The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-16 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

sibxrepweetristi,oni nume-
Giasgowanadnlodrds,
house factors, and spirit merchants of
Mr. MACGREGORthepdreissetinliteerds:
Tously signed, from
its
aeighbourhood against the Public Houses (Scotland)
Bill. The petitioners set forth that the amount of
spirituous liquors made use of in Scotland was by no
means disproportioned to the population, a, the framers
of the present measure erroneously assumed; nor did it
amount to the quantity of spirituous and fermented
liquor consumed in England, France, and other Euro_
Aran statss; and therefore that it was " a gross and de.
liberate insult" to the people of Seotland, to assume and
assert that a different system of legislation is necessary
for them to restrain their intemperate habits than is re-
quired for the rest of her Majesty's m subje fcts.
Leicester
Mr. J. ELLIS presented a petition ro
against church rates.
Mr. M. WILLIAMS presented a petition from Mac-
clesfield, praying for the abolition of the post-horse duty.
Fir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition from Liver-
pool, praying for the abolition of the May nooth grant.
Mr. B. HUGHES presented a petition from Wales,
praying for the abo tiolinesented of the post horse duty.
Sir G. CLERK pr
effect from Dover. a petition to the same
Mr. REYNOLDS presented a petition from Dublin,
praying for an amendment of the Irish Poor-law.
Mr. CROWDER, presented a petition from a place in
the West of England, complaining of the continuance of
the Kafir war.
Mr. EWART presented a petition from the Society
of British Artists for the grant of part of the National
Gallery for the purpose of exhibition, in the event of the
removal of the national pictures therefrom.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD
presented a petition from Dreg-
he de, in favour of the Tenant Right Bill; and, also a
Petition from Rpchda/e, in favour of national education
.rSupported. by local rates.
Al • SCULLY presented two petitions from places
in Enniskillen, praying for an amendment of the Irish
poor-law.
Mr. ilijklE
colonies, presented a petition from the Australian
prayingcoio_,_ for a reduction of the postage levied on
Una' letters,

Mr. liOEl3l-eic
ablor.esented a petition from Sheffield,
praying for the
oiMr. GEORGE Tiitioon of taxes on knowledge.
from the Tower Hamlets presented a petition
MR. 7370/lust the Militia Bill.
Mr. Feargus O'Counzarn
CONNOR.
etered the House shortly
, after
four o'cl,ck. His ;ration in Coldhath-fields
prison fats not improved hi
appearance. He seemed
pale and care worn, but beyond
that there was nothing
to indicate that he had endured
gentiemsaz punishment so degrad •
He walked ruin., the
ing to the feelings of a
House and shook hands with th;
to see that this Members, but it was impossible not
ProutioeL:: if the
rather coldly.
at-
tempt at friendly recognition was returnedt
He sat down on tl}® Government benches for a short

SUN,

while, and obtruded his observations upon several of its
occupants. Lord J. Russell listened to him for a few
minutes, nodding his head by way of assent; but at length
finding the interruption unpleasant, sought a refuge in a
dispatch box which laid o❑ the table. Among t, ,e other
Members with whom he shook hands were Mr. Spooner,

Mr. Ruebuck, Mr. Milner Gibson, and Mr. Baines.
Mr. M. GIBSON presented a petition from a public
meeting at Salford in favour of secular education sup-

ported by local rates.
DISTURBANCES IN IRELAND.
Sir GEORGE GREY gave notice of an amendment
to the motion of an Hon. Member opposite in regard to
the disturbed districts in Ireland. The amendment was
to the effect that a Committee be appointed to inquire
into the immediate causes of crime and outrages in
Armagh, Monaghan, and Louth, and into the efficiency

of the law for their suppression.
EMIGRANTS.
Mr. HUME moved for a return showing the number
of vessels which have sailed from ports in the United
Kingdom with emigrants on board, during the last five
years; distinguishing whether such ports are under the
superintendence of an emigration officer or not; with a
statement, so far as the same can be made out, of the
number of such ships which have been wrecked or
destroyed at sea, and the number of lives so lost.—

