The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-08 00:00:00

4) we Maud the 'l' truelove, Captain reface, which had put
in the day peeve may with I.er bow stove; she had received
this deism ameug the ice in the gale of the previous Wf d
'lmlay. I rendered her every assistance, with a carpenter
and server. and towed him to sea at daylight on the mort-
ise of the 20th ut Septet:ten r, currying him out to an offing
of ter miles. He tepee.. th alt the weet..ra were emboli
among the ice in that gale, and he much fear d they had
reesived saute damage, hut up in his acquainting me thee
were all in such eh.-c company that the crews of any di.-
stied vessels would surely escape to the others, I did not
deem it necessary to delay my return to Englautl by gulag
over to the fishing ground.
Silica rounding Cope Farewell, a sueeessios of strong
northerly and w. lastly winds have favoured our return, and
we sighted land on the 3rd inst.
38. And how, sir, I beg to relate, in a summary manner,
the intelligence gleaned trout the searehing MajltifOllS' and
Int, with reference to Sir Edward Belcher, I have little
else to say but that he wintered in a spot he had named
Northumberleed Sound, in lat. 76.52 N., and long. 97 W..
Dear the p.sitiin now marked in the charts of n ellingtua
Channel as Cape Sir Julio Franklin. From Captain Pollen
I learnt that not the slightest traces of the missing expedi-
tion hail been mit with, either by this or the western
breech of the scarehffie squadron, and that it was ceidently
'he intention of Sir Edward Belcher to return to lbechey
Island a. soon as possible. For the rest, Sir Edward's
despatches will convey at: further information
39. Captain Kellett wintered at Dealy Is.and, Melville
Island ; he bat a narrow escape of losing his ship ua the
e4ffit of his departure from Beechey blind ; she greunded
eff Cape Celbuarn, sad wan ugly got off atter ice had
set down upan her, casting her over on her bro..dside, and
with the :OSS Of GO feet of Ler false keel.
It wan a party (ran his Teml that discovered the des-
patch of Captain al`Clure at Winter Harbour, and was thus
led to the Investigator's position, a brier account of tile
voyaee and di:call:rice of which vessel I will now relate.
40. Their lordships will remember that it was on the Grit
of August, 18-50, that the Investigator was last seen running
to the north.-eastward with studding sails set. They rounded
Point Barrow with much difficulty.
At the river Colville, in 110 d. g. W., they were detained
some day., and then thick weather, fogs, and contrary
winds set in, the latter prosier rather an advantage to us,
as it kept the ice open, and the necessity of working to
windward between the Piler Puck and the gradually
sloping there gave them the means of avoiding &turn On
the eGth of August they rem, bed the mouth of the Mitchell.
lie, the pack at this part being upwards ut 90 miles di-tent.
Oa the 30th :hey were off Cape Bathurst.
When at Ceps Parry open water t' the northward in-
dated Captain M'Clurc to push for Banks' Land, and when
about 60 miles fr. en this cape they fell in with an unknown
coast, which was minted Baring blind. Passing up a
Straka between this island and a COW that WAS called Prime
Albert's Land, they reached the latitude of 73 1. g., where
ice impeded their further progress. The season suddenly
changing, the ship was beset end forced to winter in the
peek. DriPieg to the southward, they were ultimately
frown up in lat. 72.40 N., long. 117.30 W.
The 'hug parties in the spring found no traces of
the missing expedition, hut discovered and laid down much
oh the adjacent coasts.
On the 14th of July, 18.51, the ice br le up, and freeing
the ship an endeavour was mode to perm to the unrth ear.'
towards Melville Island, but an impenetrable pack in lati-
tude 75.3- north, longitude 11.5 west, precluded their com-
pleting whit their autumn travelling parties hail proved to
he the north-wept p+.--arc. An attempt was now made to
round the a utheen shore et Baring Island, and proceed up
the west side, and with great peril to the vessel they suc-
ceeded is reaching as far as latitude 71.6, and longitude
1:7.12, where they were teasels in on the 24tharf Septem-
ber, 18.41, and have Ile Cr since been able to move the
ship. Their neerd was deposited at Winter Harbour the
year following Commander M'Clintoek's visit, while cut-
played on Capt. Austen's expedition.
41. There are two remarkable discoveries mentioned in
Captain M'Clure's journal, viz., some smoking hillocke and
a petrified forest. lie also states that during his intercourse
with the nutlet s, he only once met with any hostile demon-
strations. This occurred at Point Warren, near the Mac-
kenzie, where on attempting to land, two natives with
threatening gestures waved them off, it was not without
much difficulty that they were pacified, and then they re-
lated that all their tribe but the chief and his sick son, had
fled on seeing the ship, alleging as a reasou that they eared
the ship had come to revenge the death of a white man they ,
had murdered some time aeo. They (through the in-
terpreter), related that some white men had come there in
s boat, and, that they built themselves a house and lived
then; at last the natives murdered our, and the others
escaped they snow not where, but the murdered man was
buried in a spot they pointed out. A thick fog coming on,
prevented Captain M'Clure from examining this locality,
witch is much to be regretted, as here is the probable po-
sition a boat patty endeavouring to return by the Mac
kenrie, would have encamped.
