The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-03 00:00:00

SIR JOHN FRAKLIN.

The following deposition of Captain Martin, rela-
tive to his interview with Sir John Franklin, was yesterday
forwarded to Mr. C. It. Weld, at the Royal Society, So-
merset-house :

(Copy.)
DEIV*ITION.

"Robert Martin, now master and commander of the
whale ship Intrepid, of Peterhead, solemnly and sincerely
declare., that on the 22nd day of J u1y,1845, w hen in command
of the whale ship Enterprise, of Peterhead, in lat. 75.10,
long. 66 W., calm weather, and towing, the Erebus and
Terror were in company. These ships were alongside the
Enterprise (or about 15 minutes. The declarant conversed
with Sir John Franklin and Mr. Reid, his ice muter. The
conversation lasted all the time the ships were close. That
Sir John, in answer to a question b: the declarant if be had
a good supply of provisions, and how long he expected them
to last, stated that ho had provisions for five years, and if
it were necessary he could 'make them spin out seven
years;' and he said, further, that he would lose no oppor-
tunity of killing birds, and whatever else was useful that
came in the way, to keep up their stock, and that he bad
plenty of powder and shot for the purpose. That Sir John
also stated that he had already got several casks of birds
salted, and had then two shooting parties out—one from
each ship. The birds were very numerous; many would
fall at a single shot, and the declarant has himself killed 40
at a shot with white pea.. That the birds are very agree-
able food, arc in taste and size somewhat like young
pigeons, and are called by the sailors roches.'
" That on the 26th or' Bth of the said month of July two
parties of Sir John's officers who hail been out shouting
dined with the declarant on board the Enterprise. There
was a boat with six from each ship. Their conversation was
to the same effect as Sir John's. They spoke of expecting
to be absent four or five, or perhaps six years. These
officers also said that the 'hips would winter where they
could find a convenient place, and in spring push on as far
as possible, and so on year after year, as the determination
was to push on as far as practicable.

"That on the following day an invitation was brought to
the declarant, verbally, to dine with Sir John, but the wind
shifted, and the Enterprise having cut through the ice about
• mile and a half, the declarant was obliged to decline the
invitation. That ho saw the Erebus and Terror for two
days longer; they were still lying at an iceberg, and the
Enterprise was moving slowly down the country. That so

numerous were the birds mentioned, and so favourable was
the weather for shooting them, that a very large number
must have been secured during the time the declarant was
in sight of the two ships. The Prince of Wales whaler was
also within sight during the most of the time. That from
the state of the wind and weather for a period of tea days,
during part of which the decd grant was nut in sight of the
two ships, the best opportunity was afforded fur securing the
birds. That the birds described are not to be found at all
places on the fishing ground during the whaling season,
but are met with in vast numbers every MIAMI on certain
feeding banks and places for brooding, and it appeared at
the time by the declarant to be a most fortunate circum-
stance that the Erebus and Terror had fallen in with so
many birds, and that the state of the weather was so fa-
vourable for securing large numbers of them. The de-
clarant has himself had a supply of the same description of
birds, which kept fresh and good during three months, at
Davis's Straits, and the lust were as good as the first of
them.

"Which declaration, above written, is now made con
scientiously, believing the same to be true.

" RUIiEUT MAILTIN.
Declared before me at Peterhead, this 20th by of
December, 1841,

" R. Git.trit, Provost of Peterhead."
(Seal of Peterhead affixed )

TIM MAIL PACKETS FOR AMERlCA.—llencrfor-
ward the British Contract Mail Packets to North America
will sail from Liverpool on every Saturday morning
throughout the year, after the arrival at Liverpool of the
mail from London of the previous evening. The packets
will proceed alternately to the ports of New York and Bos-
ton, calling, on the voyage to the latter port, at Halifax,
Nova Scotia.

DEPARTURE OF THE AMAZON.—The Royal West
India Mail Steam-packet Company's steamer Amazon,
Capt. Symons, left Southampton yesterday with the West
India and Mexican mails. The Amazon, which is named
after one of the celebrated South American rivers, is the
first of the gigantic fleet of West India mail packets which
has been got ready for sea, and is by far the largest mail
packet afloat. Great curiosity was manifested to sec her
departure. She has been lying for several days past off
Netley Abbey, in Southampton Water. At about 2 o'clock
yesterday afternoon the mails left Southampton Dock in a
small steamer, in charge of It. Lankceter, Esq., the local
postmaster, and Lieutenants Brady and D'Arthda, Admi-
ralty agents. At about 3 o'clock the mails were all on
hoard, and the Amazon's bell rung for her departure.
The mail steam tender, which appeared like a
small boat alongside the Amazon, towed the stern
of the latter round so as to make her bow point
down the river, when she most majestically proceeded na
her voyage. The steam tender followed her towards Cal-
shot Castle at full speed, but was soon left far behind. Pre-
vious to the two steamers separating the visitors and com-
pany on board the tender gave three hearty cheers, which
were responded to by the passengers and crew of the packet.
Among those present to witness the departure of the
Amazon were Captain Mangles, one et the managing
directors of the West India Company ; Captain Chappell,
the secretary ; Captain Barton, the Southampton super-
intendent ; and Lieutenant Austin, the mathematical
examiner of the company's officers ; also Mr. Masterman,
the son of the member for London, and Captain Nelson of
the Trinity Board. The Amazon hail on board 1,100 tons
of coal, 100 tons of cargo, amongst which was specie to the
value of 20,1001., and 41) passenuters. She appeared rather
deep in the water. The acoommodation on board for pas-
sengen, with respect to the magnitude and cenvenjenee if
the berths, are of a princely nature. The celebratM Great
Britain monster steamwhip had four engines, the Amazon
has only two, and her machinery is consequently of a colos-
sal calibre. Nothing appears to have been spared to render
the Amazon everything that the public or the government
could desire. The particulars of her build and machinery
have already been published. Her compasses were supplied
and adjusted by Mr. Stebbing, of Southampton, the com-
pam adjuster to the Peninsular and Oriental Company.
The regulation of ships' comp: owes is become quite a pro-
fession of itself. The deviation of the compass front lw]
attraction and other causes is different in each ship, and w
determined by intricate and elaborate calculations. It is
now determined and provided fur with such nicety :44
' greatly to assist navigation. The Amazon will proceed to
Oreytown by way of St. Thomas, Santa Martha, Carthi•
gene, and (.hams, and will return to Southampton by
nearly the same route early in March next.