The Sun. — London, England, 1851-12-26 00:00:00

BANK RETURNS. (from the Louden Gazette of Tuesday.) An Account, pursuant to the Act seventh and eighth Victoria, car. 32, of the Average Amount of Bank Not 2s of the several Banks of Issue in England and Wales. in Circulation during the Week endin g Satur day, the 13th day of December, :851: Averao.e PM iar ATE BANKS. Amounl Andover Bank, Andover—Heath and Cc 11,585 Ashford Bank, Ashford—Jemnaitt and Pomfret 11,095 Aylshaui Bank, Ayl3ham—R. and G Copeman 3,682 Aylesbury Old Bank., Aylesbury—Rick.ford 17,289 and Bunt ßaldock Bank and Baldock and Biggleswads Bank, Baldock — Wel ls, Hogg, and Lindsell ... 27,064 Barnstaple Bank, BarnstapleMarshall and Co 9,356 Basingstoke and Odiha-r. Bank, Basingstoke— Seymour, Lamb , a nd Co 14,863 31 Bedford Bank, Bedford —T. Barnard . ,083 Dedford and Bedfordshire Bans, Bedford — Trapp, Halfhead , and Co. — Bewtlley Bank, Bewdtey—Nichols, Baker, and 10,007 Crane Bicester and Ox fordshire Bank and Oxford Bark, Bicester—Tubb and Co. .. ..•• ... Birmincrhara Bank, Birmingham—Attwoc ds, ~ 22, 313 Sp oo ner, and Co 3irmingham and Warwickshire Bank, Birming- 10,877 ham—J. L. Moilliett , a nd 50n5........... •••• 6,372 31andtord Bank, Blandford—Bastard ana Oak 3 os t o n Bank, Boston — G arfit and Co ...... . ...... 54,502 Bostrea Bank, Boston — Gee an d C 0........... 15,864 Bridgwater Bank, Bridgwater—J. &J. Sealy 5,023 Bristol Bank, Bristol—Miles, Harford; Broseley and Bridgnorth, and Bridgnortli . and r a i n t c a h a C rd . 1 3 6 0 :7 8 1 3 4 1 Broseley Bank, Broseley—Messrs . Buckingham Bank, Buckingham --Bartlett, Parrott, and Co. ................... 17,654 Bury and Suffolk Bank, Sudbury eßvaann,k,anSatcowo.- and Tawney. Market Bank, Bury—Oake s, t . Banbury Bank, Banbary—GOle_t_ rgye—r and Son C . obb Banbury Old Bank, Bier. City Bank, Bath--'N't° Banba Bedfordshire Leghton Buzzard Bank, Leighton Buzzard—Bassett a nd Grant Birmingham—Taylor and Birmingham Bans‘, Lloyds . Bradford Old. Bvik , Bradford, Yorkshire—H A. and iff ...A. Harris and Co ia Bank, Brecon—Wilkins and Co Brighton Union Bank, Brighton—Hall, West, aTt a Borrer 65,280 26,772 22,093 4,379 30,637 29,562 12,422 61,698 24,29 Burlington and Dritfield Bank, Burlington— gardincr, Smith, and C 0... Bury St. Edmunds Bank, Bury St. Edmunds— J. and Co. Cambridge Bank, Cambridge—Mortlock and Sons Cambridge and Cambridgeshire Bank, Cam bridge—Messrs. Forsters Canterbury Bank, Canterbury—Hammond and Co Carmarthen Bank, Carmarthen —Morris and Sons Chertsey Bank, Chertsey—Messrs. La Coste Colchester Bank, Colchester—Round, Green, and Co. Bank, Witham and Essex Colchester and Essex . anl, ry Bank, and Hadleigh Bank, Suffolk, Colchester —Mills, Bawtree, and Co Cornish Bank, Truro—Tweedy and Co Coventry Bank, Coventry—Little and Wood cock City Bank, Exeter—Milford and Co Craven Bank, Settle—Birkbecks and Co. Cardiff Bank, Cardiff—Towgood and Co . Chepstow Old Bank , C he p stow Bank, Mon mouth Old Bank, Monmcuth Bank, Brecon Bank, and Ross and Herefordshire Bank, Chepstow—Bromage, Snead Evan, and Co. Derby Bank, Derby—Messrs. S m ith and Co s Derby Bank, Der b y — Derby Old Bank and Scarsdale and High Peak Banc, Derby—Crompton, Newton, and C 0.... Devizes and Wiltshire Bank, Devizes—Hughes, Locke, and Co Diss Bank, Diss—Oakes, Fincham, and Co Dencaster Bank and Itetford Bank, Doncaster and Co . Darlington Bank, Durham. Bank, and Stockton on-Tees Bank, Darlington—Backhou3e, & Co Devonport Bank, De, , vonport—llodge and Nor- man Dorchester Old Bank and Dorsetshire Bank, Dorchester —Williams and Co. East Cornwall Bank, Liskeard—Robins, Foster, and Co. East Riding, Bank, Beverley—Bower, Hall, and Co. Essex Bank and Bislaops Stortford Bank, Chelmsford —Sparrow, awl Co. Exeter Bank, Exeter—Sanders and Co Fakenham B.ink, Fakenham—S'arneys, Birk beck, and Co. Farringdon Bank and Bank of \Vantage, Far rinff,don—Barnes and Medley .. Farnham Bank, Farnham—Messrs. Knight Faversham Bank, Faversham—Hilton and Co Goclalrain,g Bank, Godalming—Mellersh and Keen Guildford Bank, Guildford—Messrs. Haydon.. Grantham Bank, Grantham—Hardy and C 0.... Hastings Old Bank, Hastings—Smit'n, Hader, 11,824 1,810 16,43 37,520 27,71 15,808 2,798 14,627 28,07 4 34,692 5,975 17,929 68,240 5,066 5,730 8,358 31,837 22,609 9,085 10,451 54,724 70,878 9,124 40,939 95,180 51,026 33,0 tO 22,125 13,920 5,950 12,437 5,075 3,355 4.498 21,153 26 216 and Co. Hereford City and County Bank, Hereford— Ma:thews . ancl Co. Elertforcl sal Ware Bank, liert.fard—S. Adams' awl Co Hull Bank and Kingston-upon-Hull Bank, Hall —Smith, Brothers, and Co. nur.tingdon Town and County Bank, Hunting don flint and Veassy Harwich Sank, Harwieh—Cox, Cobb()11, and Co 4,714 Hemel Hempstead Bank, Hemel Hcrnpitead— Smith, and Whittingitall 17,90 Hertfordshire, Hitehen Bank, Hitehen —Sharpies 12,200 21,473 14,92 and Co. H3rAra, Ross, and Archentield Bank, and Ross and ffi rchenaeld Bank, Hereford—Morgan Hoskins, and Co 15,44 "pswich Bank, Ipswich—Bacon and Co pswieh and Needham Market Bank, S u ff o lk, Iladleigh Bank, Aanningtree and Mistley Bank, and Woodbridge Bank, Ipswich— Alex . anders and Co. Kentish Bank, Maidstono—Mercer, Randall, and Mercer Kinqton and Radnorshire Bank, Kington—J. Davies and Co 21,190 Knighton Blnk Knighton—J. Davies and C. 9,110 Knaresborough Old Bank and Ripon 011 Bank, Kna. , :esborough—Terry and Co Kendal Bank, Kendal—Wakefield, Crewdson, 29,22 and Co. Kettering Bank, Kettering—G otc.h and Sons 6,423 Lane End StatTord3hire Bank, Lane End—C I.larvzYy and Son Leeds Bank, Leeds and Co 51,497 herds'; Bank, L2eds —W. Williams, Brown, and C T.,ei:ester Bank, Leicestor —Pagets and Kirby 26.857 Lewes Old Bank, 11,?..qcs.—Anlineux and Co 27.364 LichF.eld Bank, Li.;lls.eld —Pallier and Green., 11,733 Lincoln Bank, Liacoln,-.Srnith and Co 73,670 Lampet , !r Bank and Llanelli° Bank, Llando very —David J0n,,3 an-1 Co. Loughborough Bank, Loughboroue-h—lfiddle tuna ant CraloA Lyznington Bank, Lyrnington—C. and S. St Barbe Lynn Regis and Lincolnshire Bank, Lynn Reis —Gurneys and Co. Lynn Regis and Norfolk Bank, Ly nn Regis— Jarvisand Co. ................................... Macclesfield Bank, Macclesfield—Brooklenurst 6,461 3,543 9,965 13,633 3,677 and Co Mnnningtree Bank,Manningt roe —Nunn and Co. Marlborough Bank, Marlborough and Wilts Oiid Bank, Marlborough Old Bank, Marl borough Old Bank and Hungerford Bank, and Ilungerford Bank, Marlborough—Tanner and Pinckney 1,615 Marlborough and North Wiltshire New Bank, ~.Xarlborough—Ward, Merriman, and Flillin Merioneth s hi re Bank, Dolgelly—Jones and ii a n a , 6,185 inerFe 'rruro —Willyams and C 0......... 11,611 Monnloutkahiro Agricultural and Commercial Bank, AI, ---- ",a'aven n —Baileys and Co 26,787 Monmouth 01A 14, 1 ,7 °nmouth Bank, Brecon Bank, Chepstow B ' ank, Chepstow Old Bank, and Ross and Plerefordshiro Bank, Monmouth —Bromage and Snevi Monmouthshire Newport . ... Bank, Newport —W. Williams and So ns „ N e wark Bank, Newark-1, 1: . and Hutton 28,008 Newark and Sleaford Banli:ZT Sleaford and N ewar k Bank, Sleaford—liatiAley, and co ............. "Newbury Bank, ?Towbar ocock. 20 426 Newmarket—Eaton,Y--jual , Newmarket Bank, mond. and Son Norwich Cro wn Bank, Norwich Harveys and Hudsons .................................... .... % G,451 Norwich and Norfolk Bank, Norwic .... noys Birkbeck 58, 50% Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Bank, Not tingham—Hart, Fellows, and Co Nuneaton Bank, Nuneaton—Craddock and Co Naval Balk, Plymouth—Harris, Mudge, and Se_ruru Bank, Sarurn Everett, and Co NottingCana Bank, Nottingham—Smith and Co 22,430 OrßostrY Bank and Oswrestry Old Bank, Os *resit' 7—Crox3n and Co 11,048 Orford- - Old Bank, Oxford—Robinson, Parsons, WO Old Bank Tonbridge, Tunbrid ge and r.l.‘)nbridgo Wells Old Bank, Ton bridge and Tonbridr 9,8t8 2,775 22,688 o b n ri b d r g i e d_ge ___o l ls and Sevenoaks Ba'ak, To' n " , (a&aixtz and Sons oxfordahi7,-0 wit„ Bank, w and na ... .. .. ... Y itney—olin e k r oase 'i Old Bank, riu - 11, .... e...lllll:(ilTd.llan.k.and 7'797 Be7o,rley B k an-, --a- Peaseu Penzance Bank, P:lnza.nce—Bataten Co an ( 1 . Bank, Peter- 36,078 Peterborough Bank and Oun .... .. . 4 -0..,. , 9,954 borough —.1103 , r5. Yorke Peal orckeshfc; Bank, Haverfordwea ........ W. Walters ............. . ...................... 