Agreed to.
COLLECTION OF PUBLIC INCOME.
Lord JOHN MANNERS moved for returns of the
annual charge upon the public income for the collection
of the excise duty since 1842, and the number of men
employed in the department on the sth day of January
in each year, together with the names of any articles on
which the duties have been repealed, and the amount of
such duties; and of the annual charge durinc,"the same
period of the expenses connected with the collection of
the Customs revenue, together with the names of any
articles on which the duties have been repealed, and the
amount of such duties.—Agreed to.
WAR ON THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA.
Mr. HUME inquired whether the Government were
prepared to lay on the table any information with re-
gard to the causes of the war on the west coast of
Africa, in which 70 men and officers had been killed or
wounded. _

Lord J. RUSSELL said he would have no objection
;o lay on the table the correspondence which had passed

on the subject.
EAST INDIA CO XIPANY'S CHARTER.
Mr. FOX MA ULE gave notice that on Friday next,
the 27th, he would move for the appointment of a Select
Committee to take into consideration the present state
of the affairs/of the East India Company, and to inquire
into the operation of the Act of William IV., and to
report thereon tothe
IRISH CENSUS.

In reply to Mr. HAMILTON,
Sir W. SONIERVILLE said the general census of
Ireland for 1851 would not be completed till August in
the present year. He would, however, be able to lay
some statements before the House in regard to the po-
pulation when the Irish Franchise Bill came under

:AANCIIESTER AND SALFORD EDUCATION

BILL.

In reply to Mr. W. PATTEN,
Mr. BROITIERTON stated that he had agreed to
postpone the second reading of his Bill until Wednesday
week.

The order was then read and fixed for that day.
EDUCATION IN SCOTLAND.

In reply to Mr. MACKENZIE,
Lord J. RUSSELL stated test a measure was in pre-
paration on the subject of education in Scotland, which
ne hoped to bring in in thc' course of the present session.

LONDON,

When made up ix From what When
PLACLS. ;General Post-office port din- due.
I London: patched.
America (by Brit. pkt.)NFeb. 20 .. Liverpool Arrived
America (by U.S. pkt.) N Feb. 24 .. .. Liverpool .. Feb. 19
America (by U.S. pkt.) 11 Feb. 18 Southampt. Arrived
Africa (West coast).. N 14th of the month Plyneoath March 3
Alexandria* • • ...... N 19th & 30th of mo. Dover .. Feb. 18
Belgium • • .. •. NI Daily • • .. .. Dover .. Daily
Brazil M 9th of the month Southampt. Arrived
Buenos Ayres • • .. M 9th of the month Southampt. Arrived
California(viaCharree) MI 2d& 17th of monthlSouthampt. Feb. 20
Cape of Good Hope Nll4th of month Plymouth.. March 3
Constantinople* .... Nl7th 17th27thefmo,Dover .. Feb. 20
Central America .. M2d & 17th of men.
(Southampt. Feb. 20
Channel Isles N Mon., Wed., &Fri.Southampt. Tn. Th. Sat
Chili .. . 31 17th of the month Southampt. Feb, 20
France N; Twice daily .. .. Dover .. Twicedaily
Greece* •• N 7thl7th27th of mo Dover .. Feb. 20
Hamburgh N.Tuesday & Friday London .. Tees. Sat.
Holland • • .. 2d Wednea. & Satur. Londen Mon. Thur
Honduras N 17th of the month Southampt. Feb. 20
Ireland .. M& N Twice daily .. .. Holyhead.. Twicedaily
India(via Sonthamp.) hi,2oth of the month Southampt. Feb, 23
India (YiaMarsoilles) NlSth&24thefmonthDover .. Arrived
Mediterranean (via
Southan"ton) •• 1120th of the month Southampt. Feb. 23
Mediten anean (via
Marseilles) •• N lith& 24th of month Dover .. Feb. 20
Mexico •• •• M2d of the month.. Southampt. March 5
Madeira •• •• 9th of the month Southampt. Arrived
Malta* •• •• r 17111•17th,19t11.27th 1 Dover Feb. 18
& 30th of month
Naples* • • • • • • N sth 15th 25th of me DOVer Feb. 22
papal States* .. N sth 15th25th ef mo Dover .. Feb. 22
Peninsular.. • • .. M 7th 17th 27th of mo Southampt. Arrived
Peru •• • • •• •• M 17th of the month Southampt. Feb. 20
Tuscany* • • • . N sth 15th 25th of mo Dover .. Feb. 22
West Indies .. M 17th of the month Southampt. ,Feb. 20

