The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-22 00:00:00

r T)
Ric-upe

bore long. 78 E. true, about 35 miles, the furthest land
N.N.E., 8 miles. The Melville Island shore oould not
be discovered, but in that direction the 'ice appeared to
be very heavy, and the floes exceedingly large. While
we were making these observations the crew were busily
engaged erecting a cairn above the water (which bad
been named Prince of Wales Strait, in honour of hii
Royal Highness), in which a copper cylinder was de
posited. The spot is so conspicuous that any person
passing along the shore must remark it. All being
completed by 10 a.m. of the 27th, we turned for the
ship, arriving upon the morning of the 31st, having in
nine days made in a direct line 156 miles by observa-
tions, with a temperature of between+ 7 and-15 de-
grees. Upon the afternoon of the 30th the weather,
which had been overcast, suddenly brightened, showing
the Princess Royal Islands, distant about 12 miles. At
3 p.m. I left the sledge, with the intention of getting
early on board, to have everything in readiness for the
comfort of the party, anticipating their arrival at 9 p.m.
Unfortunately, the weather became again foggy about
5 p.m., followed soon by darkness ; consequently. my
way was speedily lost, compelling me to wander about
the floe during the night, with a temperature of from
5 to 15 degrees minus, when at seven the next morning
I had the mortification to find that I had passed the
vessel 4 miles, which I reached by 8.30 a.m., and im-
mediately dispatched a party to assist Mr. Court, who
was at 5 miles distance, -baying most judiciously en-
camped about 7 miles from• the ship when the fog be-
came too dense to travel.
I was agreeably surprised to learn from • Lieut. Has-
well that on the 29th a party, consisting of Messrs. Sains-
bury, Paine, Miertecbiog, and Newton, while sporting
upon Prince Albert's Land, had encountered a herd of
musk cattle, 2 bulls, a cow, a heifer, and a calf, and most
adroitly shot the whole,
which yielded 1,2961 b. of excel-
lent nutritious meat ; a supply thus opportune and un-
expected may be regarded as a most favourable termina-
tion to our season's operations, in which we have been
nearly enabled to carry out, verbatim their Lordships'
instructions, in reaching the ice by the let of Augnst,
and establishing a position near Banks's Land, which
service has been performed under circumstances over
which we could exercise but little control, ow.- only
credit consisting in seizing the advantages that an In-
visible Power scattered along our road through fields
of ice, where all human exertion would have been as
uavailing as the feebleness of a child to advance us one
yard.

The winter—that dreary period of the voyage which
I had looked forward to with much apprehension,
passed mildly away, there being very little snow or
wind, without our sanitary state being in the slightest
degree impaired, for which happiness I assign these
reasons—viz.,
1. The unflagging spirits and cheerfulness of the men.
2. The excellence of every species of provisions.
3. The free ventilation of the lower deck.
4. The extreme attention of Dr. Armstrong (upon our
monthly inspections) to the state of the crew.
So that the month of March found us in a most
healthy and efficient condition. Accordingly, upon the
3d we commenced our preliminary duties by taking a
30 foot whale-boat to the larger Princess Royal Islands,
where it is my intention to leave three months' provi-
sions for all hands, that, at the breakinc, up of the ice,
should the vessel unfortunately get crushed, we may have
a certainty to fall back upon, which will enable us to reach
the Plover without hazard of starvation—this duty being
completed, as well as the transporting of another whale-
boat, besides one of Halkett's, to the eastern shore,
distant five miles, for the facility of allowing the tra-
velling parties going along that coast to reach the islands,
should the ice break up and carry the vessel away dur-
ing their absence. All arrangements being now made
for the start of the searching parties, and the weather
becoming very favourable for travelling, upon the 18th
of April three were dispatched under Lieut. Haswell,
S.E. shore ; Lieut. Cresswell, N.W. shore ; and Mr.
Wynniatt (mate), N.E. shore, with six weeks' provisions
each.
At 1 a.m. May 6, Mr. Wynniatt (mate) having broken
his chronometer at the distance of 120 miles from the ship
returned, but, all being in good condition, they were
completed to 30 days' provisions, and at six p.m. were
again en route. At the same time, two hunting parties
with tents, &c., left the ship—one for each side of the
Strait, as some deer had been seen, besides several
ptarmigan and four hares shot. This early indication of
fresh provisions is a subject of deep congratulation, in-
dependent of the very healthy and exciting occupation
for the crew, who are all eager for the sport.
May 20.—Rieutenant Cresswell returned in conse-
quence of the severe frost bites of two of his men, hav-
ing reached lat. 74 16 N., long. in 40 W., being
absent 31 days ; during the greater part of the time he
was subject to strong N.W. winds, sweeping from the
Polar Sea, through Barrow's Strait, which meeting him
in the face rendered it exceedingly difficult to Walk
against, the thermometer being frequeßtly 45° beloyf
zero ; he, however, traced the coast line, which, for
about 70 miles along Banks's Land, was very precipi-
tious, averaging from 1,000 to 1,400 feet, from which it
gradually slipped to a point trending to S.W., appa-
rently the extreme of the land in that direction, as it
abruptly turned to southwards. An elevation of a
thousand feet, aided by an exceedingly clear atmo-
sphere, left no doubt in his mind that the Polar Sea was
before him, and that Banks's Land is a part of Baring's
Island. He was anxious to make a further advance,
and encamp during two days, with the hopes that the
invalids would recover, but, finding them getting worse,
he very properly deemed it advisable to return with all