10 Reading Bank, Reading—Simoryls and c o ..... • ~ ,385 Reading Bank, Beading—Ste , ;;;; c i -3 ' 169 Co 26 6'B Richmond B an k, R ic h mon d —Afax well and Co 4 ' 6 ;4 Rochdale Bank, Rosthdale—Cleraeat , Itoyda, ' and Co ............................. ~ kloystoa Bank,. Royston--Fordhava and Sons lO,lOO 8,046 5,671 Average Amount Rochester, Chatham, and Strood. Bank Roches ter—Day and Nich0150n......... Rugby Bank, Rugby—Butlin and Son Rye Bank, Rye--Pomfret and Co. Ross Old Bank, Herefordshire, Ross—Pritchard andAllo.w ay .............................. .. Saffron Walden and Nort h Essex Bank, Saffron Walden—Messrs. Gibson Salop Bank, Shrewsbury—Barton, Lloyd, and C 0..................................... Scarborough Old Bank, Scarborough—Woodall _ and C 0....... Shrewsbury Old Bank, and hrewsbury and L u dl ow Bank, Shrewsbury— Shrewsbury and Ludlow flank, Shrewsbury_Rocke, Eytons, and Co. ......... . Sittingbourne and Milton Bank, Sittingbourne —Valiance and Son Southampton Town and County Bank, South ampton—Maddison and Pearce 9 Suuthwell—Wylde and Co ton an a k nd Hampshire Bank, Southamp ahh_waneAtherly and Fall • Sssoottoutiontteipl B Bank, n Stone—W. Moore Stafford Old Bank, Stafford—Stevenson and Co Stamford and Rutland Bank, Stamford—Eaton, Cayley, and Co. Stourbridge Old Bank, Stourbridge—Bate and Robins Shrewsbury and Welshpool Bank, Shrewsbury —Beck, Downward, and Co. Taunton Bank, Taunton—Messrs. Badcock Tavistock Bank, Tavistock—Gill, Rundle, and 7,046 10,738 12,470 3,572 Co Thornbury Bank, Thornbury—Rolph, Yates, and Parslow Tiverton and Devonshire Bank, Tiverton—Duns- 29,079 ford and Barne Thrapston and Kettering Bank, Northampton shire, Thrapston—Yorke and Eland Tring Bank and Chesham Bank, Tring—But cher and Son Towcester Old Bank, Towcester—J. and S 12,415 23,989 Pereira' Town and County of Poole Bank, and Ring wood and Poole Bank Ledgi,rd and Sons' Union Bank, Cornwall, Helston—Vivian and Co. Uxbridge Old Bank, Uxbridge—Hull, Smith, and Co. Wallingford Bank, Wallingford—Hedges & Co. Warwick and Warwickshire Bank, Warwick—. 32,20 2,924 10,595 13,096 Greenway and Co. Wellington Somerset Bank, Wellington—Fox. Brothers West Riding Bank, Wakefield, and Pontefract Bank, Wakefield—Leatham, Tew, and Co. Whitby Old Bank, Whitby—Simpson, Chap man, and C 0.......... Winchester, Alresford, and Alton Bank, Win chester—Bulpett and Co. Winchester and Hampshire Bank, Winchester —Wickham and Co Weymouth Old Bank and Dorchester Bank , W e ymouth—Elliott and Pearse Wirkesworth and Ashbourne Derbyshire Bank, Wirkesworth—Arkwright and Co. Wisbech and Lincolnshire Bank, Wisbech— Gurney and Co Wiveliscombe Bank, Wiveliscombe—P. and W Ha ncock Wolverhampton Bank, Wolverhampton—Good ricke and Holyoake. Worcester Bank, Worcester—Farley,Lavender, 2,902 535 11,834 27,400 19,791 21,288 9,622 6,250 7,426 11,019 12,812 and Co. Worcester Old Bank and Tewkesbury Old Bank, Worcester—Berwick, Lechmere, and Co Worcestershire Bank, Kidderminster—Farley 8,210 and Turner Walsall Old Bank, Walsall—Charles Foster and Sons Warminster and Wiltshire Bank, Warminster— Everett and Co. Wolverhampton Bank, Wolverhampton— Messrs. Fryer Yarmouth and Suffolk Bank, and Halesworth and Suffolk Bank, Yarmouth—Gurney. Birkbeck, and Co. Yarmouth, Norfolk, and Suffolk Bank, Great Yarmouth—Sir E. K. Lacon, Bart., and Co York Bank. York—Swann, Clough, and Co , 9,355 8,942 17,383 8,336 19,662 3,683 40,722 12,302 19,992 4,648 14,207 30,778 40,235 5,464 8,179 6,963 65,413 7,878 14,298 11,685 36,814 11,142 37,210 JOINT-STOCK BANKS. Bank of Westmoreland, Kendal Barnsley Banking Company, Barnsley Bradford Banking Company, Bradford Bilston District Banking Company, Wolver hampton Bank of Whitehaven, Whitehaven Bradford Commercial Banking Company, Brad ford • 19,628 Burton, Uttoxeter, and Staffordshire Union Banking Compaay, Burton-upon-Trent Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Banking Company, Chesterfield Cumberland Union Banking Company, Work ington . Cheltenham and Gloucestershire Banking Com pany, Cheltenham Coventry and Warwickshire Banking Company Coventry Coventry Union Banking Company, Coventry 11,593 County of Gloucester Banking Company, Chel tenham Carlisle and Cumberland Banking Company Carlisle Carlisle City and District Bank, Carlisle Dudley and West Bromwich Banking Company, Dudley Derby and Derbyshire Banking Company, Derby Darlington District Joint-Stock Banking Com pany, Darlington East of England Bank, Norwich Gloucestershire Banking Company, Gloucester 129,175 Halifax Joint-Stock Bank, Halifax 17,782 Huddersfield Banking Company, Huddersfield 33,601 Hull Banking Company, Hull Halifax Commercial Banking Company, Ha- 9,050 8,412 51,197 8,510 28,710 44,564 21,436 17,694 36,521 18,090 lifax Halifax and Huddersfield Union Banking Com pany, Halifax Helston Banking Company, Helston 1,523 Herefordshire Banking Company, Hereford 16,213 Knaresborough and Claro Banking Company, Knaresborough Kingsbridge Joint-Stock Bank, Kingsbridge 3,079 Lan.aster Banking Company, Lancaster . 46,723 Leeds Bankin g Company, L ee d s Company, Leicester 62,602 Leicestershire Banking Lincoln and Lindsey Banking Company, Lincoln 49,348 Leamington Priors and Warwickshire Banking Company, Leamington Priors Ludlow and Tenbary Bank, Ludlow 9,295 Moore and Robinson's Nottinghamshire Bank ing Company, Nottingham 27,652 Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Banking Company, Nottingham Newcastle, Shields, and Sunderland Union Joint- Stock Banking Company, Newcastle 1,250 National Provincial Bank of England, Birming ham, Head-office, 112, Bishopsgate-street, London North Wilts Banking Company, Melksham ..... 41,170 Northamptonshire Union Bank, Northampton.. 59,195 Northamptonshire Banking Company, North ampton North and South Wales Bank, Liverpool 26,134 Pares's Leicestershire Banking Company, Lei cester Saddleworth Banking Company, Saddleworth 2,049 Sheffield Banking Company, Sheffield 31,494 Stamford, Spalding, and Boston Banking Com pany, Stamford. 53,846 Stuckey's Banking Company, Bristol Somerset shire Bank, and Somorsetshire Bank, Lang- port Shropshire Banking Company, Shiffnall ... Stourbridge and Kidderminster Banking Com pany, Stourbridge Sheffield and liallamshire Banking Company, Sheffield ... ... Sheffield and Rotherham Joint-Stock Banking Company, Sheffield Swaledale and Wensleydale Banking Company, Richmond .. . Storey and Thomas's Banking Company - -. Shaftesbury 10,207 Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Banking Com pany, Wolverhampton 30,291 Wakefield and Barnsley Union Bank, Wakefield 13,095 Whitehaven Joint-Stock Banking Company, Whitehaven , 22,084 Warwick and Leamir.gton Banking Company, Warwick West of England and South Wales District Bank. Br's . Wilts and Dorset Banking Company, Salisbury 68,346 West Riding Union Banking Company, Hud dersfield Whitchurch and Ellesmere Banking Company, Whitchurch Worcester City and County Banking Company, Worcester York Union Banking Company, York 66,184 York City and County Banking Company, York 81,439 Yorkshire Banking Company. Leeds P. DEANS, Registrar of Bank Returns. inland Revenue, Somerset House, Dec. 20, 1851. Uuntot% PHENOMENON ON CHAT men have been engaged, some time r , Moss.—For Moss which is lizality) is very scarce there' inserted ine p:r , i t ucurabent peat they found a bed . on that part of Chat which (of any d t r u. l E,! 3 " Barton Moss," boring for water of loose sand, from which After penetrating th,, a ,, u , i le copious stream of of marl, and under that a long iron pipe, ithe bore-hole, and there issued with considerak,L at f u o m r ghbourh a what appears to be carburett e d ce l ,:' v ery from experiment that it was i nft , na hydro gas. Finding bright several inches in diameter, the stream of gas which passed throuv the upper end was set on fire, and unitedanwdti;iisued from flame, illuminating at night the whole nei i understand that this flame has continued to burn, T l d• We aay rio_st or entirely without intermission, from Friday (yesterday) down to the present time, exciting much ~curiosity L i w o e n e k parties travelling at night by railway. do doubt the g f s neighbou r i n gproceeds in some way from the coalfield. Whether a bet of coal does or does not exist under Chat Moss or some part of it, is, we believe, very doubtful ; but the appearance of such an abundant stream of carburetted hy drogen, almost in the middle of the moss, seems rather in fa vour of its existence. —Manchester Guardian. According to an advertisement in the New York papers the firm of llarnden and Co., who suspended on the 25th of November at Liverpool, and subsequently at Boston, have made arrangements for the payment of their sight draughts which had been issued to immigrants and others desirous of sending small remittances to their relatives at home. These draughts amounted to an aggregate of 12,0001, and much distress will therefore now be averted. