The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-13 00:00:00

113rt51

main at St. Petersburg, and be ready to co-ope-
rate with the Russian government in any plan which
they might deem feasible ; and this war the actual
state of things. It must not be supposed that Lieutenant
Pines project had produced no beneficial result. It bad
excited in the Russian stuvernment the right spirit. The
chances of ultimate success were manifestly increased by
Liturenant Pien's journey to Russia; Vimulating, as it was,
the Russian government to further exertions. Lieutenant
Pim h., excited in the minds of all who hail seen him at
St. Peteriburgh extreme admiration of his zealous endea-
vours, and no one had been more struck a ith bis character
thou Sir Hamilton Seymour. Ile was convinced that ni
ther on the pact of Lieutenant l'im nor on the part of those
who hail encouraged him, had anything been wowing.
Justice required that he should also dechire his belief that
the Russia' government would be as anxious as any one to
forward the scheme if they thought it could possibly suc-
ceed ; but considering the urgent reasons which acre given
in the papers which had been read, he could well under-
stand the motives which actuated them. The Russian
geographers had declared that to travel safely over such
wild regions would be impussible ; and there had liven
suggested insti ad r.n expedition by water to the Gult of
Anadir, and thymic across the peninsula—a course which
would probably now be pursued. Captain Ileatsan
was ready to risk every thing in the attempt ;
and was no doubt prepared to answer that evening
any questions which might be put to him. hlodificatious
might also be proposed by the Ruseiau government in the
plan of Lieutenant Pim, with a view to some step being
token. The following letter had been addressed by Captain
lkatson to himself, as the president of the @misty:
"38, Moorgate-street, Jan. 12, 1852.
"Sir,—The subject of search for Sir John Franklin
having been so frequently discussed by the members of this
scientific society end others well acquainted with the navi-
gation of the Pular regions, I think it would be presump-
tuous in me to attempt an explanation of my reasons fur
commencing the search from the north-west of Behring's
Straits. I believe that many are of opinion that a high
northern latitude may be reached through the open water
seen by Wrangell, and that subsequently an eastern passage
may be forced by a screw steamer. 1 may, however, be
permitted to mention that this is no hasty idea of mine,
but one which I have had in contemplation for above two
years. On my arrival from Africa, at the close of 1819,
after the return of Sir James !tom, I began to think seri-
ously of the probable causes of Sir John Franklin's de-
tention, and while in Russia last winter, in speaking upon
the subject with some officers of the imperial navy who
had been in the Arctic Seas, I found that their opinions
weee exactly the same as mine, namely, that Sir John
would pus to the northward of the l'urry Islands, and
never think of turning back till in the meridian of Behring's
Straits. They were also of opinion that whin he arrived
thus far be would be previuted getting to the southward by
• chain of islands extending far to the westward—a continu-
ation, in fact, of the Parry Islands. Supposing, now,
Franklin to have succeeded in getting so far to the west-
ward, and being stopped there, it cannot be imagined that
he 'would relinquish the attempt to get through this last
barrier to all his hopes, and the realisation of the passage
into the Pacific, to retrace his steps from a point which may
have taken four years to reach. What would • brave man
do in such a case? Certainly not to retreat in two or three
years, particularly if, as we hope, they have met with suffi-
cient animal food to support them. I believe Sir John
Franklin to be somewhere to the math of Behring's Straits,
and certainly not far to the outward ; and in that belief 1
wrote to Lady Franklin, in October last, stating my plan,
and soliciting her assistance, which, I am happy to say, was
immediately given. I have since then exerted myself in
selecting a suitable vessel, which I have purchased, and
whirrs is now in dock undergoing the necessary alteratious.
She is a schooner of nearly 200 tons, but capable of carrying
a much larger quantity. I intend fitting her with three
separate engines of 8-horse power each,with separate boilers,
by which arrangement I can effect an immense saving of
fuel by only working one or more engine, as circumstances
may require. In addition to this, I take a steam launch,
with an engine of 5-horse power. My crew will consist of
only 15 men and myself. I shall, by a careful selection of
provisions, be enabled to take enough for five years. The
whole of these arrangements I expect to have completed
and be able to leave England by the end of
next month, and to proceed direct to the Sandwich
!elands, whence, haviug filled up with coal, dm, to push
on for the Straits, which I hope to be able to enter by the
middle or latter end of July. When there, of course I
must be guided by the condition of the sea. If there is a
possibility of getting to the north, on or about the meridian
of the Strait., I shall do so. Otherwise, I intend pushing
my way to the north-west till I arrive at the open water
seen by Wrangell, whet', perhaps, I may be able to get to
the north and then to the cut. Should I not succeed in
getting so far along the coast this year, I might employ the
spring (before the breaking up of the ire) in an attempt to
reach that land seen by Captain Kellet from Herald Island,
and thus be enabled to perform one part of the schema pro-
poied by Lieutenant Pim. I would next in the spring posh
away to the north and east, in which direction I believe I
shall eventually find some traces of our missing ships. I
consider it would have been desirable (and, in fact, it was
my first intention) to have had another smaller screw-
steamer as a tender, and of far greater power. I am sorry
to say that I am not able to accomplish this, but am, never-
theless, determined to go in the beet way I can.
" I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient humble
servant, "DONALD Blia•015.
" Sir R. Mucks' on, President of the 'loyal
Geographical Society."
The CHAIRMAN continued—He was happy to inform
the meeting that the council had expressed their approval
of Captain taon's project, and resolved that it should be
brought before the meeting of the society that evening.
(Cheers.) The subject was one on which he had very
strong personal feelings; end he must say that to him it
appeared that no effort to discover &r John Franklin and
his companions was based on a more rational hypothesis.
Captain FITZROY could not help expressing his extreme
!egret that cold water had been thrown on Vent. l'im'a
enterprise. It should not be forgotten that a few years ago
Sir George Simpson travelled over the same ground.
The CHAIRMAN—No, very much to the south.
Captain FITZROY observed that Sir Henry Telly, the
president of the Ilefeent's Bay Company, had also told
Lieut. Pim that•perew gees( with a small party was more
likely to cobble idnarYw hem the tribes than any one
who Was by • large force.
Sir W.66.7ll2lreanild nothelp uniting in admiration of
Captain Benison, who was not a single man, but was about
to leave a wife and family behind him, and to devote his
fortune, which, he believed, was not large, to the object to
which he hail at heart. Ile thought the result of the late
expeditions were far from discouraging. If Sir John Frank-
lin got a fair wind, it seemed probable that ho would have
availed himself of it, and in that case he would have gone
fir beyond any of the toot expeditious.
Mr. ADAM WIIITE said he had a collection of plants
made by Capt. Beechy on Melville Island in 1820, which
showed that the vegetable productions of that island were
by no means despicable. There could be very little doubt
that upon it, not only reindeer, but musk-exen also might
obtain abundance of food; and they knew that wherever
plants existed animals would be found.
Mr. SAUNDERS would be glad to be inforheed where
Capt. Beatson's subscription list lay.
The CHAIRMAN said it was on the table. (Cheers.)
He had not mentioned his own name but it would be
found, as would also that of Admiral Beaufort.
Capt. FITZROY made some further remarks expressive
of his doubts of the impracticability cf Lieut. Pim's scheme,
notwithstanding the adverse opinion of the Russian geo-
graphers.
'the CHAIRMAN observed that one of the Russian
geographers,by whose opinion the imperial government haul
been guided, M. Mittendorf, was peculiarly qualified to
judge. That gentleman lived fur 18 days in a snow-house,
during which time he had the fifth part of a dog for his
whole provision, and ate his boots, end all the leather he
had about him. (Hear.)
Capt. SYNGE, WE., then read a paper on communiza-
tion between the Atlantic and the Pacific via British North
America, declaring his preference for communication
through the British dominions on the grounds of distance,
speed, position, salubrity, comprehensinnees, inviolability,
and the effects on British America, on all colonisation, said
on the maritime powers of Great Britain.

