 17 deg. below the corresponding period last year ; and one day the temperature fell to &i deg., and for 44 hours actually av,•raged lit deg. I should have doubted the cur- rectnces of theCthermotn - eter (as no former experience shows so low a register),bad it not beenwell tested the two preceding wieners, when it only fell to 52 deg. ; but, independent of the glass, the feelings gav e unmicakeable evidence of the extreme keenness of the weather, as for one entire week the temperature never rose above 40 deg., the wind being about 8.8. W., from which quarter during both winters we have invariably felt the greatest cold. I, therefore, imagine that in the interior the land must be very laity, as when the wind veers to the north, which is directly off the Paler Sea, the glass rises, showing the highest temperature when it is easterly. These low temperatures have cau-eat much moisture between decks, and from not being able to allow a sufficiency of firing to counteract the effect of this damp atmosphere, it has bean materially felt by the crew. The sick list at one period consequently increased to nineteen— five being cases of scurvy, and the same of dropsy ; but, now happily reduced to ten, and the surgeon's report upon the scurvy of the crew to-day, as to their general state and condi don, is as favourable as 1 couid, under all cir cumstances, have anticipated. During the last month we have been employed gravelling a distance of 800 yards to wards the sea ice, with the hope of its weakening it, in the event of our being able to move when the season fur navi gation arrives. Upon the 3rd told the men off that were to proceed to England next month via Mackenzie and Battin's Bay; they appeared extremely welleatistied with the arrange ment, as I explained to them my object was to send home all who hall suffered the most from the severity of the cli mate, and to which another year might prove exceedingly trying, as well as to retain the moat effective men in the event of being detained another winter. On the 15th the travellers weut upon full allowance of provisions, which I have little doubt will, before they arc required to start, get them in good condition. 21st.—The weather has been beautiful during the lest week ; the temperature, wbich until the ldth, continued almost daily to fall to—S6 degs., on the 17th rose to —27 dep., the following day to —l4 degs., and on the 19th '.4) plus 3 degs., which sudden and de lightiel change, after the excessive cold of toe last three mouths, is most grateful. The invalids are rapidly improv ing, the majority taking a daily airing of from two to three hours. The temperature at noon to-day exposed to the sum rose to plus 40 dep., so that the extreme severity of the wilier is over ; in fact, to the present time, April 5, the temperature daily mounts m the shade above zero, which, according to past experience is exceedingly mild, and may be considered indi cative of an early break up of the ice. God grant such may be the ease. On the 15th it is my intention to start the parties destined to make their way to England, and (rum our good sanitary condition, I feel but little doubt all will safely arrive. A fatigue party, under the command of Mr. Court, second master, will accompany Lieutenant Haswell for a few days, while John Calder, captain of the fore castle, a trustworthy and zealous petty officer, will proceed with Lieutenant Cresawell as far as the Princess Royal Islands, and from the depot there return with as many cases of potatoes and as much chocolate as can be brought on the sledge, which extra supply will give an ample allowance of those excellent articles in the event of being detained her, during the ensuing winter. To this period we have not lost an individual of our grew, either by accident or disease; the officers particularly have enjoyed an immuaity from sick ness which is surpising, with the exception of Mr. Sains bury, mate, who, since the winter of 1850, has suffered with a pulmonary complaint that has entirely prevented his par ticipating in the arduous duties of the travelling parties, or in the more exciting but not less laborious occupation of huating over this rugged and severe country; and Mr. Paine, clerk in charge, who had been a great invalid from rheumatism until this last winter, when ho has made a most rapid and wonderful recovery, and at present is in the enjoyment of more robust health than when he quitted England ; I can attribute our excellent salutary state to the causes previously alluded to in this narrative, In con junction with the bountiful supply of game whicl• merci ful Providence has aided us with, and has so materially added to our crherwise scanty ration, as well as the excel knee of all species of our provisions, which are certainly of the best description I ever met with, more particularly the superior quality of the lime juice, which, as an antiecorbutie has proved most inestimable, with the preserved meats sup plied by Messrs. Gamble, which, for weight, exemption from