The Express.
London, England, 1852-11-09 00:00:00

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

THE SEARCH FOR SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.

Last evening the opening meeting of the session
of 1852-3 took piece in the theatre of the Itnyal Institution,
SIT R. MURCIIIIION, the President, in the

4-,-:

A number of new members were cleated, and the minutes
of the last meeting confirmed, after which,
The Paulus:4v said—Gentlemen, in opening the first
meeting of this session I must be allowed to congratulate
you on the prosperous condition of this society. Our list of
members had greatly augmented when I last met you, and
now, on re-assembling, fifteen fresh candidates are proposed
for admission into the Royal Geographical Society. With
these end other signs of prosperity, one of the best of which
is, the new volume which is now laid en the table (and
which every member receives without charge), I have hut
one sentiment of regret to express, and that I trust will I
soon be obviated. We have not yet obtained that grant of
an apartment which hes so often been requested at the
hands of former governments. In presenting your petition
last season to our vice-President, Prince Albert, I
beseeched Ifie Royal Ilighneu to eaoperate with
us in the endeavour to obtain an apartment
and if this request should have been complied with, I
answered for it in your name that the Royal Geographical
Society would in return offer a "map office," accessible to
all her Majesty's servants and the public. I still adhere to
the hope that even when this proposition is fairly con-
sidered, we must obtain the small boon we aik for. In
truth, we know that in this instance we may count upon
the support of all enlightened economists, end particularly
of Mr. Joseph Hume—(hear, hear)—for they know that in
this great commercial country, and with our nit colonies,
there is no office where public men can consult authentic
geographical records; and that we who are in possession
of many thousands of maps and charts now offer to carry out
such a Man at an expense of no more than 400/. or 5001. per
annum to the British people. No other scientific society
W It in its power to offer such practically useful results
de se small a monetary consideration. We ,nter
upon tldeseleion, gentlemen, with renewed hope of obtaining
iatellience of the missing arctic expedition, of four
gelbuit countryman, Sir J. Franklin, and his associates.
(Hear, hear.) As geographers, we doubted what has
recently transpired ; for I only expressed your sentiments
when I dwelt in my last address on the belief we enter-
tained that the resolute character of Franklin must have
billneed him le sail boldly northwards through Wellington
Obsomel, sad that the energetic and skilful officer who was
We mat I. @web of him would as certainly follow him In
the ling Peovidentially, Wellington Channel has this
your boom howl open, and Sir Edw. Belcher has, I trust,
theemetally pool Onset it; and, if so, our told navi-
gators may herniae mid hopeful of all the paths yet ex.
Vifor the keener" of our mining friends. (Hear.)
Admiral Sr John Franklin still be met with, so that,
veraosing to us, he may find that his sovereign has con-
fined on him a saw title in his absence. (Hear, hear.)
Doodep !sthe aspirations of old friends and get-
MC IA ien,MC lAyour attention to the memoirs to be
nos -thlseverning. The first of these is by that intrepid
Arctic semis. Kennedy—(hear, hear)—who during the
last two yeses bee oesentesded the Prince Alberta ship
fitted out, he the baths of Lady Franklin, entirely at her
own coat. 31e. IlLesmody, who is present, will point out to
you, on an enlarged map, prepared by Mr. Arrowsmith,
the coasts he has traversed and the researches le accom-
plished under great difficulties, aided in no small degree by
a noble rent French officer, Lieut. Bella, who won
golden mimeos from every one of his associates. Mr. Ken-
nedy will further relate to you how, when be left Frank-
lin's last known station, at Beech, Island, the squadron
under Bslchss,was wending its way just where we prayed
it might steer; and, when I tell you that we have with us
this weenies the courageous and experieaeed Arctic voyager
Penny, whose name is justly connected with the most
northern hoes yet discovered in that longitude, you cannot
doubt that to have is him a person thoroughly qualified to
discuss the whole subject of Arctic end rs, now that the
power of Mom and the use of the screw have elicited hopes
whisk I. Odes times might have been considered visionary.
alimiks tote ellbrts which have been made by indivi-
dumb k kb haws cause, I need scarcely remind you of
to iamb afar Franklin which was executed through the
seemilinnes eta single citizen of the United States, Mr.
Odwee4 who, in eoeesgse was elected by your &ala-
i masa es hwassery of' this society ; nor of the able
womorls whisk Ospleis De Hawn, of the American navy,
carried eat Om pretest sad was amongst etbe foremost in
dimmosieg sew Mai. Oa our own part we endeavoured
to send sok(theugis bete again Lady Franklin was the
great seekkoier) the little Isabel screw-steamer, end
though eiremerrnernes, over which the Geographers had no
control, prevented this vessel from proceeding to Debring's
Strain, as we wished the subscribers will be pleased to
learn that Captain Inglefield, R.N., who so generously
came forward in the hour of need, has pushed on for
Smith's Sound, at the north end of Baffin's Bay, to endea-
vour to determine whether there may not there exist a
passage into the Polar Ocean. Thirdly, you will have
account, from Captain Macguire, who went out, you will
recollect, to assume the command of the Plover store-ship,
on the north-west coast of America ; and you will
learn frost the letters of that officer how deeply
he deploees (lepiher with his predecessor, Captain
