The Press.
London, England, 1854-04-08 00:00:00

LADY FRANKLIN AND THE ADMIRALTY.

AMONG parliamentary papers recently delivered is
one of painful interest. It will be remembered that
in January last an Admiralty notice was issued
removing the names of Sir JOHN FRANKLIN and his
officers from the Navy List, and thus assuming, as
proved, the fact of their deaths. That the conclusion

so come to is that of the public generally, few per-
sons will deny ; but there are those who cannot be
expected to assent to its justice, unless established
by positive proof, which at present is wanting. Lady
FRANKLIN, in an eloquent letter, dated Feb. 24, pleads
the cause of the missing navigators with the earnest.
ness of one who persists in hoping against hope.
She argues that it is inconsistent to pass sentence
of death on the crews of the Erebus and Terror
while other expeditions are still searching for them
among the ice—Sir E. BELCHER especially, who has
been gone only two years, and has provisions for two
more. The reasonings on which it is contended
that FRANKLIN may yet be found are as follows :

(1) The want of evidence of any catastrophe
having befallen them. It was thought at one time
that the expedition had gone down in crossing
Baffin's Bay, during their first summer—a story set
at rest by the discovery of their winter's quarters.
Here is, at least., a warning against hasty impressions.
Arctic captains assert the improbability of two large
vessels having gone down in such a manner that no
trace or fragment of the wreck should float ashore.
(2) The Arctic. seas have never been searched in
that direction which Sir JOHN FRANKLIN is most
likely to have taken. In bis instructions from the
Admiralty two routes were pointed out—one by
Barrow Straits to the south-west, along the northern
coast of America; the other in a much higher
latitude, by a track hitherto quite unexplored, and
which none of the searching vessels have subse-
quently taken. It is known, says Lady FRANKLIN,
that this route was often spoken of by Sir Joffe, and
was "extremely popular among his officers." Sir
E. BELCHER, who followed it a little way, only saw
an expanse of sea to the north west, " unencumbered
" by ice and without visible limit."
(3) There is no proof that life cannot be sustained
iu Arctic regions during a period of several years.
Captain M'Cr.van was nearly four years in the ice;
Sir JOHN Ross somewhat longer, and enduring great
hardships ; four Russian sailors, left without re-
sources of any kind on Spitsbergen, were rescued
after an interval of seven years. The climate,
therefore, is not fatal, nor even dangerous to life.
It is possible, and has by many philosophers been
believed, that the temperature near the Pole is less
intensely severe than some degrees farther south.
We know that wherever man has yet penetrated
animals are found. The whale, the walrus, the seal,
birds of many kinds, even ruminants, abound in the
highest latitudes known to navigators. Captain
NVCl.ree observed that the greatest cold was always
attended by a south wind. It is the North American
continent, not the Polar icebergs, which forms the
great depository of frost. Esquimaux were seen on
islands where their existence had never been even
suspected, and surely an Englishman can live where'
an Esquimaux can.
(4) Want of provisions is not to be feared in the.
Case of Sir JOHN FRANKLIN. He was supplied for a.
period exceeding four years : this, on half-rations,.
would almost suffice to the present time. His stock
of ammunition was abundant; and we know that he
lost no opportunity of seeking food on shore, even
when carrying out so large a supply. He himself
said to Captain MARTIN that " he bad provisions for
"five years, and could spin them out to seven." We
know also that some of those under him contem-
plated a possible detention, extending to the latter
period.
The above is, in few words, the substance of Lady
FRANK.LIN'S argument. In justice to her we give it
publicity ; not, at the same time, concealing our own

316

belief that the decision of the Admiralty to send
out no more searching ships is a wise one. The
question is not of money, but of lives. Each vessel
sent to look for FRANKLIN incurs a risk equal to his.
The space to be searched is immense ; the means of
locomotion amidst ice and in unknown seas are few;
the hopes of suceess vague and feeble.
Physically possible, the safety of the Erebus and
Terror, or of their crews, is one of those hypotheses
against which the balance of probability inclines so
strongly as to amount to a moral certainty of the
reverse. Government are bound, where the danger
of sacrificing fresh expeditions exceeds the chance
of recovering one already sent out, to consult reason
rather than feeling, and forbid, or at least abstain from
sanctioning, the enterprise. That ship.captain would
deserve to lose his commission who should allow a
boat to be lowered to save a man fallen overboard
where the sea ran so high as to render its being
swamped a probable result.

