The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-17 00:00:00

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

The Wexford Independent says :—We feel great
pleasure in giving the following letter from a dis-
tinguished We :ford man, Commander McClure, of
her Majesty's ship Investigator, addressed to his
uncle, the -Rev. Richard W. Elgee. He has suc-
ceeded in discovering the North-west Passage,
which has been sought after since the days of Alfred
the Great, but which important event in our history
has been reserved for one of Wexford's daring and
chivalrous sons :

" Her Majesty's ship Resolute, Dealy Island,
Barrow's Straits, April, 1853.
" My dear Uncle,—Your kind and most unexpected
letter reached me through a travelling party dispatched
by my excellent friend Captain Kellett, at a position on
the opposite side of these straits, where we had been
frozen in since 1851. The surprise caused by the ap-
pearance of strangers, where none were imagined to be
within a couple of thousand miles, was more than I can
describe, and what can only faintly be imagined by any
who have not been similarly situated, particularly
when it was ascertained that two vessels and
large supplies were so close at hand. The spirits of
my crew seemed to revive, and from despondency to joy
was hut the work of a moment—the sick forgot their
maladies, and jumping from their hammocks, were car-
ried in the stream of human creatures up the solitary
hatchway which the severity of the weather allowed of
being kept open, rushed on deck to be assured that the
strange apparition was actually living flesh and blood,
and not denizens of the nether world. for certainly the:r
faces were black as Erebus, from cooking in their tents.
When all was discovered to be real, and not a dream,
my poor fano% s, equally with myself could not find words
to express our thoughts ; the heart was too full —it was
a call from the grave ; never, I trust, mny the feelings
of gratitude to the Almighty Disposer of events which
then swelled in my bosom pass away. Many and great
have been the mercies we have experienced in our long,
tedious, and terrible navigation of that fearful polar sea,
which hag for 400 years baffled the navies of maritime
Europe, and through which the directing finger alone of
Providence has safely guided tie. All human agency was
powerlees, indeed, to advance us ono yard in its accom-
plishment amidst the stupendous barriers of ice which
.never leaves its frozen surface. You will, lam certain,
he very happy to learn that the North-west Passage' has
been discovered by the Investigator, which event was de-
cided on the 26th October, 1850, by a sledge party over
the ice, from the position the ship was frozen in; but, as
in all probability my dispatch will be published, I do not
think it necessary to trouble you with further details ;
sufficient to say we have been most highly favoured,
both as respects the health of all, having only lost one
man, who accidentally poisoned himself about a fortnight
since, as well as in being able to extend our search in
quest of Sir John Franklin over a very large extent of
coast, which was not hitherto known, and found in-
habited by a numerous tribe of Esquimaux, who had
never, ere our arrival, seen the face of the white man, I
and were really the most simple, interesting people
ever met, living entirely by the chace, and having no
weapons except those used for that object. The fiercer
passions cf our nature appeared unknown—they gave
me a pleasing idea of man fresh from his Maker's hands,
and uncontaminated by intercourse with our boasted
civilisation. All those Who/traded with the Com-
pany we found the greatest reprobates. On the 7th of
this month I left the Investigator, and arrived on board
here on the nth, and was • received by Capt. Kellett
with such a welcome as none but •a generous Irish heart
could give ; indeed, the kindness we have received from
all amply repays the toil, difficulties, dangers, and priva-
tions which for three years we have endured. If the
country and Admiralty only view our services with 'but
a small portion of the interest which those we have met
evince, there will be little left to complain of. • . •
Every exertion is now being made to follow up
the traces of poor Sir John Franklin, and, if no-
thing is met with by the numerous parties that are
now traversing the shores of this inhospitable and incle-
ment country, nought will ever be heard to throw alight
upon his mysterious fate, and search will have arrived
at its utmost limits. I know eiothing of the Enterprise,
44* * 10.
, and can only regret her leaving us. -