The Express.
London, England, 1851-01-27 00:00:00

KR JOHN FRANKLLN.

Despatches have been received at the Admiralty'
from Captain Kellett, C. 8., of her Majesty's ship
Herald, dated " At Sea, the 14th of October, 1850," on
his return from Behring's Straits. The Herald had
communicated with her Majesty's ship Plover, on the
10th of July, at Chemise° Island, where the Plover
had passed the preceding winter. The two ships pro-
ceeded to the northward until they sighted the pack
toe, when the Herald returned to Cape Lisburne,
in quest of Captain Collinson's expedition, and on
the 31st fell in with her Majesty's ship Invewigator,
which had made a surprisingly short passage of
twenty-six days from the Sandwich blends. Tile
Herald remained craising off Cape Lisburne, and
again tell in with the Plover on the 13th of August,
on her return from Point Barrow, Commander Moore
having coasted in his boats, and minutely examined
the several inlets as far as that point horn Icy Cape,
without gaining any intelligence of the missing expe-
dition. Commander Moore and his boat's crew had
suffered severely from exposure to cold. Captain
Kellett, having fully victualled the Plover, ordered
her, to winter in Orantley Harbour (her former
anchorage at Chamisso Island rot being considered
safe), and then returned to the southward, on his way
to England.
Despatches have also been received from Captain
Collinson, C. 11., of her Majesty'. ship Enterprise, and
Commander M'Clure, of her Majesty's ship Investiga-
tor, of which the following are copies :
" Her Majesty's ship Enterprise,
" Port Clarence, Sept. 13, 1850.
"Sir,—l have the honour to transmit an account of the pro-
ceedings of her Majesty's ship under my command since
leaving Oahu, on the 30th of June.
" Bring delayed by light winds we only reached the west-
ern end of the Aleutian Chain by the 29th of July, and
made the island of St. Lawrence on the 11th of August,
from whence I shaped a course for Cope Lisburne, in antici-
pation of falling in with the Herald or the Plover. Not,
however, seeing either of these vessels, and finding nothing
deposited on shore, I went on to Wainwright Inlet, the last
rendezvous appointed. Here we communicated on the
15th, and being alike unsuccessful in obtaining any
information I stood to the north, made the ice
the following morning, and reached the latitude 72
deg. 40 min. N. in the meridian of 159 deg. 30 min.
W. without serious obstruction. Here, however, the pack
became so close that it was impossible to make way in any
direction except to the southward. Having extricated our-
stlves by noon on the 19th, we continued to coast along the
edge of the main body, which to k a south-easterly trend,
running through the loose streams, so as not to lose sight of
tight pack. At 4 a.m. on the 20th we were in the meridian
of Feint Barrow, and 29 miles to the north of it, when we
found open water to the N.E , is which we sailed, without
losing sight of the ice to the north until the moving of the
21st, when we were obstructed by a heavy barrier trending
to the S.W. A thick fog coming on, we made a board to
the north, in order to feel the peek edge in the upper
part of the bight, and not to leave any part unex-
plored. Having satisfied myself that no opening existed
la this direction, wet bore away to the south, running
through heavy floes closely pocked, and pushing to
the eastward when as opportunity offered. In
this, however, we were unsuccessfal, being compelled to
plume a westerly course, the fl es being very brag and
hummocks. By 8 p.m. we were within 30 miles of the
lend, end having clear weather, c nild see the me closely
packed to the south, that felt no doubt in my mind that a stop
was put to our proceeding in this direction, by the ice
butting so clomp on the shoal coast as to leave no chances
that our pregress along it would juloily the attempt to
reach Cape Bathurst, a distance of 570 miles, during the
remaining portion of this meson, aid finding this opinion
was coitefided in by those officers on hoard qualified to form
an opinion on the subject, I oetermined to lose no time
la communicating with Point Barrow, hut to attempt
the passage further north, in hopes that the lane
of water teen last ye .r by the Herald and Plover
would afford me an opening to the eastward. I
therefore reluctantly proceeded again to the west,
and turning the pack edge 15 miles further to the south than
it was on the day after we lett Wainwright Inlet, we followed
the edge of a loose pack greatly broken up until we reached
163 deg. W. longitude, when it took a sudden turn to the
north, in which direction we followed it until the morning of
the 27th, when we were in latitude 73 deg. 20 min., and found
the pack to the westward trending southerly. I therefore
plied to the eastward, endeavouring to make way, but such
was i,s close condition that we could not work, although we
might have warped through had the condition of the ice in
that direction afforded us any hope ; but ttie, I am sorry to
say, was not the case, and, on the contrary, the further we
entered the larger the floes became, leaving us in thick wea-
ther, often in great ditheuli where to lied a lane. Oa the 29th,
the thermometer having fallen to 28 dig., and there being no
prospect of our being able to accomplish anything towards
,he fulfilment of their lordships' instructions this season, I
bore away for Point Hope, where I arrived on the 31st, and
found a bottle deposited by the fiend i, which informed me
that it was intended to place the Plover in Orantley Harbour
this season. I accordingly proceeded thither, with the view
of taking her place for the winter and enabling Commander
Moore to recruit his ship's company by going to the south-
ward. On my arrival I found her inside preparing her
winter quarters, and having ex in.ined and buoyed the bar, I
attempted to take this vessel inside, but failed in doing so,
owing to the change of wind from south to north having
rethced the depth of water lour feet, arid had to relieve the
ship of 100 tons, which was quickly done by the opportune
arrival of the Herald, before she was released from a very
critical position. The tides being irregular, the rise and fall
depending principally on the wind, and that wind which
occasions the highest mat* r troducing a swell on the bur, it
became a question whether a considerable portion of the
ensuing seams might not be last in getting the shin out of
Orentley Harbour, and on consulting Captains Kellett and
Moore, finding it to be their opinion, founded on the expe-
rience of two years, that the whalers coming from the
south pass through the Straits early in June, whereas the
harbours are blocked until the middle of July, 1 have come
to the coneltedon that I shall better perform the important
duty conlidi d in me by returning to the south, and rept*.
nisbiog my provision., instead of wintering on the Asiatic
shore, where there is not a prospect of cur being of the slightest
area to the miming expedition. It is therefore my intention
to proceed to Hong Kong, it being nearer than Valparaiso,
and the cold season having set in, my stores and provisions
will not be exposed to the heat of a double passage through
the tropics; and as I shall not leave until the let of April, I
may receive any further instructions their hardships may
please to communicate.
"The Plover has been stored and provisioned, and such
of her crew as are not in a tit state to contend with the
rigour of a further stay in these latitudes have been removed
and replaced by Captain Kellett, and the paragraphs refer-
ring to her in my instructions
" 1 have directed Commander Moore to communicate