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. WESTMINSTER. After the disposal of the ordinary business of the morning, Mr. ARNOLD took occasion to remark upon the disgraceful and dangerous state of the new tho roughfare from Westminster Abbey to Pimlico, called Victoria-street, and expressed his opinion that the attention of the authorities should be immediately called to the subject, and something done to put it into a proper condition. In the course of the afternoon Mr. James Rogers, solicitor, and vestry clerk of the parishes of St. Margaret's and St. John's, Westminster, waited upon the magistrate, and stated that having been informed that some observations had been made by him with respect to the condition of Victoria-street, he had felt it his duty to attend before him, in order to ex onerate the parish from any blame. The street had been formed by a body called the Westminster Im provement Commissioners, a clause in whose Act of Parliament giving them power to carry on the operations rendered it compulsory upon them to pave and macadamize the street to the satisfaction of the surveyor of the parochial commissioners, before the parish took to it. It had not been paved and macadamized to the satisfaction of the parish sur veyor, and therefore had not been taken to by the parish. - Mr. ARNOLD observed that it was in a most filthy and deplorable condition, and there were large holes in the road that rendered it most dangerous to the public. He had travelled along the street only a short time before in a cab, and expected every mo ment that the springs would break, or some other ac cident happen. Mr. Rogers did not for a moment mean to defend the condition of the street which had been complained of by the parochial commissioners themselves, but de clared that the Westminster Improvement Commis sioners were at present bound to keep it in order. When put into the condition stipulated by their Act, the parish would willingly take to it. Mr. ARNOLD considered that if the street were not in a safe and proper condition as a public thorough fare, it ought not to have been opened. Mr. Rogers intimated that it was opened principally in order to save the forfeiture of 10,0001., the Im provement Commissioners having entered into a bond to that amount to open it by a particular day. Mr. ARNOLD repeated that it was a dangerous thoroughfare, and expressed his opinion that it was an imperative duty upon the parish to see that it was put in a proper condition. He would suggest that the parish authorities give notice to the improvement commissioners, requiring them to comply with the terms of the clause which rendered it imperative upon them to do the work to the satisfaction of the parish surveyor. In default they would be liable to in dictment. Mr. Rogers observed that they denied their liabi lity. Upon obtaining a subsequent Act to those quoted, empowering them to borrow 50,0001., they had inserted, without the sanctio❑ of the parish, a clause declaring the street, after the publication of a notice in the Gazette, to be a public thoroughfare, and they contended that this Act virtually repealed the previous one, by which they were bound to put the street in the condition they required. Mr. ARNOLD considered that the better way, for the the necessary safety of the public, would be for the parish to try the matter at once. They could take a summon before him under Jervis's Act, and then the case would be decided, and the public receive the re quired protection. Tne commissioners of improve ment, as it appeared from what had transpired, had a duty cast upon them which they had failed to dis charge; they were liable to be proceeded against, and,the proper persons to do this were the parish authorities. A summons could be taken, as suggested, and the matter fairly tried and decided at the sessions. The present condition of the street was of serious import to the public, and it ought to be immediately altered. Mr. Rogers observed that the expense necessary to put the street in proper repair would be 2,0001., and that was a fearful sum to saddle the parish with, and not a shilling coming in, The parish had offered to meet the improvement commissioners upon the subject, but their reply was that the street, having been opened and declared a public thoroughfare, it was the duty of the parish to repair it. Mr. ARNOLD observed that the street was rendered particularly dangerous at night owing to its not being lighted. Mr. Rogers said the parish bad offered to light if it the commissioners would put up the standards, &c. Mr. ARNOLD remarked that a long winter was coming on, and much crime, to say nothing of the danger, might result from the present condition of this street. "What was everybody's business was nobody's ; the duty fairly rested upon the parish to do the ini tiative in this matter, and then the case could be fairly tried. The present condition of the street must be altered. Mr. Rogers said the parish had subscribed 80,0001. towards the street, and not a shilling of it coining in. Mr. ARNOLD repeated that the duty devolved upon the parish to do the initiative in the matter. Here the matter ended, Mr. Rogers evidently con curring in the justice of the magistrate's remarks. MURDERS BY ARSENIC IN FRANCE. One of the most extraordinary cases ever brought before a criminal court has just been tried by the Court of Assizes of the Ille-et-Vilaine. The prisoner was a female, named Helene dagado, who for several years past has been a servant in different families of the department. She stood at the bar charged with several thefts committed in and since the year 1846, and with seven murders by arsenic in 1850 ; but the evidence showed that although only seven cases had been selected, as more recent, and therefore more easy of proof, not less than forty-three persons had been poisoned by her with arsenic. The victims were either her masters or mistresses, or fellow servants, who had incurred her hatred. In some cases no motive of interest or hatred could be assigned. The prisoner appeared to have been actuated by a thirst for destruction, and to live taken pleasure in wit nessing the agonies of her victims. The suddenness of the deaths in the families where she was a servant excited the greatest sensation, but for a long time no suspicion as to the cause, for the murderess appeared to be very religious ; she attended in many instances with apparent solicitude on the persons whom she had poisoned, and so successful was her hypocrisy , that even the deaths of the mother and another re lative of a physician in whose family she lived raised no suspicion of poison in his mind. The frequency of deaths, however, in the families by whom she was successively engaged excited a sus picion among the peasantry that there was some thing in her nature fatal to those who were near her, and it was customary with them to say that her liver was white, it being believed in that part of France that persons who are dangerous have white livers. The prisoner herself frequently exclaimed, after the death of the victim, "How unhappy I am; where ever I go, death follows me." The cases on which she was brought to trial were established by the evi dence beyond the possibility of doubt. The prisoner, throughout the trial, which lasted ten days, con stantly declared that she was innocent, and seemed to anticipate an acquittal on account of there being no proof of her having had arsenic in her posses sion. It was proved, however, that in one of the families in which she was a servant some years ago there was a large quantity of arsenic, which was not locked up, sad that it had suddenly disap peared. This arsenic had, without doubt, been taken by the prisoner, and had served for the commission of the successive murders. The only defence set up for her was founded on phrenological principles. It was contended that the organs of hypocrisy and destruc tiveness were developed to a degree which over powered the moral faculties, and that, although it would be unsafe to leave her at large, she ought not to be condensed to capital punishment, the peculiarity of her organization rendering her rather an objcct of pity. The defence failed entirely ; and, the jury having delivered a verdict without extenuating cir cumstances, the Court condemned her to death. SEABORNE MAILS. [IT signifies that the malls are sent front the General Post-offlee by the night—and hi by the morning—dispatch.] When made up is j From what PLACES. General Post - office , , port dis- When London: I patched. due. America (by Brit. pkt.)N l Dec. 26 .. .. Liverpool.. Dec. 29 America (by 'U.S. pkt.) N Jan. 6 .. 'Liverpool Jan. 1 America (by U.S. pkt.) Mj .. .. Southampt. Dec. 25 Africa (West coast).. N:l4th of the month Plymoath Jan. 3 Alexandria* • • ...... ........N & 30th of mo. Dover .. Dec. 28 Belgium .. .. .. N Daily .• .. .. Dover .. Daily Brazil .. .. .. 