Kellett, ILIN_A. mad all geographers) that no 'crew-
steamers shimid yet have been despatched to Behring's
Straits, sad bow he is persuaded that without the use of
such a veseeiteres the Plover and her provisions will prove
useless, booms Soy are immovable. Lastly, Mr. Peter-
man will umminieste some important data respecting
former Arnie voyages of the Dutch and English, that led to
those whale ((Aeries which for • long time have proved a
source didn't peek to this nation, and were the nurseries
of the birdied, women. He is anxious to convince you and
the pails that It the plan of Ando research, which he
sospothi last yem, by passing through the Spitsbergen
liscs, be adopted, ear merchants may then have a
met sew Bourse of wealth laid open to them, by
Naehig waters in which the largest proportion of
whim have of late years found themselves free
team the assaults et men. But whatever may be the old-
MOS 411111111MOSili rusks of an endeavour to reach the Nine
Sus Is stem mesh directed through the only bread open
channel M. to them (or that between Spitsbergen and
Now /11rnehlO, we, as mographers are bound to encourage
such ressisass, mid skeeially becausel in addition to their
promeeksetsolisesluse,they must present us with a greater
number of dream of eseemaining the fate of our missing
countrymen se hear.) And if it should please our
rulers to em the two little Arctic vessels, the
Lady Y sad the Sophia, now lying stelae
at Issow sod siding them with steam power, should
wade them Wampum of whaling veseele,like Penny, who
is. appeal be a life of loos and approved services in the
sellers sees— (hear, hear) —then, indeed, we may
imeseehly begs for an issue which, if not successful in
meek. lee espekdon, will prove of great national value,
sad pkee es, penhance, on a level with oar kinsmen of the
Dated lest.., the, to their great mkt, have won for
theorems is the lest few yams • may hoestive trade amid
the Ilse el thesemb,by parkokg ink, end even through,
Behring's Oinks. In we Immt from then ports of
their government, that in the Meat years alludes:an
mine Animism seems were ad In that
district of is.. this are emijed in the whole
earn at emy one time, sad theftthe large amount
of kthimiMies MO= hell bees LW up by those hardy
make= eat of weitommele Is 'Ma bat very few Bri-
tish sesseheols boys owe matured. (Hear.) Let it
thenthes be weerleisol it tide Pier bath can be reached
repiky by us thesugh the ftWieopm sea, • project which
is, I Whew, windy approval by ism of our members, in-
naval who lam tong best connected with
Aretiemovery. (Apolsrass.)
Dr. Holmanw then reed Captain Kesedy's paper,
whisk deseribed the pregame of the e=thes of
Nil by Pekoe Reseat's Inlet, end
emtkereet of Cape walker which Ste him Fres=
thelesellese iikested him to explore. The expedition pro-
seeded ham Hope Dal across Victoria Strait, weetwerd,
until it rooked MO Aggress west longitude, and, !soaks
Caps essthlsol the land for sewed miles, but
Oast =wee et Sir John Franklin'. party ;
the esseisies Rime* arrived at being that the
Jambi spades seMi set have gess by Cape Walker,
beg woe hove teltes the southern route. The important
supplied results of this envies wee the discovery of a
from legast Inlet to Victoria Chattel ; thus prey.
siblethe of a mirth-west lessege. The paper
Mod that is the selekbrarbood of Thank Straits there
were earls limod Is peel makes sad abusdesse.
Throbs Wks Doss eseseded ieOgee& Xesseedy for
his pope, obolesele were reed be. Woo meshed from
ComoroSoo E:1, of the wow dipmmoryvessel, babel,
datedae Jay IS deg. II hog. 16 deg. 67 W.,
le Pards" of wide the following are
the meet }comfiest t
" All be seae well with us es yet, and the few calms
we have bell have steamed oat at about three knots per
hour. I am hill et aszieme hope that the mason may
prove open, sal seestives set tee lato. I learn that Adam
Book is elk et Upssad I intend ng his
messily tea powerful test by earthy 201. putting
iftti he will
aossewny me to the soot Kthe eskieleekip ghe he reported,
and prove the truth of his" Maths, bet faillog this, to re-
ceive so ether reward than his peovilese. This will not
Utak the on my voyage, as I 'Mead oaks at Holstein-
beep. After rounding Cape Farewell, we moon became
seresoakd with ice, and before midnight were fairly
Ido.amengit heavyirek, and but for the timely prudence of
have been embayed. However, work.
log her ont'this way we came in, soon brought us outside.
Ansa 3.—lse dill about us in heavy packs, and again in
thektomet lee, with large bergs amongst it."
commoakation, dated " Oodhaven, August 12,"
have Just arrived, and am making geed my looses,
nod sail in • kw hours. The squadron, under Sir E.
lekbrn, has beset hew and you will ham heard of him
leLors this makes you."
fallowing extract of a letter from Captain Yuguire,
g ant Plover in Behring's Straits, addressed to Mr.
, was dm read : " It appears to me ncaessari to my
that in the event story set hearing from Captain. Tim
this year, sothiog but • simmer will be of any me to war
smaicate with us in 1853; Weida, there will be a weer
Ithjs for it to follow Captains Witham and M'Clure with
I Widest assistance. The length of the abeam of the latter
lby that time will make such a step neeeseery. It is much
to be regretted that the advantage of laving • easel in so
desirable a tion as Point Barrow should be left le the
chance of the Plover being able to get there, es ft is well
situated fgparties to fail back upon from Captain Collin-
son's Exprition to north and east, and also for thou of
our long miming countrymen under Sir J. Franklin from
the north and west. They will make for it, no doubt, from
both quarters, as the moat direct in their route towards rue-
mar and safety. Them eirenmstanoss make the necessity
foe the meisteacie of a steam Mader to the Plover apparent :

