The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-25 00:00:00

THE FRANKLIN EXPEDITION.

The following appears in the New York papers :
" The extraordinary statement made by C. F.
Hall, from Hudson's Bay, which has been published
in the papers, will be widely circulated all over the
civilised world. Therefore, with your kind permis-
sion, I will make a few remarks on the subject.

It is well known that I have devoted the last 15
years of my life to the closest study of the Franklin
mystery, and have been several hundred miles be-
yond Hall, and within 300 miles of the locality of
the missing navigators. I have also thrice attempted
new expeditions of relief, at ruinous cost to myself.
Consequently, I am entitled to some credit when I
assert what I am about to do.

" I had partly expected Mr. Hall would have
returned this fall, and I kept silent during his ab-
sence ; but as he now sends a statement which can-
not fail to electrify the minds of all friends
of the lost expedition, I feel bound to openly express
my doubts of the whole affair. The report is too
sensational and too vague ; and though I find the
Evening Post has paraded it with high eulogistic
matter, all the while knowing that Hall's doings are
simply working upon my brains, and following up
my plans long ago marked down and in his posses-
sion, I still must urge upon the public great caution
in the matter. Indeed his whole statement is but
an almost literal reading of my published ideas in
1860. A pamphlet issued by me in the British
Association [for the Advancement of Science con-
tains essentially what he now puts forth, especially
as to Crozier and the locality of Neitchillee. If,
therefore, his statement is true, it gives to me a gift
of something like extraordinary second sight.
"Before Hall's departure last year a letter of
mine appeared in the press (about June 7) far
stronger than anything I say now. Moreover, I ap-
pealed to his committee to investigate before any
body of scientific men the whole of what he said he
had done. No notice was taken. He himself never
would meet a public inquiry, but took his departure,
not issuing the work he has claimed to be the author
of, though written by me, until he had gone.
" Mr. Hall seems to be remarkable for making
great discoveries—though with no white man's testi-
mony to back him—where previous voyagers of ex-
perience and well-known fame had failed. His
" Frobisher Discoveries," and now the Franklin mys-
tery, seem more than singular when submitted to the
calm test of a close analytical examination, particu-
larly when his statements closely duplicate what
others have long before printed, and his footsteps cover
the exact ground of such an experienced Arctic tra-
veller as Dr. Rae, in 1854. It is possible he may be
correct, and it will be a proud day for me to find
that, after so many years' labour and such an ex-
penditure in the cause, all my reasoning, my argu-
ments, and ideas were literally correct. But how
can I be otherwise than doubtful of everything com-
ing from the mere unsupported assertion of one who
can give to the world, and receive credit for as his
own, without the slightest acknowledgment to the
real author, a book, maps, charts, and scientific
papers sent to the geographical societies, written and
compiled—partly from his voluminous but irregular
journals, and partly from private manuscripts of
my own, by—Yours respectfully,
" W. BARKER SNOW, Commander, in 1861,
of the Arctic discovery yacht Endea-
vour, and author of ' Voyages in the
Arctic and Antarctic Seas.'
" Nyack, N.Y,, Oct. 2, 1865."

The Committee of the Stock Exchange have ap-
pointed Thursday, the 26th of October, a special
settling day in the shares of the San Pedro del
Monte Silver Mining Company ; and Thursday,
the 2d November, in the Six per Cent. Guaranteed
Preference Stock of the Scottish Australian Invest-
ment Company. The committee have also ordered
the shares of the Oriental Commercial Bank to be
officially quoted.
The amount of £45,000 in gold was taken to the
Bank yesterday.
The traffic receipts of the Atlantic and Great
Western Railway for September were $677,625,
against $446,044 in the corresponding mouth of last
year, showing an increase of $231,581.
His Excellency the Prussian Ambassador and the
Countess Bernstorff and family are expected to return to
the Prussian Embassy next week from St. Leonard's-on-
Sea. _ _ _

His Excellency the Hon. G. S. S. Jerningham has
left liaurigy's Hotel for Stockholm.

The Duke and Duchess of Newcastle and family
are expected to leave Clumber Park, Notts, in the course
of the ensuing month for the Continent, as the noble duke
and duchess intend to pass the winter in the.south of France.

The Duke and Duchess of Marlborough will
receive a distinguished party, at Blenheim Palace, during
next week. The festivities to take place are to be in cele-
bration of the Marquis of Blandford attaining his majority.
His lordship came of ago in May last, but circumstances
rendered it necessary to postpone the rejoicings till the
autumn.

The Duke of Devonshire is surrounded by a
select party at Chatsworth.
The Marchioness of Abercorn, the Earl and
Countess of Mount-Edgcumba and family, and the Countess
of Durham, have arrived at the Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone.
FLOOD ON THE BOWMONT.—The heavy rain from
the north-east which fell on Tuesday last raised the
water of Bowmont to a height which has bad no parallel for
the last 50 years. Between Belford Yetholm Mains the
flood has done an immense amount of damage to public and
private property. That hitherto vulnerable point
known
as the Belford Scaur has stood the test, and remains intact,
the road trustees having a number of years ago, at the
suggestion of Mr. Brown, their surveyor, placed the whole
breadth of the road on the solid rock. Immediately be-
low this the water has broken into the haugh and carried
away part of the fence, and overflowed the road. Lower
down, and near to Attouburn, the read for upwards of 50
yards has been completely swept away, and part of Clif-
toncote Haugh has been carried off, the water then
making a semicircle back to its old course to Atton-
burn-bridge. Below this, the haugh has been damaged
considerably, and the wooden bridge at Woodside has been
carried away; while during the flood the stacks in the
farmyard of Mr. Young, Woodside, which is at least 400
yards off the banks of the Bowmont, were two feet deep
in water. Part of the cauld of Duncanhaugh-mill has
been carried away, and considerable damage done to Clif-
ton Haugh, the water altering its course several times
before it arrived at the Yetholm stone bridge—one of three
arches. Here it has also changed its course a little as it
passes through the arches. Below this considerable mis-
chief has been done, and ono half of the wooden bridge at
Yetholm Mains has been carried off, while the ford there
is all but impassable. It is a very curious but hitherto
unexplained phenomenon that this water always rises
more rapidly and to a greater height, and commits the
greatest havoc, with a wind and rain from the east and
north-east than from any other quarter.—Kelso Mail.
" MEHEMET THE KURD, AND OTHER TALES, FROM
EASTERN SOURCES," is the title of a new collection of Eas-
tern tales of the same description as those in the "Arabian
Nights," which will shortly be published by Messrs. Bell
and Daldy.