Naples* • •
Papal States*
reninsular.. • • .. M
Tuscany* • • • • N
West Indies .. M
West Indies (except
Ravenna & Nassau) 3112 d of the month ..
The mails to those c ountrias thus mar]
French packet vt* Marseilles.
The direct Havre mail from London via
month will be made up three times a week
CALIFORNIA.—Mails to and from Cali/ern'
are now despatched and due by every Amer)

Sonthanipt. March b
Led (•) are conveyed by

outhampton during this
may, instead of daily.
I, via the United LitateB
;:an packet

TuE
a verdict of " Accidental death." They added an ex-
pression
at the other gate in consequence of the hinges being
morn-
ing had some of cast iron, and they recommended that the present hinges
FATAL !ACCIDENT AT THE BRIGHTON PA.
viuoN.—The inquest on the body of Miss Michelson, of 11,
Grand Parade, Brighton, who was killed by the falling of
one of the gates of the Brighton Pavilion in a storm on
Tuesday last, was resumed at the Town Hall' on Wednesday
night, and, by adjournment, again on Thursday night, be-
fore Mr. F. H. Gell, one of the coroners for the eastern divi-
sion of Sussex. The unfortunate lady, who was unmarried,
was 38 years of age. After a long consultation, the jury re-
turnedpression of opinion that a similar accident was to be appre-
hendedbee rteplaced by hinges of wrought iron, or that such measures
bhakzeTnEbitvheE local eommissioners as they may deem ne-
cessarydentltyhito pro:eacttecti h. e public from any recurrence of such ac-
cidents.se • Miss Langridge, who, although bruised, was not
covery
were landed in the has been
is recovering ; and Mr. Sheriff, whose re-
ezrreeegbainrdgeedleaesp,vearnydphriescarreicooul%rshaiss
nthoiws mcoonrfin:
Charles Sanders, re
anticipated.
tierces,
IN LIVERPOOL.--On Fri-
day the Customs , entered as containing pork and ham,
Albert Dock, Liverpool, from the ship
opened, and out , f
filled with leaf tobacco. 'l'll7
;Iceciatly arrived from America. On Satur-
fLethipn examined. Five tierces were
were then seized. The Charles
erriemaining tierces and the vessel
tour went found to be almost
j pool firm, who deny that a Sanders belongs to a Liver-
i transaction. they had any knowledge of the