TELEORAPHie IN BWITZGRLAND. —The various
states of Switzerland have subscribed 295,912 francs as •
lean, without interest, for the construction of electric tele.
graphs. The sans required is 300,000 franca.
ACCIDSNTS.—The following is a return
of the colliery accidents which have been recorded for the
lest two year:-1830: Deaths from all canoes, 632; inju.
rim, 273-905. Half.year to June 30th, : Deaths from
all rouses, 310 ; injuries, 110-429. Ilalf.year to December
31st, 1851: Deaths from explosion, 180; deaths from fall
of roof. 72 ; deaths from fall in abal t, 30; deaths from rope
hreskini, 38; various cantos 72; injuries from all causes,
134 -308. For the year D:wths from all causes, 682; in-
juries, 246-928. Ileing 37 per month killed. and 33
injured.
STATISTICS OF CAlEft IN TUE COCNTY COURTS.—
Some interesting statistics are given In three parliamentary'
roams, respecting the County Courts. In the three yeah
ending the 31st IJecensher,lB4l, there were 1,219,694 plaints
entered in county courts, of which 702,894 were tried. The
amount for which the plaints were entered was 3,600,421 i.
I The amounts paid into court in the three years, before trial,
I were 241,0704. Out of the causes tried only 2,4.54 were
tried bT jurors. In 18-18 there were 427,811 plaints en-
tert d; an 1619, 394,101 ; and in NW, 396,793. In 1848,
there were 239,118 causes tried ; in 1819, the number was
226,403; and in 1830, 217,173. The amounts respectively
in the three years for which plaints were entered were,
1,316,602/., 1,188,3011., and 1,263,1151. In 1848,
66.2921. was paid into court before trial ; 80,4481. in
1649 s; and 66,33111. in 1850. In 1816 there were 884
main tried by juries ; 802 in 1849 ; and 769 in 1830.
The.. particulars are gleaned from papers printed in three
emsiana—the last a few days back.