haste.iothe ship. Before reaching her, however, both
had to be borne upon the sledge, which threw the work
upon four men ; when, getting into heavy snow, the
officer had to fall in at the drag ropes ; nevertheless,
the working people arrived in most excellent health
and spirits. On the 21st a large bear was killed.
Upon examination of the stomach an extraordinary
medley was discovered, consisting of raisins, tobacco,
pork, and adhesive plaister, so that I came to
the conclusion that the Enterprise must be near,
the animal not having been seen before near our
dirt heap. nor were there any traces of him about
the ship. I therefore determined to send a party to the
S.W., the only direction we had no travellers, to satisfy
myself upon the subject. Accordingly at 6 p.m. on the
22d Lieut. Cresswell and his party, completed with tv7o
fresh hands, were again dispatched with provisions until
June 10. Upon the 24th the above mystery was satis-
factorily solved. Some men in pursuit of a bear about
half-a-mile from the ship picked up a preserved meat tin
with articles in it identical with those found in the stoi

mach of the bear killed on the 21st ; the foot prints of
the animal were likewise abundant on the snow. This
evidence was perfectly conclusive as to the locality
where bruin had obtained his dainties. This being the

anniversary of the birthday of her Most Gracious—Ma-
jesty, a Royal salute was fired, and the colours displayed

n celebration of the event.