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
The following " Report" has been published in the
shape of a Blue Book :
Admiralty, Arctic Committee, Nov. 20, 1851,
Sir,-1. The committee appointed by their Lordships'
letter of the 22d of October to inquire into and report
on the conduct of the officers intrusted with the com-
mand of the late expeditions in search of Sir John
Franklin, and whether everything was done by them to
carry into effect their instructions, and to prosecute the
search for the missing ships, commenced their proceed-
ings on the 24th ult.; and, conceiving that the only
distinct inculpations are those contained in Mr. Penny's
lettere to their Lordships of the 15th of September and
the 10th of October, we considered it our duty to direct
our attention in the first instance to this part of the sub-
ject, and we accordingly examined Mr. Penny himself,
and all the principal officers of the Lady Franklin and
Sophia, with the view of ascertaining satisfactorily every
circumstance connected with the exploration of Welling-
ton Strait and the channels discovered above it, and how
far Mr. Penny's subsequent statements are in con-
formity with those he so distinctly expressed in hie let-
ters of the 4th and 11th of August, addressed to Cap-
tain Austin; and having obtained all the information in
our power, and most carefully considered the whole
question, we are of opinion that Captain Austin could
only put one construction on Mr. Penny's two litters
referred to, and that, having been thus assured by him
that the open water found above Wellington Straits was
(to use his own expression), from " the fearful rate at
which the tide runs (not less than six knots) through
the sounds that divide the Channel, dangerous even for
a boat, much more to a ship, unless clear of ice, which
from its present appearance would not be so that sea-
son," impracticable for navigation at that time, and that
the shores and islands on both sides had been thoroughly
examined by the exploring parties, without any traces
of the missing ships being discoverable, we do not think
Captain Austin would have been justified in commencing
a fresh search in a direction concerning which he na-
turally considered himself to have received such authen-
tic information.
2. It will be observed that in Mr. Penny's letter, of
the 4th of August, 1851 (from which we extract the pre-
cedingparagraph), he distinctly acquaints Captain
Austin
of
his
fix e
d
determination to return immediately
to England, and that nothing is to be found in it in any
way expressive of hie wish for a further search in Wel-
lington Strait, and the channels connected with it. In
his journal, also, several remarks occur, all equally dis-
couraging and fully indicative of his opinions at that
period; and we can only account for his subsequent
cconsidering (as he himself states in his evidence) that
page on his arrival in England by his
tnhsen gef oufn lcia
said " more might have been done;" and "that he
everybody disappointed;" that it had been
therefore wished to have the means of going out again ;"
but we are bound to state that the evidence brought be-
fore us has not, in our opinion, corroborated the state-
ment that he expressed to Captain Austin at the time
any such sentiments; and it will be seen that Captain
Austin distinctly denies having received any communi-
cation to that effect.
3. Some desultory conversation, however, certainly
appears to have taken place on this subject when Cap-
taM Austin and Mr. Penny met on the 11th of August,
1851, and it was for this reason that the former (very
prudently and properly, in our opinion), pressed Mr.
Penny so strongly for his opinion in writing.
4. We think, therefore, that Captain Austin could
only form his judgment on Mr. Penny s written commu-
nications, which, although very
laconic, were sufficiently
explicit, and that, under all the circumstances of the
ease, much weight is due to the feeling expressed by
Captain Austin in his evidence, that as Mr. Penny's ex-
peditiou was, equaily with his own, equipped at the pub-
lic expense, ann receiving its orders from the Admiralty,
although independent of his authority, he considered
himself bound to abide by the strongly-expressed opi-
nisen of the officer who bad by mutual agreement under-
taken that particular portion of the search, that " all
had been done which it was in the power of man to
accomplish."
5. We beg to remark on this part of the subject, that
although Mr. Penny endeavours to draw a distinction
between Wellington Strait and the channels to the sorth-
west, which he has since named Queen Victoria's Chan-
nel, no such distinction appears in the track chart deli-
vered by him to Captain Austin at the time, and which
we annex to this report; and we, therefore, think that
Captain Austin could not fairly be expected to recognise
any distinction between the upper and lower part of this
channel.
6. It appears to have been under this impression,
liv•tin fully justified in enter-
taining,ellington Strait closed, the
which we mink Captain Austin
that after finding
ice still presenting the same impenetrable barrier it had
dune in 1850, he decided on occupying the remainder of
the navigable season in the examination of Jones's
Sound, to which inlet his own instructions, as well as
Mr. Penny's, directed attention, but which the latter had
been unable to explore in the preceding season.
7. Wo think that considerable benefit might have
arisen, especially with reference to future operations in
Wellington Strait, it one of the expeditions had re-
mained near the entrance about a fortnight longer, in
order to obtain the latest information of the state of the
ice in that direction, and therefore the probable practi•
cability of the navigation of this strait, and we think this
might have been accomplished by • Mr. • Penny without
involving any serious risk of being detained during the
winter; but we are clearly of opinion tbat as no certain
traces of Sir John Franklin's ships had been met
with in any direction beyond their wintering place at
Beechey Island in 1845-6, and no record of the route
intended to be pursued by them could be discovered,
after the most diligent and repeated search (thus leav-
ing this question a mere matter of conjecture), both
Captain Austin and Mr. Penny were fully justified by
the tenour of their Lordships' instructions in not risking
their detention in the ice during another winter; and we
beg to add that all the most experienced Arctic officers
in both expeditions appear to have unanimously con-
curred in opinion as to the expediency of returning to
England.
8. With respect to the conduct of the officers intrusted
with the command of the expeditions and several explor-
ing parties, we most gladly express our highest and
most unqualified admiration of the zeal, energy, intre-
pidity, and perseverance with which every individual
amongst them performed their respective duties. They
appear to have been animated by a common feeling of
determination to endure every hardship, and brave
every danger, in their endeavours to obtain some traces
of their missing countrymen. The journeys accomplished
under the most difficult and trying circumstances tar ex-
ceed both in distance and duration any to be found in
the previous records of Arctic exploration iu those
; and the arrangements made by
Captain Aufstl latitude; and
Penny were so well considered
and so complete that all their parties returned (with only
one exception) in perfect health, and without having
sufferings beyond those which were in-
separablefatigue in such inclement regions.
experienced
9 . With
frroeamsnpyes
ectvetroe
th e
results of the late expedition,
a; regards the search for the missing ships, on which
their Lordships desire our opinion, we may remark
mat, in the first place, it is a matter of no small interest
and importance to have ascertained with certainty the
exact position in which they passed the winter of 1845-6,
while the careful and minute exploration of the coast to
the southward and westward by Captain Ommaney and
Lieutenant Weinstock, without discovering
any traces
whatever of Sir John Franklin, would seem to ufferd a
very strong presumption that he did not pass that way;
and conjecture, therefore, naturally turns towards Wel-
lington Strait, to which it is well known ho had often
looked as affording one chance of a passage to the north-
west, and which we see by Mr. Penny's account of his
examination of the upper part of the channel appears to
form at least a possible outlet in that direction.
10. It is not without considerable hesitation and
anxiety that we proceed to reply to the last point on
which their Lordships request our opinion; namely,
" what benefits can be expected from any further re-
search, with the means and directions in which the com-
mittee are of opinion that such search should be prose-
cuted."
11. We should deeply grieve at being considered
capable of treating with coldness or indifference the
natural and praiseworthy feelings of those who are still
without certain information of the fate of their nearest
and dearest relatives, who in this state naturally cling
to hope " even against hope," and whose thoughts (as
might be expected) turn eagerly towards further explo-
rations, in any and every direction; but we have felt,
at the same time, while considering calmly and carefully
this difficult question, that we have an equally important
duty to perform towards those brave and meritorious
men whose lives must be risked in this arduous and
perilous search, and to reflect in what manner it may be
best conducted with a due regard to their safety.
12. Taking, therefore, all these circumstances into consi-
deration, we have, after a most careful and anxious de-
liberation, decided on recommending to their Lordships
that an expedition should be dispatched next year to
Barrow's Strait, consisting of the same ships which
composed Captain Austin's division, namely, two sailing
ships and two steamers, with orders to proceed direct to
Beechey Island, and to consider that harbour—beyond
which we think one sailing ship and one steamer should
on no account be taken—as the base of future operations.
13. We consider any further exploration in the direc-
tion of Melville Islond or to the south-west of Cape
Walker wholly unnecessary; and we would, therefore,
propose that all the strengthand energy of the expedi-
tion should be directed towards the examination of the
upperat
part of Wellington Strait; and we are of opinion
by the adoption of the same careful and well-consi-
dered arrangements which were attended by such satis-
factory results on the late occasion this examination
may be effected without any serious risk of loss or
danger.
14. If, on • • arriving at the proposed rendezvous early
August,in the barrier of ice at the entrance of the Strait
renders any
it attempt to penetrate it unsafe or imprudent,
may,perhaps, still be possible to convey boats on
rangers or sledges, or by any small
lanes"
whichmay
offer, and
launch them into the open water above, and by
this means depots of provisions may be advanced to the
most. convenient points, and such further information d
during the remainder of the •
navigable season
as might very much facilitate the of the operations
en-
suing spring.
15. These operations must, in that case, be commenced
as early as Possible in the season of 1853, and pushed
forward
with as much " • consistent with ppt-
ridit as is
donee
,it being clearlunderstood b all the exploring
y y
parties that
they must return to the depot at Beechey'ddle
Island in good time for their embarkation by the middle
of August at latest. The object in view would be to
partfar
beyond the upper of Wellington Strait, as
ar
Mr.
beyond Penny's north-western advance red as
in possible;
and if Sir John . nanklin did really proce that di-
rection, it appears highly
improbeele that some traces
his exp,dition ,in" In' discovered by the ex)
ploring parties in their search.
16. If, on the other hand, Wellington Strait is found
open and navigable on the arrival of the expedition in
the ennamer of 1852, we think one of the sailiDg ships,