The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-05 00:00:00

EVIDENCE OF CAPTAIN

AUSTIN, C.B.

(Continued from The Sun of Thursday.)
Chairman—That completes that part of your evi-
dence. You say that those parts having been examined
by such and such parties, nothing more could be done
in that direction ? Captain Austin continued—All
returned unhappily without traces of the missing ex-
pedition. Having maturely weighed and considered
the matter I now felt that all had been done that could
be done to the westward and south -westward of the
Wellington Channel. I must say I became very
anxious at this :period to be able to make known
generally what was to be the plan of future operations.
At the earliest moment I sent my tract chart to Cap-
tain Penny who was away, and to Sir John Ross.
During this period I had occupied my mind with
plans for going overland in case of hearing from par-
ties coming in from Captain Penny, so that in the
event of anything being found I might send a party
across the land at the head of the bay ; my calculations
were that, taking the best people I bad, I must devote
three weeks in order to do it. I mean to say I would send
across the head of the bay surveyed by Mr. M'Dougall.
I had reports, and I suppose that I must have something
from Sir John Ross, or some of the parties con-
nected with Captain Penny, who had gone to the
westward. Perhaps I had better tell exactly what I
felt. ir it had not been for delicacy in the one case,
and having a doubt about land travelling at the time
of the year, I might have made an attempt to cross
there; but that would have been mere hydrography,
and would not have accomplished my object. I
thought, also, that it would be going over ground my
colleague was doing, and that I had better wait till
he returned, having the full determination in my mind
that I would never allow a word to pass by which it
might be inferred that I had any intention of return-
ing to England. It was well known that I had deter-
mined on waiting till Captain Penny returned.
Captain Penny returned about 25th July, and I re-
ceived a note from him but no official letter. That
note, with other things which occurred to me, fully
impressed me that the search had been carefully
made, that no traces had been found, and that so far
as the sea was spoken of it was not a navigable sea.
The note I received from Captain Penny was as
follows :