34 1 9th of the month Southampt. Jan. 16 Buenos Ayres .. M 9th of the month Sonthampt. Jan. 16 C alifornia(via Chaves) SI 2d & 17th of month Southampt. Arrived Cape of Good Hope N 14th of month Plymouth.. Jac 3 Constantinople .. • • N 7th 17th 27th of mo Dover .. Dec. 30 Central America .. Mj2d & 17th of mon. Southampt. Dec. 20 Channel Isles • • .. N'Mon., Wed., & Fri. Southampt. Tu. Th. Sat Chili .. .. .. . Mll7th of the month Southampt. Arrived France .. .. M &NJTvrice daily .. .. Dover • . Tvricedaily Greece* .. • . N7thl7th 27th of mo Dover .. Dec. 30 Ilamburgh .. .. N j Tuesday & Friday London .. Tees. Sat. Rolland •• •• .. MfWednes. & Satur. London .. Mom. Thur Honduras .. .. . 1 4, 717 th of the month Southampt. Arrived Ireland .. .. M& NI Twice daily .. .. Holyhead.. Twicedally India(via Sonthamp.) 31:20th of the month Southampt. Jan, 23 India (via Marseilles) 27, 1 Bth& 24th of month Dover • . Jan. 2 Mediterranean (via p Sl ai th s a t m a p tea t . o . ") :: .. .. M 20th of the month Southampt. Jan. 23 Mediterranean (via Z ars .ic, e ..o ll.les) .. .... .... M N 8 2 th d o & f 2 t 4 h t e h m of o m n o th nth .. D so o u v t e h r amp . t .. J J a a n n . . 2 6 Itad elra •• •• •• M 9th of the month Southampt. Jan. 16 Malt a ' . .. Nj3th 15th 25th ofme Dover f :7th,17th,19th,27th • Dov e r . , 1, Jan. Dec. 2 28 'Naples. /I & 30th of month reninsalar .. .. Iti .Nl 2 s 6 th o l f s t t h h e 2 m st o h n o th f m . o l Dover .. !Jan. 2 rent .. .. : : • • 34,7 th 17th 27th of mejSouthampt. , Jan. 6 Tuscany' , .. .. :: 1, 1 ,1 ,1 j r th O o f f tthhee month h th Islieouuththea:pptt.. (Arrived London via Southampton WClll :o ceassv T ttann h lln e nd m dair ail e: S N( t ias. o z see t a h ul le M e o. u -b nt l ri s e.s til ‘4s th t u.s h °mf mar:kBD ;( t*eh ) ral a?e .t. c . o lljj n aa v nn ey 7 0 25 1 by times a week only-, instead of daily. during this Frenchmonth ocni Lht,h iidi p ,ol raißellcNekieellt. —Malls v i ma a rdeae Marseilles. iim us Loo United Steal are new deSpaf,Clied and due by every g mericascl pack4l; Idis to tif a irr n oem d e from California, vs. _._ ~'t8:-.:.d~;Ki.~ '~.~bw.v .. THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. REPLIES OF CAPTAINS AUSTIN, OAINIAN NEY, AND PENNY, AS TO THE FATE OF FRANKLIN. CAPTAIN AUSTIN'S REPLIES. First Question.—Do you suppose it probable that Sir John Franklin, or any portion of the crews com posing his expedition, still survive ? If so, in what direction ? Reply.—Having most carefully and most anxiously given this question the fullest consideration, lam compelled, with deep regret, to state, " I do not be lieve, nor suppose it probable, that Sir John Franklin, or any portion of the crews composing his expedition, still survive." Second Question.—What are your grounds for forming that opinion Reply.-1. The protracted period of their absence —a period of six years in July last having elapsed since the expedition of Sir John Franklin left the Whale Fish Islands, provisioned at that time for three years. 2. From my own knowledge, and from the opinions and reports of the officers made to me during the time they were actually in the performance of duties under the responsibility of my orders. Those re ports were to the effect that resources could not be obtained for the support of a party either in the neighbourhood of our winter quarters, or of the parts visited by any one of the expedition under rey charge. This conclusion is borne out by the circumstance, that although native encampments have been con stantly met with by our parties, yet nothing has been seen to indicate the existence of a human being for a lengthened period ; from which I assume, that the inability of the natives to procure subsistence had com pelled them to abandon these parts for others. 3. The ill effects of a second winter on the mind and body, arising from the want of fresh food (both animal and vegetable), are much greater than is gene rally considered, and are much greater than even those who have experienced its intensity are willing to ac knowledge when they are no longer undergoing the privations. Our crews were free from scurvy, yet at the close of the winter season they had, I am sure, lost a considerable portion of their original physical strength, and to such an extent in some that they could not proceed with the travelling parties; and my belief is, that those individuals would not have survived a second winter. 4. It further occurs to me, that even after a second winter, although Sir John Franklin's crews would have been much debilitated and rendered less capable of encountering the fatigue of travelling, yet still that some individuals amongst those crews would have been dispatched in the hope of effecting a communi • cation with whalers, or for the purpose of reaching Melville Island (as they knew that animals had been seen there), or that they would have pushed forward for the American Continent. This opinion may be considered as opposed to the representation that has been made to the committee, that Sir John Franklin had " gone away in clear water beyond our reach" (say 500 miles). From my experience lam unable to place any confidence in such a representation, and I believe that those who are thoroughly conversant with Arctic navigation will entertain similar distrust. 5. In addition to the grounds which I have offered for supposing it to be imp oss ibl e that Sir John Frank lin and his crews are now alive, I beg to refer to the opinion of Captain Penny—not the opinion adopted by Captain Penny since his return to England, and after communication with other parties—but I beg to refer to the opinion of Captain Penny, written by him upon the spot, in his letter to me of the 4th of August, 1851, at his winter quarters. After ex pressing his intention of returning to England, Cap tain Penny concludes his letter thus—" Poor Lady Franklin, and the friends of those brave men whose fate will ever remain in oblivion ! Was it not a strong conviction of my sense of duty, the very thought of meeting any of them without intelligence would almost tempt me to another winter." This letter is in the hands of the committee. Third Question.—Should a further search be de cided on, what measures do you recommend for this purpose, and in what direction ? Reply.—lt is with much diffidence that I offer any opinion on this subject. But first as to the dir ec ti on : any search up the Wellington Strait would in my opinion be fruitless. I cannot bring myself to search at all with the hope of success in any direction. I found this conclusion on the circumstance of the late extensive search, having discovered no traces beyond those in the neighbourhood of the first winter quar ters ; and I cannot resist the conviction that the mis sing expedition did not advance in the second season beyond Beechey Island. I am confirmed in this belief by the following con siderations :—Assuming that my opinion is correct, that Sir John Franklin did not advance in the second season beyond Beechey Island ; I have then to observe that he had failed in prosecuting his discovery during the previous season, even as far as had been accom plished by the expedition of 1819 ; that expedition reached Melville island, and it was the generally re ceived opinion that that point might be reached every season, and under every circumstance, and did not depend upon favourable seasons and ice navigation. Sir John Franklin would, therefore, have to com mence his second season, with his crews suffering from the prejudicial effects of an Arctic winter, with the additional discouragement of their success not having been equal to even what had been accom plished twenty-five years before. It is also reasonable to suppose that Wellington Channel was blocked when his ships took up thei r winter quarters in 1845. Impressed with these con siderations, I feel that a prudent commander, duly regarding his responsibily, wou ld no t h ave cons id ere d himself justified in prosecuting north-west in an unknown region, bearing too in mind that he had only some twenty .months' provi s i ons , i n searc h o f a a distanc e o f 10 00 or 1,200 and approaching 3,000 miles miles passage of to ice the navigation, a g a a c t ir o c o from any place where supplies could be obtai ne d, a n d that difficult navigati▪ on to be accomplished in the five or six weeks only which is open during each year for that purpose. of direct ad vance to the With regard to Wellington Ch anne l i t will be seen from my report that that chann e l was bl oc k ed in Sep tember,ht aln thirty and that, alth oug h a i ded by steam, not more west wardmiles in Barrow's Strai▪ t (a far more extensive channel) was made ; and although Wellington Channel was re ported favourably from aloft i n 1819 and 1820, yet knowing that in Arcti▪ c navigation how frequently