The Express.
London, England, 1859-11-15 00:00:00

(Stamped Id.:,idditionaL)

ROYAL OZOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY'.

The opening meeting of the session was held
yeaterday evening, at the Rooms in Burlington House. The
' attendance was unusually large, and included Admirals
Asada, Fitsßoy, and Love; Captains Sir E. Belcher, Col-
lision, Shoran Osborn, Hobson, Crawford, Crofton, Coch-
rane, Nonosh, Ryder, Bediegfold, and Lenestar, MN.;
Canals A. Toone; Dn. King, et.Coreose.i, and
R.N. • Captain W. Harrieurt, Walker, sad i'arker Snow ;
the Bari of fioeffield, Sir J. Copley, Sir T. Fremantle, Sir
N. Pally, Sir J. Kay Shattleworth, Sir J. Shell, Genial'
Pollock, Portlock, Fox, and Benson Colonel J• 1134.,
Cap-
tains Burton and Rice; Dr.. Gibson, Hodgkin, booth ;
Mr. Wane, M.P.; Mr. D. Seymour, M.P.; and Mr.
Grey,
The Earl of Ripon, the presideot, was to have take. the
chair, but owing to the deathlcif hisuncle, Earl De Grey,
which took place that morning, he meld not attend, and in
hie stenos Sir K. 1. Idoncinewr presided, and having ex-
plained the reason why he was celled open to take the chair
called on Dr. Shaw, the seentary, to read the minutes of this
lest meeting. Atterwasda the names of the several applicents
for membership ware read over, aU of whom were ballotted in.
Captain M•Cenneen, R.N. (who wee very heart*
), thee reed a paper upon the discoveries made by the
peered)
in search of Sir John Franklin. This paper
described the voyage of the Fox, and the various incidents of
the search, which have already been published in the Admi-
ralty despatchet, in the newspaper., and in other forms.
The paper was illustrated and explained by diagram. and
drawings prepared by Captain R. Goihneon, &N. and Mr.
Parker Snow, showing the mite taken by the expedition, the
more interestiort points In which were pointed out by Captain
Collinson, R.N., aa they were referred to by Captain
Mtaintook. A model of the Fox was exhibited on the table,
as wao also the original reoqd of the unfortunate Franklin
expedition found in the cairn at Ring Willis..'. Lead, aid
naromona pins and maps.
The CU•11111AN observed that pi:culling ea he did on the
present owsion the position which e filled when Sir J.
Franklin went out on his teat (menthes., it was with no
lamb emotion that he rose to say • few worda upon the
subject which Captain M•Clintack's paper had brought to
their notice. Sir J. Franklin was at the tiros of whin he
spoke Vice President of toe Geographical Society, sad he
had looked forward for many yews with hope to see him
return and till the place which was now et, unworthily held
by himself. For many years not only Great Britain,
but to their honour the people and government of
the Unitei State. had sought in vain for some traces ,
of our unfortunate and. toot fellow-caintrymen, who
it was now proved had perished in the Arnie regions. ;
The most doungumbed of our Arctic's:phew, many of whom
he was hippy to see around him; Captain Collinsue—(bear,
hear)—Captain Osborn-0..0-81 Z. Beicher—(lieer)—
and he believed Admiral Austin—(cheerej--all these, and i
many other eminent man, had .ought, and sought in vain, 1
for this record which the last expedition older Captain
M'Clintock had dimovered, and which revealed so us terthe
first time the fate of Franklin and his sesociates. This was a
triumph—a triumph for the British nation; and let I
him add that it bad been accomplished by the energy
and devotion of an Englishwoman. (Great cheering.)
To Lady Franklin must be *acceded the great ,
praise of having, despite difficulties and discouregensenta
of no, ordinary character, partnered in the cause she had so I
man at heart until she sent out • fourth expedition, which
was sooosedul after three previous nee had failed. (Hear, I
bear.) To bar, therefore, mast be amend the greaten W.; ,
sour dist had ever fallen to the lot of any Englishwoman— ,
that of peeving her devotion in sack • nun and of mann
such • result. (Cheers.) He would not attempt to enter
into an analysie of the views which bad been laid before
them by Captain M'Cllntock in his able communication, bet j
he would take that opportunity of announcing that j
then was forthcoming • work, which he had already had the ,
privilege mot ored reading,
ild and sal
theyy Lou: findt
tonawrlteadi
Captain M'Clintock bad scarcely done justice In the published ,
despatches and the paper they bad heard read—the incidents
of the expedition, and the truth which that gallant either I
end his associates had gone through. Some of them (Captain ,
Hoban and Dr. Walker) had been mentioned in the paper,
sad Captain Allen Young—(chew) a gentleman who,
though connected with our mercantile saline, had thrown j
not only his own services into this great venture, hut had ,
mancribed 6001. towards the expenses. (Loud cheers.)
Captain ld`Clintook had not given half ' midis
enough to the real merits of en expedition the
minim of which IMO glorious in a geogn hies' point of
view, for they had proved the navigability of the Belot •
Owens, and, for the Aret time, had pointed out the earth-
wen point of the American matinee (Hear, ken.) These
were great results, end when they read el the difficulties
simian which then who had attained them had had to
Waggle threegh, when they nod at their sufferinge—many
el them having been offiimed a ;nit past of the time wita
sow Madame—Win they reed all the interesting facts
cownesd with the expedition is the work to which he
bed ebesdy alluded, they would be surprised, as well as
delighted, at the success which had been achieved. (Hear.)