annually 11 iTab;lttid;
65 deg. 38m. N., and longitude 170 deg. 43as. W., which is
much reverted to by the whalers, and where any communi-
cation their lordships may be pleased to send May be de-
posited by them, as they are rot in the habit of cruising on
this side of the Straits; lad I have requested Captain Kel-
lett to forward to the Admiralty all tht information on this
bead he may obtain at the Sandwich Islands.
" It is my intention to proceed again to the north, and
remain in the most eligible position fur affording assistance
to the Investigator, which vessel having been favoured with
a surprising passage from the Sandwich Islands, was fallen in
with by the Herald, on 31st July, off Point Hope, and again
on the 6th August by the Plover, in latitude 70 deg. 44m.
N., and longitude 159 deg. 62m. W., when she was standing
to the north under a prey' of sail, and is all probability
reached the vicinity of Point Barrow 15 days previous to the
Enterprise, when Captain BUClure, having the whole season
before him, and animated with the determination so vividly
expressed in his letter to Captain Kellett, has most likely
takes the inshore route, and I hope before this period
reached Cape Bathurst; but as he will be exposed to the
imminent risk of being forced on a shoal shore, and com-
pelled to take to his boats, I shall not forsake the coast to
the northward of Point Hope until the season is so far
advanced as to insure their having taken up their winter
quarters for this season. .

" I have received trout my officers and ship's company
that assistance and alacrity in the performance of their duty
which the noble cause in which we are engaged must excite,
and I have the satisfaction to report, that (under the blessing
of God), owing to the means their lordships have supplied in
extra clothing and provision., we are at present without a
man on the sick list, notwithstanding the lengthened period
of our voyage.—l have, &c.,
COLLINBON, Captain.
" The Secretary of the Admiralty."
" Her Majesty's discovery ship favettigator,
" At Sea, lat. 51.26 N., Lnv. 172•35 W,,
" July 20, 1850.
" Sir,—As I have received instructions from Captain Col-
C. 8., clear and uneTharrassing (a copy of which I