the reports of a clear sea from the crow's nest in narrow waters are followed by the end of the lead or a block being seen within , an hour, i t was not a sufficient in ducement for a former very experienced Arctic navi gator either to prosecute in that direction, or to ex amine the extent of the water seen, in the hope of suc cess in the object of a north-west passage. Furthermore, I am convinced by late experience that the navigation of Wellington Channel is most critical ; as all narrow st ra it s i n i cy seas are, more or less, of which good proof is furnished in the cases of Griper, Fury, Victory, and T error. I n that of the Fury, my recollections are fully alive to our state of helplessness. In passing Ra dstock Bay i n th e R esolute, in Au gust, 1850, theice came in so rapidly towards the shore, that had not steam been at b an d , s h e m i ght have been beset and carried to the eastward. A similar event occurred to the Intrepid. The Pioneer, when rounding Beechey Island with the Resolute in tow, in August, 1850, found the effect of the ice in motion was such that she was driven int o s h oa l wa t er, w h ere she grounded; and it was not until after considerable labour that she was hove off at the expiration of two days. The Resolute nearly experienced a si m il ar disaster at the same ti▪ me, gaining the fast ice with considerable difficulty, and avoiding being set on shore or drifted out of the channel. The Assistance and her tender were subject to very severe pressure in Wellington Channel, when the Intrepid ,had her rudderhead carried away ; afterwards, from the easterly set with pressure off Cape Hotham, the Assistance was in a very critical position. Lieut. De Haven informed me that in September, 1850, while attempting to make his way up the channel, when near Point brines, his vessels were in considerable danger from the movement of the ice when affected by wind or tide ; indeed, he of neces sity employed every effort to reach security in Barlow Inlet. The situation of the Resolute and her tender in September, 1850, when drifting from above Barlow Inlet out of the strait, I consider was very critical and helpless; had they been nearer in they might have been torced on shore, and, had it not been for the aid of steam, I believe that they would have been carried away to the south-east in the pack—the pack being all but tied together for the winter. In the case of Captain Penny, when crossing from Union Bay in September, 1850, his brigs were nearly forced on shore at Cape Spencer. The accounts that have recently been received of the drifting of the American expedition in Welllington Channel appear to confirm these views. If "Wellington Channel gave much hope for ad vancing in the second season, is it not fair toinfer that parties would have been dispatched if only to re connoitre for places of security as the expedition pro ceeded ? but it appears that these did not extend beyond Cape Bowden to the northward, and Caswell's Tower to the eastward. A bottle was found at Cape Bowden; meat canisters at Caswell's Tower; the re mains of a coal fire at Cape Spencer (most probably of a shooting party) ; and more extensive remains at Cape Riley ; but in no case beyond those places. And I would submit as a just inference that if it had been Sir John Franklin's object to prosecute up Welling ton Channel, economy of his fuel would have been a matter of most rigid care and anxiety, and that he would not have left at his winter quarters a quantity of materials that would have served for fuel, and which at the time did not escape remark. Further, it appears most probable that if Si: John Franklin's expedition had proceeded up Welli ngton i a rt;:ord of it would h ave b een l e f t. It is onable to c ons id er t h at vessels could not have a C l h so a7e a l s , passed through a narrow passage between the islands which appear in Captain Penny's chart without de tention ; and (being new discovery) possession would have been taken and some mark of such discovery left on them. I may also mention that Sir John Ross, Captain Ommanney, Lieutenant De Haven, and Captain Penny, all left the Wellington Channel and proceeded towards the south-west. I have now offered my views of Wellington Chan nel, and expressed some of the grounds upon which I entertain them ; but there are other grounds—there are opinions which have influenced and guided me— there are recorded opinions of our most eminent Arctic navigators and men of science far from favour ing the search for Sir John Franklin by the way of the Wellington Channel. The committee will re ' member that the orders to Sir John Franklin himself laid no stress upon the importance of that channel, but pointed his especial attention to another direction. I may here remark, as bearing upon the present in quiry, that Lady Franklin in a letter to me upon my departure expressed her anxiety that particulor search should be directed to the south-west of Cape Walker; but not one word of Wellington Channel. With all these important considerations before me I am at a loss to account for the strong feeling that is abroad in favour of a further search for the missing ships in the direction of Wellington Channel. With reference to the extent of open water reported in the upper part of Wellington Channel, it is well known to those accustomed to ice navigation, that much de ception arises from ice covered by water being mis taken for open water, particularly in the months of June and July; the snow being melted on the sur face of the ice, the latter becomes transparent and acquires a sea tint; and has, combined with the al most constant deceptive state of the atmosphere, not only the appearance of water, but with numerous pools upon it presents also the appearance of an open sea, in which the undulating wave can almost be fully recognised; and it is to this optical deception that much that is said to have been seen may be fairly ascribed. Beyond six or eight miles the floe ice upon the horizon frequently presents such a peculiar sur face, that much caution and determination is neces sary to avoid being led into error. In explanation of the water said to have been seen " on each shore, and for some miles distant from the places of observation," without its following that there was a navigable sea or outlet, I would observe that the situation of our wintering corresponded in a manner with that of the head of Wellington Channel, and although much limited in extent, the west side being formed by islands, and a bay with an outlet at the head, yet water made to the northward two to three miles from our position, while we were fixed to a fixed barrier, and blocked in to the southward. The Intrepid afterwards sailed in this water, which then proved of limited extent. It had before given the idea of an extensive navigable space, and although there was much more water in Barrow's Strait in the autumn of 1851 than in that of 1850, yet there was very little difference as to the power of navigating Wellington Channel. Having therefore very naturally weighed all these circumstances, I cannot but be strongly impressed that Sir John Franklin did snot prosecute beyond Beechy Island, but that leaving his winter qusr ters, he was either beset on that occasion, or was attempting to return to England. The loss of whalers in the pack will fully account for the complete destruction of any vessel or vessels ; and if at a period of winter instead of summer, also for the total loss of the crews. Contact with bergs would also sufficiently account for the disappearance of the ships, with all on board. Many whalers having large numbers of casks on board have been destroyed in Baffin's Bay, without scarcely a vestige having ever been found, and I am not aware that any part of the hull or the spars of the Fury have ever been found. In reply to that portion of the third question which requires what measures I should recommend if a fur ther search be decided on, I have to say that the two ships and the two steam-vessels which composed the late expedition under my orders were found to be well adapted for the service upon which they were then employed ; and that (except in some little mat ters of detail) I have no improvements in their equip ment to suggest. . _ I have now completed my answers to the written inquiries of the committee, and I have endeavoured to lay before them, through the medium of those an swers, not only all the information in my power, but every opinion and answer which my own experience has suggested. If from inadvertence or forgetfulness I have failed in affording the committee all that they may require, I will at once supply the omission as soon as I am made acquainted with their wishes. HORATIO T. AUSTIN, Captain R.N., Late of her Majesty's ship Resolute, and in charge of the Arctic Expedition. London, Nov. 15, 1851. CAPTAIN OMMANNEY'S REPLIES. Question I.