42 I have now only to state further for their lordships'
information on this head that Commander M'Clure had
made arrangements for deserting the ship, to have been
carried out a few days later than the opportune arrival of
the officer from the Resolute, and that Captain Kellett
sent his surgeon to report upon the health of the crew. lie
also &sin d that should there not be among them 20 men
who would volunteer to remain another winter Captain
M`Ciure was to desert his vessel. The Intrepid was ex-
pected at Beechey Island with the crew, and Sir Edward
Nigher had ordered the North Star to be prepared on her
errand to proceed to England, sailing on the lst of Sep-
tember, and to leave the Intrepid at Beechy Island in her
stead.
43. I have now, in concluding the intelligence gained
concerning the Artie searching squadron, to acquaint their
lordships of the dangerous potation in which the North
Star passed the winter. Shortly after I left Beechy Island
last year in my yacht, the Isabel, a violent gale which 1
encountered in the straits drove the North Star on shore,
whets she remained during the whole winter, and was only
got off this spring without much difficulty.
44. Herewith I enclose a chart, showing the tracts of the
vessels of my squadron on their outward voyage, and this
vessel homeward ; also the several alterations and additions
weds in the coast line of Greenland. This is marked C 5 ;
elMs a chart on Merestor's plan, marked C 6, showing the
MOB west passege, with all the latest discoveries, and the
meets explored by each expedition up to this data in search
OW missies squadron.
From C 1 to C 6, are the surveys and plans made dur-
ing the voyage, and alluded to in this despatch. From L
1 to L 7, are the copies of letters therein spoken of, and en-
closures 31 3 to 31 10, are copies of the memorsodums and
orders issued by me, as amine akar at Beechey Island.
The drawings are sketched from D 1 to D 24, 'chi-
biting several positions of the ships during the voyage,
and headlines, coastline, and views taken at different times,
also a drawing of the Investigator, wintering in the peck,
made from a sketch, and the description by Lieutenant
Creswell.
In natural history we are able to add a large collection
of minerals to our museum ; nearly 1,000 specimens of ores
and earthy substances have been obtained at different
parts of the coasts of Greenland. Specimens also of the
flower, leaf, and root plants, of all the kinds we have
met with, are easefully preserved ; and such crustaneous
and other creatures from the animal kingdom, as our limited
means have allowed its to collect, are prepared for the na-
turalists.
A careful meteorological journal his been kept, a tide
register at Holsteinbeeg, and a great many observations
made on the direction dip and force of the magnet. These
have been carried on by Mr. Stanton, and the late la-
mented M. Ballot, whom industry in this branch of science
is well proved by the mass of valuable matter he has left
behind.
I have only now to beg their lordships will aeeept my
assuranceof the pinta satisfaction I have received in the
conduet;of every diem and men in the expedition during
a period of incessant labour, continual hardship, and fre-
quently imminent peril ; each his done his duty with a
zeal and alacrity that I find it hard to individualise.
Oa all occasions I have received the most prompt co-
operation from my First-Lieutenant, Mr. Elliott, who, as
at old officer, I would beg to recommend to their lordships'
notice.
Among our numbers six only of the officers and men had
been among the ice before, yet I invariably found them as
active in their employment, while engaged with that tread'.
moue element, as the most experienced whalers, and what-
ever the service, the danger, or the emergency, I had only
to order and it was promptly executed. Without such hearty
co-operation on the part of both officers and men, I
must say I could scarcely have completed all that his
been done ; and I have only further to state for their lord-
ships' information that to the officers this expedition has
been a very serious expense. Obliged to equip themselves
and store their mess for an arctic winter, they have re-
turned to England, after an absence of little more than
four months from the time they sailed from Cork, and
thus their pay cannot cover the expenses of such a costly
estit. It is more particularly heavy to the juniors,
whose expenses were the same, while their pay is consi-
derably less.
My remark book contains much information I have
sathered during the voyage upon many subjects, and this
engeffegsaies my charts and drawings.
I bevy yen will assure their lordships of my anxiety to learn
ist their approval of my proceedings, more especially as
I toned it necessary upon so many occasions to take upon
Myself a responsibility which nothing out of the circum-
stances in which 1 was placed could otherwise have justified.
les lly refer to the despatch of the Diligence to Beg-
, and the delicate task of disregarding the orders of my
senior officer.
I omitted to mention that on our return south through
leffin's Bay, we tried for soundings at a spot marked in
tie Track Chart, with 2,870 fathoms, without geting bottom.
TIN line was upwards of three hours and a half in running
est, and the lead employed more than cwt.
I have also to state in conclusion, that I ordered Mr.
WCormick to joie my ship for a passage to England, learn.
Iles that he had finished the work that he was appointed to
'the North Star to perform, and his desiring to leave the
ship. I also ordered, as per memorandums 3,4, 6,8, 9,
miff 10, certain exchanges among officers and men belonging
to this ship and the North Star.
The pay-books of this ship are made up, and are enclosed
with the despatches.
I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient humble
servant, AANetbartmln, Commander.

Admiralty-office, Oct. 7.
Sir,—l have the honour to acquaint you for the informa-
tion of the Lords Commissioners of the Admirelt" of my
airiest in London this morning, with Captain Inglelield, of
her, ,Majesty's ship Phoenix, having bean charged with
Commander M'Clure's despatches by Captain Kellett, of her
Majesty's ship Resolute, which an herewith transmitted,