The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-11-01 00:00:00

SIR JOHN FRANKLIN'S EXPEDITION.

The following letter has been addressed to the Editor
of the Tints :- -Sir, the experience of Captain M'Clfn-
tock is so great in all Arctic matters that on such ac-
e.Junt alums, and saying nothing of my sincere esteemn
for him, I should hardly ',nature to publicly put for-
ward any opinion different to his. Indeed to do so is
more than likely to get my remarks considered in a way
not perhaps complumentail to myself. But, Sir, the
cause of our long-lost countrymen is as powerful within
me now as it has been fur years past; and, though iry
e:perience has nut been equal to that of Captain Id'
Chutock's in the &retie service, it has been equal to
toust men, and surpassing many men, in • knowledge of
mankind in a wild life abroad, and in circumstances
where compelled to depend upon self alone. !fence I
,io still 11104 earnestly plead for those of the crews of the
Erebus and Terror whom I firmly believe to be yet
alive among the Esquimau:. In the name, then, of the
friends and relatives of Sir John Franklin's petty officers
and seamen, ea yet unaccounted for, I beg your inser-
tion of this letter in their behalf. _

you niay differ from my view of the question;
hut, Sir, consider how very many times strong opinions
lIAVU been given by eminent men that nothing more than
what WU discovered in 1850 would ever be heard of the
lost expedition. Consider bow many said that they
went everywhere but there where it appears they did
go • and, also, bow many more utterly repudiated the
locality where it is now proved they could have been
found. _ . .

Therefore, I again and again urge the extreme pro-
bability that some way yet be found alive; and assuredly
Viet stronger facts than any we yet have may be dis-
covered respecting them.
My arguments at present would bo too long to trouble
you with. I have long studied this question, and have
carefully analysed the whole of the blue-books upon the
subject. Briefly, however, let me ray that it is well
known one or two of that lost crew were inclined to •
life among the Esquimau:. I have a strong idea where
they may be found. I have always had the same idea-
and ,
the various rumours obtained through the wild
tribes on the coast of continential America, all refer to
something corroborating the view I take.
I believe the whole party never would, and never did,
attempt the "barren grounds" on the Great Fish
/liver. A number of persons seeking sulvistence would
not find it ; a few isight. But a number of persons
going thither with supplies from a settlement could get
along. Thus I consider that very speedily after reach-
ing the south part of King William's Island they divided
into three, and perhaps four detachments. One to
Back's River, and so cross to inhabited territories; a
PCCUIId westward, and thus accounting for those strange
statements most of us are familiar with ; a third east-
ward, while • fourth may have gone back to the ships,
or tried to do so. . . . .

As for the natives and their information, I have
never yet found a wild man give the real truth when his
interest or his fear leads him to the instinct of self-pre.
serration in hiding what may possibly, as be thinks,
hurt him. All experience of the Esquiinaux tells us
that such is particulary so with them. Then, too, we
know they are su;enititious (instance :he accounts of all
voyegers), hence much of what now seems • mystery in
their not visiting certain places. But a still more pro-
ininent fact strikes ine. It is this who have been
met by Captain M'Clintock, Dr. Rae, or Mr. Anderson
refer to some other tribe who had been with °rem our lost
friends. They, themselves, personally, where wholly igno-
rant. But where is that other tribe? Rather, does it
exist? and is it not probable they have all • more cor-
rect knowledge about the matter than they chose to say?
As to food for our countrymen, it must not he for-
gotten that salmon is there in abundance, and the places
where it could be obtained were well known to Mr.
Blanky (the ice-master of the Erebus) and to others.
Mr. Anderson's expedition was, I am informed, too
poorly equipped to do what could now be done by a
people's expedition if sent out. lam preparing • plan
to submit to all calm thinking and humane minds. This
I will shortly lay before the public. Meanwhile I once
inure urge the plea I now put forward, and with • hope
that my voice may not altogether be in vain,
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
W. PARKER SNOW.
St. John's-hill, New Wandsworth, Oct. 22.