—Do you suppose it probable that Sir John Franklin, or any portion of the crews composing his expedition, still survive, and, if so, in what direction ? Answer.--I am of opinion that neither Sir John Franklin, or any portion of the expedition, can be now alive. Question 2.—What are your grounds for forming that opinion ? Answer.—First, from the fact that on leaving Whale Fish Islands in June, 1845, the expedition was then provisioned for three years. It was, pro bably, August, 1846, when they quitted Beechey Island. Thus they had less than two years' provi sions left eh last them up to the present time ; even allowing that their numbers diminished, I main tain that no English constitution, or people habi tuated to civilized life, could exist so long on reduced allowance. Secondly, I place no reliance upon the support they are likely to procure from the quantity of game or animals found in those regions. The whole amount of game procured near our winter quarters this summer amounted to about one bird a man for the whole expedition, although parties were sent out ex pressly to shoot; and bear in mind these were obtained with some labour by people in good health. Ad mitting that there are birds and animals—the former are migratory, as are most of the latter—then there are but eight weeks out of the whole year on which you can depend for this supply. There is nothing to induce me to suppose that any party could kill suffi cient food to sustain them for the remaining ten months. The numerous old Esquimaux settlements met with along the south shores of the Parry group lead me to believe that a change has taken place in those seas, in the course of time, which, becoming blocked up with ice for a longer period of the year, deprived the natives of the means of living, which caused them to emigrate eastward. I consider the opinions of Continental travellers on this subject as fallacious, for it does not follow that because animal life abounds on the American continent, the same should be found 400 or 500 miles further north. I see no analogy between the two countries—the coast of America and Parry group. Thirdly, if they abandoned their ships northward of the Parry group, in all probability their travelling parties would hare retraced their steps towards their first winter quarters, or made for Melville Island, where it appears there is more animal life, of which they, of course, were quite aware from Parry's voyage. Lastly, there are reasons to suppose they did not prosecute the north-west passage after leaving Bee chey Island. We know that three of their men (young men) died the first year, from which we may infer they were not enjoying perfect health. It is supposed that their preserved meats were of an inferior quality. No records being left does not look like ad vancing, as Sir John Franklin and Captain Crozier— the latter of whom has served in four expeditions— were alive to the importance of depositing records. Again, look at the position of Cape Riley ; they had made little progress in the object of their voy age ; all their work was still before them, for I regard that position merely as the threshold of the north west passage. Under these circumstances, and sup posing that Franklin had examined the seas beyond Cape Walker in the fall of 1845, and by travelling parties found this impenetrable barrier of ice across the Wellington Channel, spoken of by Penny's expe dition, what other course had Franklin left but to re treat ? That two ships could be lost in the ice without meeting a vestige of them afterwards is a catastrophe I can easily conceive possible, especially if the two ships happened to be beset close to each other. Assuming that they did advance through the Wel lington Channel, and became blocked up in some in accessible place, my firm conviction is, that none can now survive; for I think it impossible for the consti tution to endure the climate and the privations ne cessarily exposed to, even with a moderate allowance of provisions for so long a period. Question 3 —Should a further search he decided on, what measures do you recommend for this pur pose, and in what direction ? Answer.—Should another search be considered de sirable, I would recommend that the expedition be composed of vessels fitted with screw-propellers, so as to act without the encumbrance of a sailing-vessel after reaching the ground of operations. From the indefinite statements made with regard to the channel seen by Mr. Penny's expedition since his return to England, and the impression excited in consequence on the public mind about a navigable sea in that direction—viz., north-westward of the Wel lington Channel, it seems to me to require a further examination. To accomplish this, two questions pre sent themselves :—" First, whether it would be re quisite to provide for a prolonged absence ? Secondly, whether it would not be more desirable to arrange for a rapid execution of this service ? In the former case it would involve the necessity of a depot ship being stationed at Beechey Island ; in the other, 1 would be attended with one depot ship to accompany the steamers as far as practicable, so as to secure her re turn to England the same season My firm conviction is, that if ever the Wellington Channel is navigable to any considerable distance, it must be only on an occasional open season. Sbculd an expedition be so favoured as to hit on such a sea son the year of its departure from England, we should gain an advanced position, from whence an extensive search would be effected in the ensuing spring; ac cordingly I would recommend preparing an expedi tion for rapid movements. I propose having two steam screw-propelling ves sels; they cannot have much power because you wane all the space you can gain for your crew and provisions; to accomplish a rate of seven knots per hour at full speed is quite sufficient, and in my opi nion, their size should not exceed 500 or 600 tons, drawing about 12 or 13 feet water. They should not be so long es our last steamers were, and broader in proportion, being so constructed, as far as may be practicable, preserving her efficiency as a steamer, to possess all the qu 'Mies of a sailing-vessel--one that would work quickly in narrow lanes of water in the event of being solely dependent on the use of sails. They ought to spread more canvas than our last steamers, and be provided with square sails on the mainmast. Vessels of this description would require to use their steam less frequently than we did on the late expedition. To stow the same proportion of fuel, on reaching the Arctic seas, as was effected by our last steamers, is ample; being unencumbered with a sailing-vessel, that quantity, or even less, would produce a greater result in distance than before, and I am satisfied, as before stated, be less frequently used. As a depot-ship to carry out the ultimate supplies for these two steamers, I would take the Assistance, which is ready prepared for such a service ; she has great capacity, and will stow 100 tons more than on the last voyage. Let her have 50 working hands, with a limited number of officers. She should ac company these steamers, as far as the nature of the season would admit of, to the entrance of Lancaster Sound, if possible. Port Dundas, which I visited, near Cape IVarrender, would be a good position to complete up with fuel and provisions. This accom plished, the Assistance would return, and the steamers proceed with the search. The Assistance would have to carry 300 tons of fuel, independently of the stores and provisions for the steamers. This would be effected by removing the warming apparatus, dispensing with unnecessary anchors, cables, boats, &c., and all the stores which we carried for three years' use, would in this case be substituted for by provisions, and with only sufficient executive officers, a large space would also be gained; she would be quite adequate to answer this purpose. Should it prove a very favourable season, I wciuld carry the depot ship as far as Beechey Island, there complete up, and make a depot on shore as well before advancing. From my experience, and looking to all previous Arctic navigation, it is impossible to follow up any previously defined line of operations to pursue; no two seasons are ever alike; whoever he may be he must be guided by circumstances ; assuming that we reach Cape Riley (which may not be gained in all seasons —refer to Sir John Ross's Expedition, and to the North Star) with the two steamers, efficient in all respects, and with leads before you up the channel, then I should push