The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-18 00:00:00

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

COURT-MARTIAL ON THE OFFICERS.
SHEERNESS, Tuesday.—A court-martial was hEld this
day, on board the Waterloo flag-ship, on the officers in
command of the Arctic expedition, for leaving their ves-
sels in the ice. Admiral Gordon presided. The other
officers of the Court were :—Captain Sir Thomas Pas-
ley, of the Royal Albert ; Captain Wyviil, of the Wel-
lesley ; Captain Tucker, of the Formidable ; Captain
Keith Stuart, of tho Nankin ; Captain Seymour, of the
Cumberland ; Captain Farnham, of the Cossack.
Mr. W. W. Hayward officiated as Judge-Advocate,
and Lieutenant Dickins as officer of the Court.

COURT-MARTIAL ON CAPTAIN M'CLURE.
The first case proceeded with was that of Captain
M'Clure ; and the names of the crew of the Investigator
having been called over, the Court proceeded
t f
to inquire
into the cause and circumstances attending he loss

that vessel.
Mr. Henry Richards, clerk of the Resolute, proved
the handwriting of Captain Kellett to a'document, which
was produced and.put in, authorising the abandonment

of the Investigator:
Captain 11‘Clure, in reply to a question by the Court,
said he had no complaint to make against any of the

crew or officers of the ship.
To a question put by the officers and crew, whether
any of them had any complaint to make against the cap-
taM for the abandonment of his ship, no reply was given.
Joseph Clark Paine, clerk of the Investigator, proved
the handwriting of Captain M'Clure and Dr. Armstrong,
and Mr. Richards proved the handwriting of Dr. Dorn-
villa to a report of the state of the health of the crew of
the Investigator on the 23d May, 1853, made in accord-
ance with the order of Captain Kellett.
Captain M'Clure, examined by the Court—What
length of time was the Investigator in the ice before you
left her I—Three years nearly—two years and nine
months she was actually in the ice.
How long had she been in the position in which you
left her I—Twenty months. Only four volunteered to
remain ; and I could not do otherwise than abandon the
vessel, as it would have required 20 men to bring her
home. The total number of the crew was 33.
You thought it impracticable to remain longer with
her ?—Yes.
• What were your orders originally ?—To make the best
of my way up to Melville Island. They ire contained
in the blue-book. The order was dated June, 1850.
When did you reach the position in which you left the
vessel I—On the 24th September, 1851.
On what day did you abandon the ship I
On the 3d
June, 1853.
What was the latitude ?--The latitude was 74 6, and
the longitude 118 15.
What time elapsed between your entering the Bay of
Mercy and your abandoning the ship I—From Sept.,
1851, to June, 1853.
The ship was frozen up all that time !—Yes, with the
exception of about six weeks in 1852.
During the time your vessel was in the Bay of Mercy,
did the ice show any symptoms of opening ?—Not any.
Were you quite satisfied as to the state of the ship
and the health of the crew ?—Yes.
The court was then cleared, and remained so for about
three-quarters of an hour. On our re-admission, the
Deputy-Judge Advocate read the finding of the Court,
which was to the following effect :—The Court is of
opinion that no blame whatever is imputable to Captain
M'Clure, his officers, or ship's company, or any of
them, for the abandonment of their vessel, but that the
said Captain M'Clure acted under the orders of his
superior officer, and who exercised a proper discretion in
the abandonment of the ship and in the execution of such
orders, there not being a sufficient number of volunteers
to man the vessel. The Court is of opinion that Captain
M'Clure, and the officers and crew, deserve the highest
commendation for their exertions ; and the Court ad-
judges them to be fully acquitted, and they are hereby
fully acquitted occordingly.
Admiral Gordon, in restoring Captain M'Clure's
sword, said—The Court are of opinion that your conduct
throughout your arduous exertions has been most meri-
torious and praiseworthy.