it "mid also enable the search to be extended in the direc-
tion that Bit E. Belcher's parties may be expected ; u I
thiak it not at all improbable that some of his extended
' partite in the weond year will not be fsr from Point Barrow.
I hope, at all events, that on the receipt of the return die,
patches by the Amphitrite, which will arrive its England
about Christmas, the state of the Sebring Straits expedition
will be brought under consideration. Where they cannot
go out on the east side without the assistance of steam,
surely on the west side, when the difficulties of the nave
station are increased by the shealness of the water, the same
auxiliaries mast be still more advantageous."
Mr. PITNEY/LE next read a communication, in which he
stated his opinion that the missing expedition, if found at
all, would be met with on the Asiatic side of the polar
regions, and dwelt upon the add these regions would open
up to the whale fishery.
Captain PENNY also expressed an opinion that Sir John
Franklin's expedition must be approaching the Asiatic
shores, and that any search to he made for it should pro-
ezed by Behring Strait and Nova Zembla. Atter passing
the strait the expedition would enter the Arctic
Ocean, where a large sea existed, and where, if
commenced sufficiently early in the season, there
would be four months for active operations. Within that
period, and with the assistance of steam power, the pole
Itself might almost be traversed. Looking at the opening
to British commerce these regions afforded, and the still
higher incentives of humanity, it would be a disgrace to
this country to neglect to prosecute the search, for which
duty he should be happy to offer his services. lie men-
tioned, as an important fart, calculated to strengthen the
hope that Sir John Franklin's expedition had not perished,
that a party of twelve American seamen had wintered in a
little bay in the regions he proposed to explore and had
during their stay there killed no lees than thirteen whales,
which would have been sufficient to have supported Sir
John's party from the day they embarked till the present
time.

Captain BRICHT considered that any future expedition
that might be sent out should go up to the westward of
Spitsbergen, toward, the Seven Islands, and that it shoal
consist of screw steam.vessels
Dr. Nichelay, Dr. Trueman, Mr. Sanders, and other
members, having ifffLred a few umiak',
The CHAIRMAN closed the meeting, and in doing so read
a letter from the French Minister of Marine to Lady Frank-
lin, in which he amply recognised the merits of the young
French officer, Lieut. Dellieu, who had been sent out as
parlor the late expedition, and altogether refuted an im-
pression which he (the chairmen) said had circulated to
some extent here, that that officer had not met with those
marks of distinction in his own country, which his conduct
merited.

REVIVAL OF CONVOCATION.