forward while the season lasted to gain the most advanced position for wintering in, and with travelling parties would in all probability effect the desired search. But taking such a season as we met with, there is no alteration but to winter at Beechey from whence it would also be practicable by travel ling (through the experience of the late expedition) to set at rest the question respecting the channel seen by Mr. Penny ; it may terminate in a deep gulf, which I ~m not unprepared for, from what I re marked about the tides in Wellington Channel. Another proposition here presents itself; you find the Wellington Channel blocked up, but all promises well for advancing to the westward; as some people express a wish for Banks Land to be explored, the leader of the expedition might have authority for de taching one vessel in that direction. I would not recommend advancing up the Wel lington Channel a second time, unless certain of your retreat again, for it almost amounts to a certainty that the vessels would be blocked up, as may have been the fate of Franklin. Having gained an advanced position to the north westward of the Wellington Channel in 1852, in an open season, in all probability a succession of close seasons will follow, leaving the expedition blocked up. We must, therefore, be prepared to sacrifice the ships. The spring of 1854 would, therefore, be the period to abandon the ships, and retreat with the crews to Port Leopold and the depot left by the North Star near Admiralty Inlet. I have no faith in the theory of a Polar basin, con sequently my opinion is that the success of a search ing expedition to the north-westward of the Wel , lington Channel depends entirely on the state of the navigation next year. The commander of the expe dition should have full discretionary power, and every one who joins mu s t un d ers t an d th at t h e i r li ves are to be risked, not only with a hope to save others, but to ascertain the fate of the missing expedition. The travelling gear should be of the most perfect description, and in ample quantity, availing ourselves of all the improvements recommended by myself and the officers of the late expedition, and given in to Captain Austin at his request; the details of all the travelling equipments have, I believe, been all laid before you. Some description of light boat on runners, for car rying over ice, would be most desirable. A large quantity of Bickford's fuze should be car ried for ice blasting. We had to prepare all our charges, which involved loss of time, and the occupa tion of two or three working hands when most re (Fired. These might be prepared by the Ordnance of the proper weight, and stowed in cases, ready for use and the application of the fuze. We found the blasting most invaluable in clearing away a short trip, and I recommend it for all future Arctic expe ditions. The expedition ought not to be le ss efficiently equipped than the last, which in all respects was most complete. There was a superabundance, perhaps, of some stores, which might be dispensed with. The provisions and vegetables might consist of a greater variety with great advantage ; and the salt provisions, the beef particularly, should be cured without so much saltpetre. Travelling boots should be prepared before starting. Glass shades for the protection of the eyes for all the crew should be supplied, and of the best description. I would recommend that no more officers than are actually necessary be employed. The non-executives only occupy space, require attendance, and curtail the accommodation for the crew. It is also important that the officers should be well versed in practical astro nomy, with some knowledge of surveying, sufficient to lay down a coast line correctly. The engineers must be ready to perform any other duty when not navigating, or at work about their engines. It is my decided opinion that none but naval officers should be employed on such a service, selecting those who have already proved themselves competent to undergo the privations in the former expeditions, and by their ability and dispositions adapted for such peculiar ser vice. More time should be allowed for fitting out the expedition than we had; and I consider the middle or end of May quite early enough to sail. The selection of men is most important, a❑d I much prefer the " man-of-war's man." The system of having ice quarter-masters answered admirably, and I would re commend the same again. In selecting steam-vessels such as I have described, for independent operations, it will be necessary to provide for a larger crew and more officers ; but they should not exceed 600 tons, and seven knots is the utmost limit of speed required. A large steamer should accompany the expedition to the edge of the ice or disco. I have thus stated my general opinion for a further search on the basis of rapid operations, which I con sider, under the present circumstances, is all that is required. As we are in possession of all the details necessary for equipping a❑ Arctic expedition, it is needless here to enter into them. The officer, se. lected from former experience, will be fully compe tent to make his own arrangements, as was done in the late expedition under Captain Austin ; and of all things, let the officer in command be unfettered from co-operation with other expeditions. ERASMUS OMMANNEY, Captain R.N,, Late her Majesty's ship Assistance. London, Nov. 12, 1851. CAPTAIN PENNY'S REPLIES. Question.—Do you suppose it probable that Sir John Franklin, or any portion of the crew com posing his expedition, still survive ? if so, in what direction ? Answer.—l do think it possible that Sir John Franklin and his crews or a portion of them may still survive. My grounds for thinking so are, first, my knowledge of the habits of the Exquimaux, who live to a good old age in en equally inhospitable climate ; the same mode of procuring food which the Esqui maux have is open to our countrymen, who have amongst them men, Mainely, 13Ianky, M'Donald, and Read, well acquainted with the means employed by Esquimaux i❑ obtaining food. Secondly. Independently of their guns and snares they could subsist by fishing for seals, walrus, nar wala (all of which I saw in Victoria Channel), and possibly whales; this can be done by harpoon and lance, and dra gs; th ere are also thousands of eider and ia a i nd gs king duck which may be easily snared upon their nests in the sea son . I t may not be out of place here to mention that on one small island on the east side of Davis's Straits during my last voyage we loaded a whale boat with eggs, and might have done so again and again if they had been in season ; and from what fell under my observation I have no doubt --------------.-- , ice e e is:mmoertehiborgokoecocuurps. more to the north where tre As to the next part cf the question, in what direc tion, I am firmly of opinion that Sir John Franklilli pursued his course through Wellington Straits 111',a. _Victoria e Channel, and has got far advanced tower') B first, Straits ; my reasons for thinking SO are, _ the strong easterly gales which we experiencte,! from August 18 to Sept. 5, 1850, had counterac an the .a. effect of the prevailing currents from the west, s o ! thet) d cleared Victoria Channel by the westward ; ~ latter date, with my officers, from the top o f CsP ri r of 25 t Surprise Spencer, I saw beyond the fixed ice in top o f autn Straits io)poon th s e channel free from ice to then orthwerd're'ad ptAiseg,aoinp,eonnwtahteerlvv7tah of übloadyt,oltBhce, e xtent miles to the west, and was visited at differetb; intervals up to the 23d of July, 1851, when , a 5 channel to the westward of Hamilton and VII" b, Llands was clear of ice as far as the ey e from the top o f a hill 600 feet above the level of th e i,dicatioo sea, with a dark blue sky beyond --a sure of water. f t Sir John Franklin must have been well awate,°, could reti!, the pr e sence of this water, having passed 6rt d al; winter at the mouth of Wellington traits' an e watch tent having been discovered north of barb tSbpencer, about four miles from the shir, from wne'`o could observe any change in the state of_icsilo the ey channel that they could take advantage of, been the ruts of loaded sledges which apparently' bad 4 t sent to examine the channel. These circurnstanceia' aken into consideration w ith the second claa'' Sir John Franklin's instructions, and his "" the ~. well preference, and that of known e to pass m ge by Wellington Strait, is quite n acho!! oa r y mind that he has gone in that direction, whelinededf finding no cairns or appearance of his baying i t ' h oe been seems to me to indicate that the passage ° l 'd t hat open and nothing to stop him in 1846, $l3 he took every advantage of • ' t id e d it. de Thiel Q ' his officera, for ( uestion.