bone, and excellence, rank in the very highest auk ; and that invaluable vegetable the preserved potato, maw factored by Edwards. Sir, I have nothing more to add to this nerrative,except to state,that I forwarded alist of game killed, and a monthly abstract of the meteorological journal, which has been registered every alternate hour since leaving Eng land, by the respective officers of the watches, and care fully arranged and tabulated by Mr. Court (second master), which complete tables, I hope, with other interesting ob servations, to be enabled to carry safely home in the ship. And having particularised the officers in the various ser vices they have been employed upon, I cannot conclude without expressing the extreme satisfaction that the crew bays given me upon all occasions, when in the perilous =W• of the Polar Sea, activity, energy, and arduous as required, as well as during this long period of inactivity they have been characterised by cheerfulness, propriety, and good conduct, which fully entitle them to the moat favourable consideration of their lordship. ROBERT M'CLURE, Commander. Bay of Mercy, Baring's Island, April 5, 1853. Lat. 74 deg. dm. 34secs. N.; long. 118 deg. 15 m. 0 secs.W. Table showing the mean height of barometer with the tem perature of the air on board her Majeaty's ship InTestigator from August, 1850, to Much, 1 : Decameter. Temperature of Air. Mean Year and moota. Mast. Idlul 1 DUAL Mlist. MIM. Mciva. of_. lawn. mum. mum. mum. w.... 1850. 1 — August —.. 30160 29'39) 29'751 440 +l7 +365 31 September.. •650 'MO 109 446 1 +lr2 31 October .. .. IN) 180 'AU +24 —3 +Ol TO November.. '270 180 136 + I —32 —MI 3'l December.. 1011 'M I O l7B 4 —4O —2ll 26 1851. Jamas, .... 170 100 186 —l6 —4l —321 F e bruary . '630 1)30 '458 9 —5l —371 Man* l2O '338 1 948 5 —6l —26 April lon +47 6 —lBl 21 r a h. l2O 170 29131 +63 +27 +3Bl 31 rely .'' Amus SegMessket ' 2OO ' 3OO I X 77 +26 —2l +3l 11 g e" Zii:: - no 130 3r097 +lO —4 O —l3l 11 D:mmllper 1251. Jemmy February March 30 430 590 164 +3l —3B —r4 25 A 250 100 29187 +37 —25 +lOl 26 Juno. ..... . •100 130 /58 +5l +ll +3ll 2'l July .• VW ' MO 116 +4O +3O +361 21 Manua . September October . November . 'B6O /80 978 + 9 —43 —166 31 December 170 243'370 144 1 —4B —261 3 . 7 1883. January February March '72o •640 'O4Bl +l7 —56 —261 230 YEARLY ABSTRACT. 1030. 1657. Barometer. Darteneter: Maximum Minimum 20.160 Minimum.— ....... „....... 25470 Mean 29.836 Man —... 29.904 Alr. Air. Maximum +s Maximum— . „. 52 Minimum —4o Minimum —s2 Mau 448 Mean +6ls , 1551. 1555. Barometer. Barometer. Maximum ...... ......... .. 30.750 Maximum 3072 Minimum 29130 Maim= 23.16.0 Mean 29154 I Mean 2 9 .9.0 Air. Mr. Maximum +1 11 .2 I Maximum l7 Minbaum Minimum —6s Mean —ssl2 At'CLURE, Commander. ROBER! MONUMENT TO AEAGO.—A committee, consisting of eminent scientific and other personages, has been formed for raising a subscription for the purpose of erecting a monument to the memory of the late Francois Arago. M. Dupont (de l'Bure) has been chosen honorary-president of it, and M. Combos, President of the Academy of Sci ewes, president. Amongst its members are Professor Airey, of the Greenwich Observatory ; Mr. Bache Frank lin, of the United States; M. Odilon Barret; Vice-Ad miral Bsudin, President of the Bureau of Longitudes ; Beranger, the poet; Sir David Brewster; M. Carnot, ex- Minister of Public Instruction; M. Cousin; M. David (d'Angers) ; Dr. Faraday M. Flourens, perpetual Secre tory of the Academy of Sciences; Baron A. Humboldt; M. Mania, ex-President of the Republic of Venice ; Pro fessor Mellow, of Naples; M. Mignet ; M. hlichelst ; M. Quetelet, Director of the Observatory of Brussels ; U. Stntve, Director of the Observatory of gulhowa ; Horace Vernet, and M. Villemain. +I:so TRAAsIATIoN up THE FIRM.I.V oh' HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY sUL A' ABDUL AfEDJID, GRANTED IN FAVOUR OF 11Is PEOTESTANT BIIEJECTS. Most honoured vizier, illustrious counsellor, main tainer of the goad order of the world, director of public affairs, with wisdom and judgment, accomplisher of the important transactions of mankind with intelligence and good solve. consolidator of th , edifice of empire and of alory, endowed by the Most High with abundant gifts, Ltd ;:atishir, at this time, of my gate of felicity, my Vizier Mehmed Pitch', may God be pleased to preserve him lung in exalted uig Let it be known on receipt of this my noble reacript, that,— Whereas those of my Christian mil jects who have em. braced the Protestant faith, have suffaed inconveniences and difficulties, in consequence of th-ir not having been hitherto placed under a separate and special jurisdiction, and in consequence of the Patriarchs and Primates of their old creeds, which they have abandsned, not being natur ally able to administer their affairs. Whereas, in necessary accordance with my Imperial solicitude and benevolence towards all classes of my sub jects, it is contrary to my Imperial pleasure that any clue of them should be exposed to