29th.— Lieut. Haswell and party returned all in the
most perfect health, having traced the coast towards
Wollaston Land, to lat. 70 38 N., long. 115 W., from
which point, the day being remarkably clear, he observed
the outline of land to the distance of full 40 miles trend-
ing to the S.W. but having advanced 25 days he con-
sidered it prudent to proceed no further. Two large
inlets and a deep bay were examined, besides an archi-
pelago of small islands along the northernmost shore of
the southernmost inlet, which is high, bold, and strati-
fied, each inlet trending to the E.N.E. from 80 to 90
miles. The whole coast was strewn with driftwood, and
many vestiges of Esquimaux encampments were met
R ith, but of a very old date. Upon returning he was
most surprised to find a party, consisting of 18 natives,
encamped upon the ice a few miles frorn the N.W. point
of the northernmost inlet in quest of seals, but they
were very friendly and well-disposed, but not under-
standing each other, no information could bo ob-
tained. They exchanged a few presents, and
upon that day week he arrived on board, having re-
mained out his forty-two days, thereby fulfilling his
instructions to the letter. In consequence of the
above, I immediately decided upon proceeding to these
people, for the purpose of obtaining information
that might determine the question relating to the Prince
Albert's, Wollaston, and Victoria Lands, as to their
forming part of the American continent, or whether
each was an island ; therefore, taking Mr. Miertsching
(our invaluable interpreter) and 12 days' provisions, at
6 p.m. we started, and early on June 3d fell in with
them, about 10 miles to the northward of the point
where they were first met with. They conversed freely
with the interpreter, giving every information we re-
quired, relative to the trending of the coast as far as
they knew, which was some distance along Victoria
Land ; this they did by tracing upon a large sheet of
paper which I brought for that purpose, continuingship
h sketch which Mr. Miertsching had made from
hen
to their tents weever they immediately compbree .
islands
and, as they y particular in placing_etr
ansnot
of "Sutton ' and " Liston," with three sinall_
am fully
mentioned in the chart, off Wollaston Land, I
regretted that
persuaded of its correctness, and only
they could not go further (a tracingaoLwehlifinhdacoepopmo--
urk ." this of
accom-
panies this narrative). They describe
site Wollaston, called ' Nunhavat
course is America, to which
to the S. E., nor
Esquimauxey saadranuever been, as
sighto
of
The iron
he
any waswhen
cohpe perfectlyenr aoat
etthe
ise
they only trade with the of European manufacture
had they the slightest article
about them ; the use and b -lig copper—eir spears
new, all their implem. ants el
and arrows barbed with theobssae
mrveing
by one of our men
remarkably fine (but, not .
was given me
tents, the specimen.
procured, but
,'.unfortunately, we lost
some time after quitting them) •
the opportunity of inquiring where it was
that it
'n lined to think comes from the south-east
tlriabmes,Line their bartering transactions, as the few and I
simple
iornaments which they possessed were of that
metal, and obtained thence. These are a kind, simple, 1 and purely pastoral tribe, devoid of the knavish pr pen-
sities which so strongly characterise those upon the
Mackenzie and Colville, where interc ewith ' civilized
ous
.civi .
man has demoralized the savarre Upon displaying
the presents brought for them the utmost proprietyt wn
observed ; although, doubtless, all were anxious
o
par-
ticipate in these treasuresthere
to seize which was not that eagerness
rendered our interchange with the other
Es
doquimaux so troublesome • so far was it from these to
e tivo- ,L
' them 'to ' " Was with difficulty we could persuade
accept them without our receiving an equiva-
lent, they inquiring of the interpreter, after each ar-
ticle was given them,
,
what we wanted for it. A piece ,