MR. GRANTLEY BERKELEY ON THE
POTATO ROT.
MR. GRANTLEY BERKELEY has addressed to Lord
Derby, and dedicated to the Agricultural Society, a
brief and suggestive pamphlet upon a most impor-
tant subject—the potato disease. As an inference
from prolonged investigation, he believes that the
disease is an epidemic which, like the cholera, has
been imported from abroad, together with some of
the many foreign manures which have lately come into
fashion, and which acts upon the vegetable organisa-
tion as fevers act upon animals, by disordering the
circulation and drying up the vital juices. As the
result of experience, Mr. Berkeley announces the
discovery of a curative, or rather preventive, sys-
tem of culture. Last year, for example, upon a
plot of four acres he raised a crop of fifty-three
bushels, out of which the quantity spoiled was
under a half-sack, or practically none. In this suc-
cess, moreover, he has combined, to use his own
words, the " double event "—raising the crop first,
and afterwards keeping it safely through the season.
His principle of operation is to avoid the use of all
manures that unduly stimulate and heat the plants,
and even upon occasions to adopt a lowering process.
The method in which this principle is worked Mr.
Berkeley thus describes :
" As soon after the crop is gathered as possible the land
should be ploughed six inches deep, and left fallow to the
frosts of winter. In February or March, according to the
weather and state of the ground, the field should be har-
rowed, and dragged, and rolled, if the clots of mould re-
quire to be broken. The manure should be then hauled
on, and deposited in heaps for drilling and ploughing in
with the potato. All planting should be over, at latest,,,in
March, and on no account whatever cut the potato for
seed, and for this serious reason—while the vegetable is in
this feverish state, the moisture contained in it should on
no account, by cutting, be induced to exude. lam per.
fectly certain, by experiment, that now, while this epidemic
is in existence, if cut, and the spring chances to be very
dry, a hundred potatoes for one in the olden time will
become completely rotten. The moment my crop is ripe,
the latter end of September, or early in October, if the
weather is clean, I raise it. The potato is then, with as
little dirt attached as possible, put into a dry barn, and
subsequently covered with straw ; they should be then con-
stantly looked over, and any bad ones removed."
The author finally sums up his conclusions with
the hypothesis that the disease is a feverish epidemic
introduced into this country, and fostered by the too
great richness of the soil, and needing only a lower-
ing system to radicate it.

We learn by advices from St. Petersburg that
the Emperor Nicholas has issued orders to com-
mence fortifying that capital.
A report is current in London that orders have
been given by the Emperor Nicholas forbidding the
removal from Russia of the heavy baggage and
effects belonging to Sir Hamilton Seymour.
Arrangements have been made for the transit of
the British cavalry destined for Turkey through
France in detachments of 400 each. They will be
reviewed by the Emperor Napoleon in the Champ
de M ars. Imperial orders have been issued to pro-
vide them with quarters iu the magnificent barracks
called the CeF‘Tne d'Orcay, situated on the Quai
d'Orcay, opposite the Tuileries. To afford this ac-
commodation the troops already occupying the
Caserne have been encamped. Preparations are
making by the French army for the reception of
their visitors, and it has been determined by the
privates to entertain the private soldiers of the
English army, the British officers receiving a similar
compliment from their French equals in military
rank. Much excitement prevails in Paris, and
windows overlooking the Boulevard let at extrava-
gant prices.
- - -

_
The Caradoc remains at Marseilles, waiting for
Lord Raglan and the Duke of Cambridge.

THE PRESS.

VrotttlYings in V arlimnt.