" August 4, 1851.
"Dear Sir—Your first note, written on board the
Lady Franklin, escaped my notice by some overlook
for four days ; the language it conveys is sufficient
apology to any generous-minded man, however much
his feeling had been injured by expressions and
marked neglect.
" And believe me, Austin, when I state it, that
Penny has been all his lifetime accustomed to speak
the language of the heart.
" You, as well as myself, have very great reason to
be thankful to our Maker for His manifold mercy to
us and all those under our command for the high state
of health they enjoy after an arduous and prolonged
duties (sic).
" The result of my boat expedition as far as the
,fate
of Sir John and the brave men under his command
are satisfactory, for what other conclusion could we
arrive at after visiting Duck Island and Bird head-
lands with hundreds of nests, and no trace,—likewise
water about these islands for two months, and latterly,
beyond the pack ice nothing but water as far as the
eye could reach from the highest mountain ; but the
fearful rate the tide runs (not less than six knots)
through the sounds that divide the channel renders it
dangerous even for a boat, much more so a ship, unless
clear of ice, which from the appearance of the ice
here will not be clear this season.
" The conclusion I have arrived at after what has
passed under my observation is to return to England
after I have had an interview with you.
" Poor Lady Franklin, and the friends of those
brave men whose fate will ever remain in oblivion:!
Was it not a strong conviction of my sense of duty,
tt very thought of meeting any one of them with-
out intelligence would almost tempt me to another
winter.---I remain yours sincerely,
(Signed) WILLIAM PENNY.
n Captain H. T. Austin."
Eado:sement in pencil.
"Received by Captain? St. Sophia, the 11th August,
Monday, at anchorage of Penny's winter quarters,
just before anchoring."
Chairman—You received that letter on the 11th of
August? Captain Austin—Yes; it was received by
me on the 11th of August.
Sir E. Parry—Was that endorsement placed on it
at the time? Captain Austin—Yes; it was not
touched from that time until it was taken out on our
return.
Sir E. Parry—How do you account for the delay
between the 4th of August, which date the letter
bears, and the 11th of August, when you received it ?
Captain Austin—My impression why I did not re-
ceive the letter for a week was, that the party in-
trusted with it could not reach me. There was an
attempt on the part of Captain Penny to reach me at
Griffith Island, although an engineer came from
Captain Penny's vessel after his return, and also after
that again the Esquimaux, Adam Beck, came over
the ice. At the same time my first lieutenant, who
was on board Captain Penny's ship, did not come,
and there was therefore considerable difficulty—that
is to say, that the first lieutenant of the Resolute was
on board the Lady Franklin when Captain Penny
returned from his second trip. On the 11th of
August I came to the winter quarters of Captain
Peany ; Captain Stewart was on board. I cannot
trust my memory for details of my visit. Captain
Stewart came on board. My belief is, he gave me
that private note and also an official letter from
Captain Penny with an outline chart. Why I say I
believe this is that it will be iaefcre you on record, and
therefore that will determine it. It will be pro-
duced. This is the letter :
" Her Majesty's brig, Lady Franklin, Assistance
Bay, August 4, 1851.
" Sir,—l forward an outline of search by the expe-
dition under my, charge. There are no traces of her
Majesty's ships Erebus and Terror further than a bit
of English elm. As soon as I am at liberty I will
come to Griffith Island and wait an interview.
" I have the honour to he,
" Your most obedient servant,
" WILLIAM PENNY.
" Te Captain Horatio T. Austin, C. 8.,
commanding her Majesty's ship
Resolute and the Expedition to the
Arctic."
Endorsement.—" Received on the 11th of August,
dated the 4th of August, 1851, on the arrival of the
Resolute, at the winter quarters of Captain Penny's
expedition."
Captain Austin continued—Shortly after Captain
Stewart delivered this letter Commander Phillips and
the first lieutenant of the Resolute came on board.
Sir John Ross came on board ; that is to say, Sir
John Ross and Captain Penny were in my cabin
of the Resolute together, as far as I believe ;
that is my impression. There was conversation
going on between Captain Penny and myself and Sir
John Ross, all connected with the search of the Wel-
lington Channel, all connected with the service which
was at our hearts, I believe. Captain Ommanney
came on board. My impression is, that I could not
reason with Captain Penny. I could not get any-
thing that was satisfactory. It was a sort of rambr
lE ace Phte
ty°aesrb, ut never
John Ross and Captain Ommanney may reo
re.
conversation of which I could not make nothing.
recollect
more of the affair than I can. This lam riteqleftpthe
os
ship I went to the side and endeavouredd
cause him
pared to recollect, that when Captain
sible wa to be plite and attentive, an
ommanney,
de-
manded. I could not but say to Captaemis
it not dis-
to
ritiwonhichl
"Did
treated
you
se
see
i n
Penny'sthe
conductmanne r wht ioc h his
one but Ca tale
I?
mentioned the circumstance to any
Ommanney. Now with respect
.
him to state t
sent to Captain Penny, requiring
officially
for Sir John o
tressing?" I was pained in tashn:etdiextinihtnree
Frank
Resolute,,
off the winter quer-
P,heiesespeeon, 11th August."
Captain Austin Franklin,
Hofecr
am p the
taai
Captain
tsyu;nsoubfyi
her
of
peFlileienvyery
charge an
the exped't*
expedition searching for ion of Sir John
jested brig
dbraitge of
L aidtyw as as foltlain
Franklin.
belief is that this
letter was sent by my clerk to Captain Penny, Cap-
tain Ommanney remained on board with me. Mr.
te;si
Lewis was the clerk of the Resolute. I cannot at
this moment remember the hour, that is, whether
Captain Ommanney and I dined first, but my im-
pression is that Captain Ommanney and I dined to-
gether from about three to four o'clock. My dinner
Captain Austin continued—My
hour was generally three ; but of course in this sue
vice I took it when I required it, to sustain me.
Dinner being over, it was arranged that we should
go and pay a complimentary visit -to Captain Penny
and Sir John Ross. We proceeded on board the
Lady Franklin, and in the cabin were assembled
Captain Penny, Captain-SteWart,CaptaidOmmanney,
and myself. I said to Captain Penny, "Now Penny