f scarlet cloth whiZtied round a girl's neck re-
mained there until we were going away, when she ran
le
up to Mr. Miertsching to ask what she was to give in
exchange, and when assured it was a gift from the chief,
she gracefully acknowledged it with a smile. No wea-
pons were remarked among them except for the chase;
siiieir whole demanour bespoke peace. They live near
their present locality the whole year, not going any fur-
-tiler to the northward, nor do they believe that there are
any others in that direction ; but to the S.E., along
Victoria and Wollaston Land, the coast is thickly
p pulated. It appears very extraordinary that they do
s
n e even possess traditionary legends of their ances-
t having been north, where the numerous traces
iv ich we meet with upon both sides of the Straits, as
i
well as on the large Princess Royal Island, show that
at one-period the whole of this coast must have been
densely populated. Their language, Mr. Miertsching
observes is identical with that spoken on the Labrador
coast. At half-past 9we left this interesting people on
our return to the ship, which we reached at 7 p.m. of
the sth, exceedingly gratified by the result of our plea-
sant excursion, our only misfortune being Cornelius
Hullott, my coxswain, having both feet badly frost-
nipped. At 5 a.m. of the 7th Mr. Wynniatt (mate)
returned with his party, having been 50 days under the
tent. From his exploration of a portion of the S.E. shores
of Barrow's Strait as far as lat. 72.6 N., long. 107.42 W.
(D.R.), whence the land was observed for about
15 miles trending to the N.E., after rounding
Point Peel, lat. 73'21 N., long. 112'30 W., the north-
west point of Prince Albert's Land, he reports it to be
in all respects, as to formation, the same as in this vici-
nity for the distance of about 40 miles, when, upon
crossing a deep inlet, the land assumed a north-west
n,:pect, and became high, precipitous, and barren. No
drift-wood of any description was met with, but the ice
lay against its base in heavy and unbroken masses.
Furthr to the eastward a lesser one was circumambu-
lated, having in it several small islands, with its southern
shere formed of stratified cliff, having an elevation of
abOut 800 feet. Upon the 10th, at 7.45 a m., Lieutenant
Cresiwell and party, having completed their 19 days,
returned from their search towards the S.W. to lat. 71
10 N., long. 123 4 W., making in the aggregate 50
under the tent, during which he had coasted three sides
of Baring's Island, from the north shore of which Le
looked upon the Polar Sea, and upon the south walked
24 miles on it, both presenting the same smooth surface,
which I consider to be attributable to the long preva-
lence of north-easterly winds at the termination of the,
navigable season setting the heavy ice, which we en-
countered ar d saw resting upon the western side of the
island, over to the American and Asiatic shores, which
may cause the great difficulty in rounding Point Barrow
late in the season. Unfortunately, the weather became
overcast, which limited his view to the northward, only
all Owing him to observe that the coast was high and
bold. Upon this excursion he met with four partitions
of the ice, varying in breadth from 10 to 20 feet, appa-
rently renning across the strait ; but, being provided
with one of Ifalkett's valuable little boats, this obstacle,
which would otherwise have caused a detour of many
miles, was easily overcome. It is impossible to recom-
mend these boats too highly upon a service of this de-
scription, where every article of weight is objectionable.
Their whole fitting is but 251 b. When not required
they form a platform on the sledge to stow the baggage,
and when in use they are carried inflated upon the top.
Thus, on two occasions, they have been of essential
service, without the smallest inconvenience. Lieutenant
Cresswell erected -a cairn, and deposited a cylinder
within it, upon a low beach near Cape Lambton ; he also
remarked the vestiges of Esquimaux encampments upon
almost every part of the coast upon which be pitched
his tent for the night, many of them thickly strewn with
the heads of musk oxen, which denotes no paucity of
those animals upon these lands ; indeed, at the present
time both shores of the strait are covered with wild-
fowl of every description, musk oxen, deer, hares, ptar-
migan, and golden plover. This is certainly the most
fertile part of the Polar regions, and must be the breed-
ing place of those animals, which find rich pasturage
among its alluvial plains and valleys, unmolested by the
Esquimaux, the traces of whose remains, being over-
grown with moss, and rotten, have reference to a long
time anterior. This party, with much spirit and zeal,
performed their return journey of upwards of 160 miles
in nine days and a-half, under circumstances reflecting
much &edit upon them, the lateness of the season being
unfavourable to so rapid an advance. All being now
on board and in excellent health, with the exception of
three of the travellers suffering from frost-nips, our sea-
son's travelling operations may be considered to have
terminated fortunately, and, from the close examination
which has been made over a vast extent of coast, the
direct distance of which, by observation, embraces 800
miles, to which a third may be added for the devious
windings of the coast-line, without observing the slight-
est vestiges of any spar or other indication of civilised
man having reached these shores, I am fully confident
that the missing expedition under Sir John Franklin
has never penetrated towards the Polar Sea in this di-
rection, as some portion of the immense mass of stores,
spars, or fitments with which those ships were provided
must have been picked up, when driftwood of very in-
considerable dimensions did not escape observation. (A
chart, showing the extent of discovery and course of
each searching party, accompanies this letter.)
I am also of opinion that Prince Albert's Land is part
of the continent of America, and that Point Peel is its
north-west extremity, .7 . that the land thence is con-
tinuous to Cape Walk: .0...' Ve peculiar formation of its
shores, from.the very ae• .I. s which run into the in-
terior, give the appearance of a faits which in -reality do
not exist, as was apparently the case between Victoria
and Wollaston Lands, and which is very probably the
same between Cape Walker and North Somerset. My
opinion is strengthened by the Esquimaux upon this
coast speaking the same language as those of Hudson's
Straits, which Mr. Miertsching, the interpreter, thor-
oughly understands, and conversed fluently with them,
while with those of the Colville and Cape Bathurst he
found it sometimes difficult to do so. Consequently, I
think it very probable that the forefathers of these have
crossed from Hudson's Straits, and kept the coast line of
Victoria and Wollaston Land, and have thus retained
the purity of their language, which those upon the north
coast of America have lost by constant intercourse with
the Indians. I certainly should have considered it my
duty to endeavour to decide this point by detaching a
boat through, the Dolphin and Union Straits, but I feel
assured that that service was accomplished by Dr. Rae
last year, as he evidently was not in this direction.
During the absence of the searching parties the re-
fitting of the ship was carried on, under the direction of
Messrs. Sainsbury (mate) and Court (second master), so
that upon their return little remained but to get the
boats from the eastern shore, and the tents and appur-
tenaiibes, which the shooting parties had upon each side
of the strait, on board, the weather being unfavourable,
and the state of the ice becoming too precarious to allow
of any persons being so far distant from the ship. This
being effected, as also the repairing and painting of a
boat which is to be left with the provisions at the large
Princess Royal Island, completed upon the 13th, we had
rt he es s seal ttiisi
ofarcotui ognh
lyo fr
ehfiatvt
ei nd g,
eeavuelrkye
do,npeaot
ant be
do a
ar da,d with
rtehde,
and iii every respect as efficient for the ser2vice we have
to perform as the day that we quitted Plymouth, with a
trifling sick-list, principally from the effects of frost-nips
and foot-soreness from the travelling. We now await
with no little anxiety the disruption of these mighty
masses of ice by which we are encircled, and the conse-
quences depending upon that event, which cannot be
contemplated without deep apprehension.