PRESENTATION OF THE ADDRESSES.
Both Houses of the Legislature met at half-past
two o'clock on Monday, according to arrangements
previously made, as her Mojesty had fixed upon
three as the hour of receiving the addresses in reply
to her message respecting the declaration of war,
and which it had been determined to take up by de-
putations of the whole house from either branch of
the Legislature. In Palace yard a considerable
crowd had assembled, with a view to seeing the anti-
cipated pageantry. A vague impression appeared to
prevail among the people that the whole cort4ge
would be of the most gorgeous and imposing descrip-
tion, and it is almost needless to say that on this
head they were utterly disappointed. The ceremony,
regarded as the unanimous expression of an indig-
nant nation's will, was doubtless imposing and signi-
ficant enough ; but, looked at either from a scenic or
processional point of view, or as a holiday-sight for
idle loungers, it was devoid of all external interest.
There were some handsome uniforms and still hand-
somer carriages among the Peers. The Commons
were but scantily supplied with either, and the effect
of their display was totally spoiled by the presence
of a numerous sprinkling of common hack-cabs, and
not all of these of a remarkably prepossessing exte-
rior.
When the names of the peers present, about forty-
six, were duly called over, the Lord Chancellor took
his departure from the principal entrance of the
House of Lords. His lordship was attired in his
state robes of office, and headed the cort4ye from the
House of Peers in his state carriage. The junior
peers followed in their order immediately after the
Chancellor. Nearly all their lordships were attired
either in the Windsor or Ministerial uniform, or in
their uniforms as lords lieutenants of counties; con-
sequently under this disguise but few were recog-
nised by the crowds in waiting. Lord Aberdeen,
Lord Derby, Lord Clarendon, and a few of the lead-
ing and better-known members of the Upper House,
were pointed out and warmly cheered.
While the Lords were still moving slowly away up
Parliament street, the members of the House of
Commons, to the number of some three hundred,
commenced taking their departure, the rich old-
fashioned state carriage of the Speaker leading the
way. Lord John Russell, Sir Charles Wood, Mr.
Cardwell, Mr. Strutt, Mr. Frederick Peel, and other
members of the Government wore the Ministerial
uniforms, as did also Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Bankes, Sir
John Pakington, and the leaders of the Opposition.
Lord John Russell was instantly recognised and
warmly cheered ; Mr. Disraeli also was very loudly
cheered. The other members of the house,after the
departure of the Speaker, scrambled into their va-
rious cabs and carriages in Palace-yard as well as
they could, and the scene for a moment was one of
rather undignified hurry and bustle. Some of the
members wore court suits, and a great many their
uniforms either as officers of militia or as deputy
lieutenants of counties. Indeed, the whole aspect of
the hon. members as they first issued out en masse
was sanguineous and warlike to the last degree, and
quite in keeping with the mission on which they
were bound. The procession, which was often
marred by the appearance of three or four honour-
able and gallant members in full uniform stuffed
into one little cab, proceeded up Parliament-street,
through the Horse Guards, into the Mall. Beyond
the crowd in Palace.yard, there were no spectators
except the ordinary passengers along the route. The
whole affair seemed to be treated by the populace as
a mere matter of course, and as a sort of constitu
tional technicality without which the " Rooshians"
could not be decently thrashed.
The deputations were received by her Majesty in
the throne-room, whither they were successively con-
ducted with proper state and ceremony. Then the
Lord Chancellor felt the Upper, and the Speaker for
the Lower, House respectively presented their ad-
dresses, and received from the Queen a gracious
reply. To the Peers her MAJESTY said:
I thank you for your loyal and dutiful e.ddress. It is
highly gratifying to me to receive your assurance of co-
operation in giving effect to measures which I think neces-
sary for the honour of my crown and the welfare of my
people."
To the Commons :
" I thank you for your loyal and dutiful address. The
declaration of your sentiments on this occasion affords me
great satisfaction. And I rely with confidence on your
co-operation in the measures which I consider necessary
for the honour of my crown and the welfare of my
people."
After their interview with the Queen, both Lords
a Commons retired and dispersed, their houses
being adjourned until the evening. Upon meeting
again, between five and six, the Lord Chancellor and
Speaker severally communicated the fact of their
having waited on the Queen during the day, and
read the royal answers they had respectively received
from her Majesty.