inclose), to proceed to Cape Lisburne is tie belie of meeting
him in that vicinity, so he anticipates being detained a day
or two by the Plover in Kotzebue Sound, it is unnecessary
to add that every exertion shall he made to reach that mi-
di:mut, but can scarce venture to hope that, even under very
favourable circumstances, I shall be so fortunate as to accom-
plish it ere the Enterprise will have rounded that cape, as,
from her superior sailing, she has hitherto beaten u by
eight days to Cape Virgins, and from Magellan Straits to
Oahu six. It is, therefore, under the probable case that
this vessel may form a detached part of the expedition that
I feel it my duty to state, fer the information of the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the coarse which,
under such a contingency, I shall endeavour to pursue, and
have to request that you will lay the same before their lord-
' ships.
" 1. After parsing Cape Lisburne, it is my intention to
keep in the open water, which, from the different reports
that I have read, appear, about this season of the year to
make between the American coast and the main peek u
far to the northward u the 130 deg. meridian, unlew a
favourable opening should earlier appear in the ice, which
Would lead me to infer that I might push more
directly for Bank's Lard, which I thick is of the
utmost importance to thoroughly examine. In the
event of thus far succeeding, and the season continuing
favourable for further operations, it would be my anxious
desire to get to the northward of Melville Island, and resume
our search along its shores and the islands adjacent as long
as the navigation can be carried 00, and then secure for the
winter in the most eligible position which offers.
" 2.1 a like ensuing spring, as sion as it is practicable kw
travelling puttee to start, l should despatch as many as the

mete ef the new will admit of, la different directions, sash
king. provided with 40 due' provolone, with dirge .ions to
esiallstae mustily all bays, inlets, and islands towards the
11.1., 'needing incestoitally some of the highest points of
Ind, so se to b, enabled to obtain extended views, being
partipalarly cautious in their advance to °beery. any Ma—
nn= of a break up in the ice, so that their return es the
ship may be effected without heard, even tutors the en-
penditore of thee provisions would otherwise reader it
atottoory.
o 3 Supposing the 'parties to have returned without ob.
seisicg any clue of th., absent ships, sad the venal liberated
about the let of August, my object would then be to push
es towards Wellington titbit. assuming that that channel
Commionestes with the Polar Sea, and search both its shores,
realer in so diirg some indication should be met with to
show that parties from an_y of Captain Autin's ves els had
previously dose so, when I should return, and endeavour to
penetrate in the direction of Jones's Sound, carefully
examintil every plac: that was practicable. Sir, should
Oaf eff.ro to ~ash this point be successful, en. in the route
so moo are diecernible of the log missing expedition, I
should not thee be en .bled longer so divest myself of the
sow" painful as it mum, be to arrive at such a conclusion,
that all semen aid would then be perfectly unavailing; marl
therefore, under much a enithiction, I would think it nay duty
if possible, to return to E belied, or at all events endsavcur
110 reach roe* post that would insure that object epos the
following year.
"t. Is the event of this being our last coalmen's:sties,
I would request you to Witte their lordslips that so
apprehenyce whatever need be entertained of our safety
IOW the auto= of ISA, as we Lave on board three years
of ail species of provision, eommeneing from the Ist of
September proximo, which, without much deprivation, may
be mge to evend a period of four years; as, moreover,
whatever is killed by borates pieties I intend to inns in
lieu of the unto rations, whack will still farther protract Our
111s0Ofttl.
It gives me gnat pleasure to say that the good effects
of the fruit an-I vegetables (a large quantity of which we
rook os board at (fuhuu) are very perceptible is the
iscrested vigour ot the men, who at this sonnet are uas
am:ellen condition Os it is partible to della*, and evince •
spirit el cochleae. and cheerfulness el dimpoction which are
beyond .11 st.preeist ion.
6. Shout. ilitheulties apparently insurmountable encomi-
um our progress sou to render it • matter of doubt whether
the Yowl could be intrusted, I should deem it expedient in
that case sot to laurel the live. of these entrusted to my
Charge slue the whiter M 18Sl, but in the ensuing spring
sett the vessel with sledges tad busts, and make the best of
en way either to Poeu's Bay, Leopold lisithour, the /Ilse
bane, se he whalers, areariths to anemones..
Fierily. la Ufa later 1 have endeavoured to give an
astlise Of what I with t accomplish (and what, under mode,
lately favourable seaaocs, sppears to no attainable), the
earning °snot which, however, nut raving upon human ex. r.
tins, it is imp-oath!e s wen to surmise it any, or what, portion
sal be successful. But my object in addressing you is to
place their lordships is possession of my intuitions up to
tie lictit period, far as possible to relieve their minds
from any acts, coral; anxiety es to our fats, and having
dens Ude, a duty wino is it cumbent, from the deep spa.
pithy expressed by their lonLhips, and participated in by
▪ sane of sou coactrynsi a, is the interesting obi, et of
this eapeilaton, I have only to add that with the ample
ROCKIXCeII whoh a beneficent goverr.ment and a generous
nutty have placed at oar disposal (and anything that can
add to our tooled beius winning) we eater upon this die
yaguithed service with a firm determination to carry oat, as
far sr in oar feeble e- nsgth. we are permitted, their bone•
what lAtelllitAL-1 hey., &e.,
si lt,,•cor /11'Citths, Commander."