With vegan to the difficultise—had they not heard that the
little yawl, of only 170 tons, la which Copula M'Clintock
went out—the Fox-after having in the fret year almost
made the pawn woes Baffin's Bay, we en fast
in the winter ice and drifted back agate 1,200 miles into
the Atlantic? Weald an that have discouraged any other
man from proceediag? HO, to use a militimy Wren, be re-
turned to the than* sad an what he bad anted—bow he
had made these Important Isseverfse, sal nestled Sc, the
Seat time the fete of Finkle and bb semeistes. (Chem)
He bit that se Eaglishases we owed • deep debt of gratitude
—bet,
and to Lady Franklin be esakag • a bat this lestespial-
Wm, next to Capella Walatock ihr the wassist la
which he had carried it am. lb would net further detela
them, bat should be glad to hoer any reenarks from these
gentlemen la the room who were, from experience in Arctic
research, competent to 'peak upon the subjoin. One thing,
however be would sdd before sitting down, that was that
there wild be no doubt now that Franklin went farther
north in • ship than any other European bad aver
reached. (Hear, mar.)
Sir H. Bm.cmita believed that Sir John Franklin went up
Wallington Channel as far as Crescent Island. He could go
no
farther, but was blocked in the mine way that his (Sir E.
Beleher.s) ezpodition was. When he looked at the lee et
Creston Island he thought that any meal subjected to such a
pressure would be dearoyed. After that they toned that there
wee a clearway off the land, and be regretted that he had not
ban there 24 hours earlier to pass through, But Sir J.
Fraaklln mast have gone up on the other Ode, or he could
sot hen mesa the channel to return by. He must have gone
to the west of King William's Land, and not down Peel's
Sound ea had been supposed.
Corbin Cohintsue—The most important and biteneting
Information, next to the fate of Sir jolts Franklin, which
Captain bl'Clintock brought beak was the extraordinary cha-
nnel:Wes as to the crow.. There weft nine wrens miming,
and had he been in the same poultice 'Racy'. Crean co his
seemed voyage, he would have sent a boat beabytheM'Kensie
to the Hudson's Bay Cooney Matta( that he required
further assistatioe. (Bear, how.) In the pine of wood
which he (Captain Collinsoc) picked: up at Flalasen's
Islaad, they bad good 11118011 to think that sine part of the
Ernes and Tenor bed pined hy the wed el that island, and
wee perhaps deposited then. Daises they searched three
pines in July and August It wee umbes. With regard to
the abandonment of the ships by thole crews. When them
ships railed to do 40 deuitravalling by sledge away frees
the ships was • groat th ,• now they could do 80. But to
do 40 with • another of sck was Impossible. The fact was
that the expedition arrived at the Great Fish River too early
for the water to be open, and having no provisions they there
met with their death. The result confirmed an opinion be
mar year. ago, but he had not discouraged the march,
he had himself been within 40 miles of the spot where
the Mowery of the remains were made, bat he rejoiced that
the horror of the discovery had fallen upon so worthy a
member of the same prolemion. He referred in teems
of warm eulogy to the energy end devotion of Lady
Freaking, and remarked that it was due to Franklin to
acknowledge, that what Columbus began Franklin com-
pleted, viz., the discovery of the American continent.
Captain iluswinn; Osawor expressed a conviction that
the march after the Fraaklin expedition was sow closed, sod
that it wee Forked, twins to wren it further. Alter
perusing the journal which bad been found, he was convinced
that whatever track the miming men of the WWI of the
Erebus and Terror took, they had perished at Beeohy 'stead,
beyond which no trace of them had been found.
Captain Hossom, who was warmly received, gen some so-
count of the manner in which the records of the Franklin
expedition as detailed in hie despatches had been disco-
vered. His opinion was that the bodies of the iota disco-
vered bad perished in the endeavour to And their way ben
to the chip. The two in the boat wire either
or man who, having found it impossible to reach thtitirp=
retuned to the beat and died. He was convintod that there
were DON of that =fortunate expedition now Helm.
Captain Snow, of the M ernentile Marine, said • few wade,
in which Indiffered in some respects from the gallant allows
who had him. On behall of the 106 men yet un-
none for, be urged that the search should be renewed
until some more positive Warman= ci their fate wee ob-
tain& (Bear, hear.) There was y no sufficient
evidence that they had perished. (Ilear,) • believed yet
that records would be found at Cape Walker, belleviug that
that the expedition had gone on in pumaano• of the inaerno.
lions of Sir J. Franklin to proceed to the Souk West. He
wee prepared to go through the whole of the endows to
show that It was neat to Impossible that them 106 gallant
spirits bad perished In the way that had bes• geggested.
(Neer, bear.) Remember, they were sot lielplus
savages, but gallant Englishmen who wend ant
ancounb while a amen remained. (Hew) He new-
mended another expedition overland to sea r& the whole of
the locality In the direction in which he 'appeared the ear-
viva. of the Franklin expedition to have game. He re-
minded the emedng that one great object of the expedition
was to maks ineenetio observations, cad ants some mooed of
the rw.lte were discovered he would an abandon all how.
He was bat • beabie individual, without foetene and with-
out Nap, but if Ids hunk woe 'pored, he would go out nut