trouble. And whereas, by reason of Heir faith, the anruaaid Protestants form a sepa rate community. It is in consequence my Royal pleasure, that measures he taken for the sole purpose of facilitating the administration of their affairs, so that they may live in peace. quiet, and security. Let then a respectable and trustworthy person, chosen by themselves from among their own number, be appointed with the title of " Agent of the Protestants," to be attached to the Department of the Minister of Police. It shall be the duty of the agent to take charge of the register of the members of the com munity, and which is to be kept at tl.e police department. The in;ent is to register therein all births mid deaths All auplications for passports and mull ee lieeuces, and on those special afftirs of the community which are to come before the Sublime Porte, or any o her department, are to be made under the official seal of the ot. rat. The present royal and august edict has been especially granted and issued from my Imperial chancery, c,,rryisg my pleasure into execution. Ilene, thou the ahove indi, ated Moushir, shalt carry the preceding ortlinanc int. scrupulous execu tion, comiormahly with the expl•matioi.s giv, n. As, how ever, the assessment of taxes arts the it, livery at oas9porte are subject to specific regulations, thou shalt not permit anything to be done in contravention ther , to. Thou shalt not suffer any tux or haratch to be requirca it the Protestants, for marriage licences or for re•sistratiou. Thou shalt be careful that, like unto the other communities of the empire, every facility ar.d required assistance be afforded to them in all their affairs, and its all :Hatti.l6 cfn.cerning their cemeteries and places of worship. Thou shalt not permit any interference whalsoecer, on (he part of any other com munity, with their rights or with their religious concerns, ,we, in short, wi h any of their a a Teire , either secular or re ligious, in any manner to ',aerator,. ; in order that they may be enabled to e.vercise the usages of thew faith in security. Thou shalt riot suffer theses to be molested one iota in these or in any other mailers • and thou bloat be careful and attentive to maintain then; in the desired quiet and security. They • are to be permitted to nialse those representations to the Sublime Porte which it may be necessary to make con cerning their affain, through their agent. Alt-r thou bast taken due cognizance of these matters, thou shalt cause the present noble rescript to be registered in the proper quar ter, and shalt cause it to be confirmed in the possession of the aforesaid subjects, and thou slit be careful that the high provisions thereof be always earrid into due execution. Thus be it known unto thee, giving full credence to the Imperial signet. Done in the second decade of the *acted month of Moharrem, in the year of the Hegira 1261, at Constantinople the well-guarded. (Sultan's Signature.) LOSS OF THIRTY-FOUR LIVES IN THE MEDWAY. On Saturday t coroner's inquest wu held at the Dell Inn, Hadlow, near Tunbridge; to investigate the of a disaster by which at least 34 persons lost their lives. For some little time put, Mr. Cox, an extensive farmer and hop grower of Hadlow, has had a number of persons, principally from the counties of Surrey and Berks, in his employ, picking hops, in addition to the resident labourer'. It hu been customary, when the picking has been finished for the day, to convey the people home to the village in waggons. On Thursday evening, between six and seven o'clock, one of these waggons left the hop grounds and pro ceeded towards 'rudely, crossing the Upper Great liartlake bridge in safety. This bridge is very old, and is built principally of wood ; it has a descent on eith-r side of about 8 feet in 40, with a close boarded fence between two and three feet in height; and on the rudely side the road carves a little to the left, oak slabs, in • rotten state, supporting it for some little distance. At this spot, there is a depth from the road of about eight feet, which Is generally dry, but owing to the recent rains, it is now severed with water, and thus the width as well u the depth of the river is materially increased. The bridge is 42 feet across, and 9 feet 3 inches wide. The second waggon which contained upwards of 40 persons, was driven by a man on the fore horse, and the bailiff sat on the tail board. As it approached the bridge the waggoner desired the people to desist from singing, as it might frighten the horses, and they immediately did so. The fore-horse had crossed the crown of the bridge and was descending on the 'rudely side, when its foot slipped from the pieces of iron placed on the roadway to give a sure footing, and by a sud den plunge disconnected itself from the waggon. The shaft-horse at the same time leaned a little to the right, and this had tke effect of forcing the hind part of the wag gon against the fence on the off-side, which partly gave way, and the waggon was precipitated into the river