—Should a further 2earch be , b i, on, what further measure do you recommend for t purpose, and in what direction ? Answer.—For the plan of operations I vou l F d o li o r li e : it pareP h ll i on andefivep vssels, namely, two steamers, Laity oe n ; be better if Sophia ; a store-ship manned with I like 'the shipeam power. ould be all working men. Vessels a i n f d tb l e n y t r e w p e i d r e will littled o verysbor tvvereye, n o d ') 1 0r Y 1 . ,. `,, ,.,, doe poo re t The store ship to be loft as 0 nisce hi at Beechey Island, rather than at ag o l 'fi. gl g , n her d tip, because it is so easy of access toilefrnctirg Their crews would be employed in ' id s t° provision l from Navy Board Inlet thanle ee l s to the above-named position. The o four ve' depots of proceed through Wellington Strait, leaving d . eP 40° pov . ions at every 100 miles. After advanclbe $ co miles I should leave another of my vessels t .,.. , be . tweennnecting link to keep up the communicatT"Boi proceed t h u e thence to England. From this second v esse i i .. ' er ibed, p s o e n arching vessels and Beechey lia‘a_ortie will either F W o e u l .r l , ing t t with the remaining ships or a point be reached in Behring's Straits. e 0000 the same plan as albreeascltyieadgese, totit But should a barrier preclude oare d asssgb aixbol sledges ocnStrait, I would be prep wit deg , A drag over the ice to tbe wee 434. ;30 have no doubt will be again found in lat. i r n, be y esr. b ong. 27 deg. at a very early period 0 i_ doo rtb• oats will continue to pursue the west au lie , to west the other two boats keeping up the s tl P P ieft 1 1 advanced positions, as directed by the n otice e laaJ the advancing boats for their inforMataol7, w ipte s.: If f°°' r fuel could be procured, I would establish t'iffore3 q apio u d ir td t io e u rfor two boat crews, at the farthest au,reatlf of course. This expedition would b i lA r iag i Straits. by vessels coming to meet it from I' OBSERVATION S. ert, i t de. ' L I b• is I wish . to . make a few observations best ~.„. eo rt my opinion that Albert Land extends to tf l . PP, west not less than 500 miiei, and that -'l,,tltist)L, that at found d is distance from Cape 13 Franklin has kept along this shore'- to that exteroboll e cher svi r li Jon g il l be distance another winter quarter. •S „dedagrel'n so are that had this land not thinking e xter l boe te. l filled i to the west, Victoria Channel woulo_rde 10, ice, whereas the north-West the PAtraell' driven w th t e h ice round Melville Island uP °° 1 can shore, in place of filling 11. cbtilliae . up t 1 6 VIP No. 2. n ot ~ 0 ~,0 It may b e • thinking a singular opinion, but , I- c' bo tas; ci that a migration of Esquirol,%titude, °tte place from a people living in a higher i ti . fro o , e that they Strait, o f ti , came . down Wellington s ide e remains of stone huts along the north-east , cow, channel, and that the stock from vvbich tbef_vti, 0 m may still he existing on nsiand to t h e Il t u c :o3. the pell sea, whichl expectnuleto find leadile C1i0331 and ring's Straits. From what I have said of t Lool j 0 resources, there • by Ibi s SP . 03 11 01 is no reason vv ao ° lave, and S' f found a refug . e among them' of 0# ree dy, In . connexion with this view, I 10°11 it 00 I Esquimaux at I ase Ho Inlet, as 1 namedit. b e cs ba t covery, 1840 believe it ,or rather re•discoverig , 0 9 ' 1 1,i3 since to be the Cumberland Strait 0 hilet, ,P e n a race of improperly E. called Northumberlaod 1 b a ge A.linnlaus is far superior to Stra its ' ol),Y fa either en opinion the east or west side of Davis ro 0, ofn I have formed of the We of th e . 0 co y° went ca t •- • _ niar e 1 . Ao r this race is , that . quence of their amalgamation it has a.R.00,1';„,,,,rec/;!'".„.irg gamation with ofl't 11,5 c., 13e 01 A, men of early decidedl discovery ships, nianY T v uti Vel ..'- , i f 9 European cast of features.--` - PO' ' iVaLlAri The Secretary of the Arctic Committee, Nov. 15, 1851. ----------------- IT R S. , f i RAILWAY TRAFFIC 1 3 - 5 r u - N ) fee BRISTOL AND Ctba ending Dec. ExETER RAILWAY. —Tr. 1 14:— 6 Passengers i 2,5 10 ~ s Goods ••• ••• ••• 1 253 i• II Parcels ..... ••• ** 'l5O 311 Goods 5 Mails ..; —• ... ••• 222.....›. i 3 837 receif Total SHREWSBURY AND CHESTER rm./AOIC.' , the week ending Dec. '2 ec. 21 : 002 „ Passengers Parcels, horses, E . ... ". 45 91 '''i Merchandise, minerals , c. ... . 1 .- 1) -•""' ]......./ &c. ... ' 6 , 3 Total .. ..., ... 5i,55 6 10 'I , o f _ Autr. Corresponding we e k last year ... i,511 1300 traffic c for the RAILWAY.— (1891/ MHOS Opel:l6lJ' _ oi the week ending Dec. Passengers, &c. ec. 14: xo 81 6 9 c i Goods, tic. •" ... ,1:75 6 1 ,,/ . ••• ... ••• ..................19 l Total .. . x7,5 7 ` 2 '0 3 it Corresponding year ••.• 7,21 S 1/ '. week las.t.• ... tlie Scorrisu CENTRAL al for ending Dec. 21 RAILWAY..--Jrai.e Passengers 6 • ( ,549), parcels, horses, , 4 10, and , • carriages X,O ll Goods, cattle, h e . '" ••• •• 903 '....<:, ••• ... •• ............... ' 4 1,608 5 6 Total 153 , Corresponding week — in l as t"' year ••• 1 ... 6 Perth, Dec. 21, 1851. Oat °4 ivi'••''' lan (Ol e of THE Earl fv Clarendon, Lord PAB,LTAkr :j i - av a Jo s 01 vos i be put up in a few days , s l in i den,will site of the old House of Coma3mons). W°r„,w hawloiste,, S gi t• gtePhiienfliel'iiirOf the putting down the tiles on the floors of at i l '" The e , Or: cloak -rooms theo sat ac.in Houses,stained g lass an N d v i o n f d t o li j e o c I o i a ist t e b rs ,e ' reefit i ci t i i v cip is , e3ot : minster Hall, leading They will be appropriated for the Mernberall be itl ete be 0 will have an entrance in St. the middle' of P e ° ;, - 1 3 , '' ‘ ,",ite the cloisters, also by the former Speaker 3 P °- oPP ch, Members will Fr' g 'f The u bslicteiehnotorlincii...reatiroLtiiet;:elr:l,/irtitjo go in by St. Stephenia P°r Ab bey. - 1 ,, 0 i lj , " rf [ADvERTisEmENT.]--Holloway's -,ilols'4easer-oil, ! medv for \Asthma, Coughs, Colds, and Che" * - f i joag:if o li o • o so r nssuffering from these complaints, whet e herce°l6b"t b eert c r Pillsdo wn; arising from recent cold, should give ti? s e oc i a s hared trial, as a few doses will afford partial relief, : d9 o bo bie to ol , tinuance will insure a certain cure. Thousa ut ia o p b e sidered their cases holess and who were t hes o 4 el en el e 6 t Is ' g O' i n which bed, have possess been ex restored trao r dio a tro health bY phlegm and giving a healthy actionyto the lung . f o f 0;01 , o .° ...,0 , of the highest character can be adduced in po° 0 PrEts° power in e a l'e ,ll "it °°, derful efficacy of Holloway's Pills.— soid ,244, and at Professor Holloway's Establishinent'' London. On nan Power,ttt h h hee e 2 2 2 3113 2 da d t el !i i: n ons qs a s t t? ... : e ,16.! ,; IPO 0 11 5 John eldest daughter On the 2 g .2 I " beth, relict of C c a inst., at Stanway, near Cole.. A ps' i , Samuel T. rof 'Coaiin.gatTtelihdiVelai2:Gem4inDer?:,enlejll°Enlso:.::rDin::el;:, if'aeoCrnv:mi°:l;sednrii:S:i 'giv:eitsserttlioje:Plis:l;6l::::e':,' street, q., Fitzroy-square. On the 22d Tr' CenuLander RS' t Dlaticileof only child of the esquiairoienn. aGnraosßveenwo. ricrreedsecreinck, vvativg, owe, chet-park On the ts ' a g ed 15 ' ed SAOit'fl —4th inQt., in tipper Gower-street Ago oft 1 the late Thomas Butts, Gower-street London • P r i nte d • - • r and Published by Blativ, 1ti0.4 Igo. 112, Strand, Printer, at The SUS .00:f; coo,n, ALECin the Proeinet of the SaroY , • j ""i Fria4y, Desmaloar 26, Nil. ---------"---""—•"'"-"° 0 ' 818 TIM Di %i6 0 OF A sozr. .C. it) On the 22d inst., the lady of Alexander P. of an heir. a C liell° On the 23d inst., at St. Leonard's-terrace' o f fli ftt wife of the Rev. John Patteson. the p OF A DAUGHTER. , . t. , _ to At Westbourne-terrace, on the 24th 113 ' 00 IP Charles Lyall, Esq. nest On the 20th inst., at North Cliff-houset izsq. Quay, Yorkshire, the wife of E. R. I:larding, '..' , it p ~ TrO it er, 111-ARRIED. , th e 11 ° Y 9 01 111) 04 .0 On the 23d inst,, at the Church 0 1 e t," lor 0 „ s tre w, fro 4 0 James D. Young, Esq., Great Georg to Charlotte, daughter of the late Wil liil I' 1) °P '6 O Lincoln's Inn-fields. clgef' o lg n e, TierOW NT , 1 'frt On the 20th inst., at St. James's, It- ,- 'psr i r ee.' Hope Courtney Gray, Paymaster and PursVl,4.. well tt son of the late Lieutenant Thomas Gray'', of il youngest daughter of Mr. James Baker , e)' 1.0. " Bermondsey. ~,e3 ‘ ,f ed TH LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26, 1851. 4 •.,,,. Di bt lir tRo t4 r ,,, Etc Ist t k, N' t ........ D~ ~Dr~ „ 1 C)4Z % ” 1 Ar„ L4ta, %..„... 1) 147 1 )ri' 4 tti co rep 417'. 4 1 c . , 4 „ t, )31 4 3' V ef t L , tkth: