The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-22 00:00:00

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—Permit me to request a little of your space to
make public a matter deeply affecting the welfare and
efficiency of the Arctic Searching Expeditions.
Dispatches recently brought home by Captain Moore
inform us that the Plover, under the command of Captain
Maguire, has with great difficulty been moved up to
Point Barrow, which is 600 miles in advance of Port
Clarence.
Point Barrow is an excellent locality for this depot-
ship, but, to make her effective, it is absolutely neces-
sary that an annual communication should be maintained
with her. The utility of this measure is so obvious, that
it would be a waste of time to dwell upon it ; and the
Admiralty themselves are fully alive to its importance.
The only consideration, is, therefore, how this communi-
cation can best be effected ; and one would suppose,
after the experience we have had of the value of steam
power in navigating the Arctic seas, that it would be at
once apparent that a screw-steamer would be the proper,
and, indeed, only description of vessel, fit to be em-
ployed on this service. Yet it is, lam sorry to say,
actually contemplated to send the Rattlesnake out with-
out steam-power, and without a steam-tender.
If any one will be at the trouble to read the blue
books already issued, containing accounts of the recent
explorations through Behring's Straits, they will see how
very uncertain the navigation is in the direction of
Point Barrow ; and, if they look at the excellent chart
of the straits as laid down by Captain Beechy, who was
there in the Blossom, they will perceive a line of pack-
ice stretching across the straits to Wainwright Inlet, as
it existed in 1827. In 1826, it barred the passage a
little further north, and in 1849 it extended across close
to the Seahorse Islands. In the ensuing summer, if the
pack-ice hangs to the southward, the Rattlesnake will
have but little chance of worming her way to Point Bar-
row ; whereas, on the other hand, a screw-steamer would
force her way up, and then not only carry supplies to the
Plover, but also be able to return with intelligence to
Port Clarence. If the Rattlesnake cannot be navigated
to Point Barrow, her commander will, doubtless, endea-
vour to get her stores to that locality, by means of boats,
but that step will not only be most difficult, but highly
dangerous, and heavily-laden boats on an iron and ice-
bound coast, where gales are incessant, are not likely
to accomplish it.
For the sake of Captain Collinson and A/Velure, as well
as for that of Franklin, a steamer shouldbe sent with the
Rattlesnake, and she might without any risk, take ad-
vantage of openings to the north-east. You have on
more than one occasion urged in reference to the pro-
longed and anxious search for our missing countrymen,
the desirableness of using every means in our power to
bring the search to a speedy, and, .7possible, successful
issue ; and, it is, I know, the opiniou of competent autho-
rities that a fearful mistake will be made if the Rattle-
snake be allowed to depart on her long and difficult voy-
age without a steam-tender.
The Isabel screw steamer, which has lately returned
from the Arctic seas, is admirably adapted for this office,
and, being in excellent order, she might be at onto com-
missioned. The subject is of vital importance, and it
is very much to be desired that no change in the govern-
ment of the Admiralty may interfere in effectually '
organising the searching operations on the side of
Behring's Straits.

I am, Sir, your humble servant,
Somerset-house, Dec, 22. C. R. WELD,

THE MINISTRY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR, —ln reference to your remarks in the Sun, of last
evening, respecting Lord Derby's Administration, I beg
to acquaint you that, in this city (Norwich), there was
no meeting whatever against the budget, and the public,
generally, were quite satisfied with Government, seeing
that their object was to endeavour to benefit the country.
People here are in no way confident of Lord Aber-
deen's new Administration, which here has already re-
ceived the soubriquet of the Hotch-potch Government.
From the Times having yesterday gone to the Radical
market for stock—naming Sir Win. Molesworth and
others as likely to be included in the new Administration
—and to-day poking into the Conservative market after
Lord St. Leonards, Lord Raglan, and others, it is mani- '
fest Lord Aberdeen is already in a fix—trying to please
the several opposition sections, he has affronted all, and
is, therefore, likely to topple over.--I am, &c.,
A NORWICH WEAVER,
Norwich, Dec. 21, NO A CABINET-MAKER.
1852. T

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A YOUNG- LADY.—
Yesterday information was received at the various police
stations of the mysterious disappearance of a young lady,
of high connexions, who resided in the locality of Eaton-
square. It appears she went out for a walk on Thursday,
the 16th inst., and took the omnibus at the end of Sloane-
street, Chelsea, and although every exertion has been made
to trace the fugitive, not the slightest tidings have been
heard of the lady. The following is the description of her :
—lnitials on linen are " K. I. Q. ;" about 18 years of age,
but looks older ; dressed in a coarse straw bonnet, lined
and trimmed with blue, edged with black velvet, with a
wreath of pink daisies ; sage-coloured merino dress, black
cloth paletot, with brown parasol ; high-heeled black kid
boots ; gold ring, with green stone, which she wore on her
right hand. She had with her also a brown paper parcel,
containing a plaid silk dress. Her height is about 5 feet 4
inches, dark hair, pale complexion, and was last seen in the
neighbourhood of Blackheath. Any information respect-
ing the party will be most thankfully received by the dis-
tracted friends of the lady, if forwarded to the metropo-
litan police; or to Mr. Reynolds, Church-street, West-
minster.

THE LONDON SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY, EXETER
HALL.—This society will perform upon Thursday, for the
first time this season Mendelssohn's-" Elijah." An Elegy,r
"Mourn for the Mighty Dead," the composition of Si Henry Bishop, will also be given. Mr. Surman, as usual,
will be the conductor ; and the solo vocalists will include
Mrs. Endersohn, Miss Dolby, Mr. Lockey and Mr. Phillips.
END OF THE SIX-MILE-BRIDGE AFFAIR.—e Free.
man's Journal of Tuesday intimates that the chae-
nge
of Government is deemed a sufficient excuse for the
of kin of the rioters shot at Six-mile-bridge to next
abandon
their proneution of the flOidierfi il3lPliCAtOd the Array,