[TWOPENCE.

spring, wbe(her stone or in company with others, sad would
Vtrethe whole locality, roars( not to return until this
wu solved. (Loud cheers.)
Captain KENNIDY 0000W7Ild With Yr. Snow. Ns had •
baud a rumour last summer that some Huropsens had been
seen In the direction of the ll'Kessis River. He Imagined
these were moms of the 106, and that there was every chance
that some of than were yet alive. It was perfectly clear
that Europeans could adapt themselves to native hablm.
Nothing leas than another expedition arid satisfy the
public. (Hear, bear.) He recalled attention to the difficttl-
' ties which Lady Franklin had encountered in sending out
the last expedition against opposition from all quarters, and
after the results which that expedition ban attained, it would
be discreditable in the nation to let the matter drop where it
1111111.

Captain M'Cr.lJlroci, Is reply, observed that all the in-
formation proved that all the food the expedition mold ham
MANI with them was forty days' short grandam. The
wonder, therefore, was how they got so far, sad them WY
so chance, the provisions being athemeted, that Off mold
ham made their way from the Groat Mph rim to Mostmal
Intend, err say pan of the Hodasa's Bay territory. He hod
so wish to throw add water spots the hopes ad say mar
stank Famous whe might wish to go out as a further march.
Ha would remind the vacating that all the way from the
Great Fish deer to the Hudson's Bay territory had been
searebed.
Dr. Kum—Over Ma ice and snow, Capt. lll`Ctiatock, re-
member. (Hear, hem.)
The Csaismax this thanled CapOtill H'Clinteck and
those gentlemen who bad taloa pan in the dissuasion,
for the mformatkes they had &Seeded, sad the ameting saps-
rated.