be neath. The scene that instantly presented itself was beyond description. Assistance was promptly obtain, d, and by the aid of lanterns, the river was examined, but it was too late, the mass of human beings with the exception of 8, had sunk to the bottom. For upwards of half-sn-hour after the occurrence, cries for help were heard, but the unhappy creatures could not be discovered. One little Irish lad was found about twenty yards down the stream, with a piece of fence, which he had clung to in his agony, still fixed in his hand. He was speedily rescued. The poor fellow's garments were torn to shreds, by the unfortunate creatures clinging to them for support, and there is no doubt, that had his clothes consisted of a lets fragile mate rials, his life would also have been sacrificed. The waggoner's mate was sitting on the side of the waggon, talking to his little boy, just as the accident hsppened, and although he attempted to snatch bin child from the waggon he was unable to do so, owing to the close manner in which itlwu packed, and he only escaped by throwing himself in the opposite direction. The bailiff's life was saved in a similar manner. During Thursday night and Friday, the river was searched in all directions, and six bodies were re covered, namely those of Charlotte Leatherland, Comfort Leatherlsnd, Nora Donovan, James Massey, Selina Hearne, and Kitty Roach. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death," with a recommendation to the River Medway Company to erect a new bridge. _ ----- While the inquest was being held a seventh body wu discovered, and active esertious are being used to had the others. - - • • • --- The following is a list of the penons who are now miming: —Sam!. Leatherland and five children, Mrs. Bruslington, Mary Mahony, Mary Bruslington, Sarah Taylor, Mrs. Howard, Jeremiah Murphy, Catherine Donovan, Mary Quin, Bridget King, Matthew King, Ellen Collins, Cathe rine Roach, Harry Donovan, Stephen Taylor, Taylor (child), Wm. Easley, Mary Risley (wife), Ellen Donovan, Knight (child), a man, woman, and child unknown. It is estimated that the weight of the waggon, with its contents, was about two tons, and the waggoner says be has pawed over the bridge with four tons. GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND Ant —The following appointments have been made in the Science and Art Department of the Board of Trade: Mr. Norman M'Leod, late Assistant-Secretary to the Directors of Convict Prisons, to be registrar ; Captain Owen, R.E., inspector ; and, in connexion with the Committee of Coon di on Education, Mr. J. J. Mayo, assistant-accountant. — Observer. ACCIDENT ON THE BORDEAUX RAILWAY.—On Wednesday night a passenger train coming from Bordeaux ran into a goods train. The shock was terrible. The loco motive went over the last waggons of the goods train, and the tender went over the locomotive. The engine driver was killed on the spot. All his limbs were broken, and his body was horribly mutilated. The stoker had his two legs broken, and the flesh of the legs and of one of his hands was de tached by the hot water. He died about six hours after, in a state of dreadful suffering. The principal guard of the train received in the groin a meet serious injury. As to the pamengers, about fifteen received injuries or con tusions, but they were slight. The night was very dark, and, uin the accident the wires of the electric telegraph were broken, intelligence could not be sent either to Orleans or Blois. M. Degngny, chief of the station at Orleans, uneasy at not seeing the expected train arrive, sent out • locomotive to ascertain the cause of the delay. This 1000- motive soon returned with information of the accident, and persons to render assistance were sent off. After paying attention to the victims, the workmen began to clear the line. The confusion was very great. The locomotive, in breaking the waggons, covered the line with all sorts of things—wheat, goods , luggage, &c.; it was feared at one moment that all these objects would be set on fire by She fire in the locomotive. But this was prevented by spreading sand over them. FATAL CAB ACCIDENT.—On Saturday an accident which resulted in almost instant death, occurred on Rol -1 born-hill. Francis Homer, a cab driver, had taken up a fare on the Bentonville rank, and bad proceeded as far as Holborn-hill, which he was descending ;at an easy pace, when two boys, who were drawing a truck, endeavoured to cross his horse's head. Horner tried to slacken his speed, in order to prevent a collision ; in this he was partially suc cessful ; nevertheless, he was thrown from his seat with fearful violence to the ground, and the wheels passing over him inflicted such serious injuries that he was rendered perfectly insensible, and he was conveyed to tit. Bartholo mew's Hospital, but in about a quarter of an hour expired. Horner is represented to have been a steady man, and a most careful driver. He has left a widow and young family who were entirely dependent upon hie exertions. •