' THE CHOLEBA.

( From the General Board of Health, Oct. 21. )

GATESHEAD.

Deaths.

Cholera .

GATESHEAD (HEWORTH).

Cholera .

KINGSTON-TJPON-11IILL, OCt. 17.

Cholera .

NEWCASTLE, Oct. 20.

Ch01era.............................. : .............. 2
Diarrhoea ................................ . ......... 2
The total number of deaths from cholera and diarrhcea

in Newcastle, during the present outbreak, has been
1,521. In the same period (viz., the first 50 days),
during the prevalence of epidemic cholera, in 1831-2,
the number of deaths was 291.
Scattered cases of attack and death are from time to
time reported as occurring on shipboard in port as well
as at sea,'some of the latter under remarkable ,
spe
=cum-
darsessweedl.l as
the captajes
stances of apparent spontaneous development away from
all infected places. In most of these cases there is no
medical man on board, but plain instructions for dealing
to
4been whom,
a
with premonitory diarrhcea are widely circulated by
Custom-houseoffizei directionsrs an d
have
pilots,
METROPOLIS.
On the 19th inst., Mr. Hall, of
the Poor
Law Board,
from the General Milroy,
al Board of Health
and Dr.. -
, had
ievErwith the guardians of the 1 intery ~., poor of the Hol-
I born and :Past London Unions ; and
day with the guardians of Poplar on the following
every instance, after due attention
the rules and regulations issued and Stepney. In
had been called to
under the existing order • by the Board of Health
adopted the judicious ste in Council, the guardians
sanitary inspection upon the of devolving the duties of
who, from their intimate parochial medical officers,
seats of epidemic disease, knowledge of the ordinary
jury to health and of the local causes of in-
jury
the most within
fit
t their respective district, are ob-
viouslyvery responsible task.
persons efficiently to perform this
The board of guardians
com
sewerage of their union.
Stepney expressed loud
plaints
New of the state of the
streets and squares s uof
q buildings are springing up
rapidly in some neighbourhoods without ' a single drain
or sewer being provided.
From returns forwarded by
the Metropolitan Com•
rnissioners of Police to the General Board of Health
yesterday (the 21st inst.), as prepared by the superin-
tendents of the F, H, K, L, M, T, and Thames divisions, relative to cases of cholera within those districts, it ap-
pears that there have been 15 attacks between the 16th
and 12th inst., of which six proved fatal. Among the
number, a man seized with cholera, in Little Denmark-
street, St. Giles's, died 91- hours after the attack. He
was 27 years of age. The remark in another case is,
that " the drain at the back of this house and others
adjoining, is open, and the inhabitants complain of its
smelling bad at times."

lIVERPOOL, OCT. 21.
The mortality from cholera is greatly on the decrease,
and it is hoped that the workhouse hospital will be clear
of cases in a few days. During the last week there
have been 25 fatal cases, all the unfortunate v!otlms
being German emigrants of the poorest class, with the
exception of two persons who lodged in the low dis•
tricts of the town. There are at present 13 eases in the
house, but none of a serious nature. The deaths from
diarrhcea are fewer than the average,