The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-20 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 20, 1854.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

The Calcutta, 84, Captain J. J. Stopford, in Plymouth
Sound, it is reported, will make up her complement and
proceed to the West Indies.
The Colossus, 80, screw-ship, Captain Robinson, sailed
yesterday for the West Indies. The men turned over
to her from the Ajax were paid wages yesterday.
The Cumberland, 70, Capt. Seymour, arrived at Chat-
ham on Wednesday, and was moored oppsite the dock-
yard to be paid off. At five o'clock' on the morning of
the 17th inst., previous to the ship entering the Med-
way river, a report was announced that a man was over-
board ; instantly a boat was manned, and help sent to
his rescue, and fortunately he was picked up in a very
faint condition. The person proved to 'be the fourth
lieutenant of the ship, Lieut. L. (4. B. Hamilton. He
was found with his throat cut, and also cut in both his
arms. He was taken on board, and all he could say
was, " Why did you not let me die !" During the time
the crew went to their breakfast he took the opportunity
of going from his cabin to the portable gallery, where he
committed the act with a razor.
The Swallow, 8, screw-sloop, Commander Cranford, and
the Harrier, 16, screw sloop, Commander Story, had their
compasses swung yesterday, after which the Swallow
went out of harbour, and anchored at Spithead.
The Edmondshury transport was towed out of harbour,
and sailed to (lay for the Black Sea, laden with provisions.
The Fairy, screw yacht, arrived yesterday at Ports-
mouth, from Hull, where she had been in attendance on
her Majesty.
The ships in Portsmouth harbour made preparations yes-
terday to strike lower yards and topmasts for the winter.

DEAL, OCT. 19.
In the Downs—The French line-of-battle ship Tage,
from the Baltic.

APPOINTMENTS.
Clerk in Charge—John Freshfield (1847), to the Rhada-
manthus, paddle-wheel steam store-vessel, at Deptford.
Second. Master—Adolphe E. Parks (1553 ), from the Mi-
randa, screw steam corvette, to the Wrangler, screw steam
despatch gun-boat, on her return from the Baltric.
Clerk—Edward W. M. Millman (paymaster of 1854),
to the Ajax, 60, Screw steam-ship, at Cork ; David L.
Rhind (1854), to the Nankin, 50, at Chatham.
Clerk's Assistant—Arthur H. Gore, to the Curacoa,
30, screw steam-frigate, at Portsmouth.

PROMOTIONS.
Commanders—Frederick B. P. Seytriour (1847), at
present commanding the Brisk, 14, screw steam-sloop,
employed on particular service ; George Wodehouse
(1844), in command of the Rosamond, paddle-wheel
steam-sloop, serving in the Baltic ; Hon. John W. S.
Spencer (1847), and Reginald J. J. G. M`Donald (1848),
in command of the Ferret, 8, sloop, on the west coast of
Africa station, have been promoted to the rank of cap-
tain.

The Wrangler, screw gun-boat, arrived at daylight
yesterday morning at Portsmouth from the Baltic. She
came into harbour, and is expected to be sent to the
Black Sea.

TRIAL OF THE TARTAR.
WOOLWICH, Oct. 19.—The Tartar, 21, screw steam-
corvette, iu charge of Mr. Pym, additional master of the
Black Eagle, steam-vessel, was taken out of the basin at
Woolwich on Wednesday morning, and started for Chat-
ham at 10.30 a.m., having Mr. Henry Maudslay on
board, to superintend -the working of the engines on
their fist trial. In consequence of her light draught,
10 feet 3 inches forward, and 14 feet 3 inches aft, the
number of revolutions (sixty-five) she ought to make
when at the deep load line were increased and made
sixty-eight to seventy-one per minute, and no hot bear-
ings occurred, the engines, of 250 horse power, work-
ing smoothly and satisfactorily, and producing an ave-
rage speed of ten-and-a-half knots per hour. The
engines, by Maudslay, Sons, and Field, are on the hori-
zontal cylinder double piston rod direct acting principle,
the cylinders being fifty-one inches diameter, and the
stroke two feet three inches. She ran down nearly as
far as the Mouse Light, and then turned and went up
to Chatham, where she arrived at four o'clock p.m.
When rounding the Nore, the Monkey, in attendance
upon her, was about six or seven miles astern.
The Rh tdamanthus paddle-wheel steam store vessel,
Master-Commander John Belam, has now completed
taking on board a cargo of provisions, and has been
placed under orders to proceed to the Baltic with a sup-
ply for the fleet.

her power than even a light river steamer. The eco-
nomy of fuel is also remarkable. At full speed, the con-
sumption of fuel is at the rate of 32 cwt. per hour, or 38
tons per da, y, being one ton of coals consumed for every
10 miles of distance done. The experiments of trials
made at half-steaming power, with two boilers, are still
more remarkable in this respect. It appears that 10.409
knots, or about 12 statute miles, per hour were accom-
plished by the combustion of 12 cwt. of coal per hour,
being 20 statute miles of distance for every ton of coals
consumed. By such a vessel, therefore, a distance of
4,000 miles would be steamed, at the rate of 16 miles
per hour, in less than 10 days, with the consumption of
400 tons of coals ; and at the reduced speed the same
distance would be accomplished in less than 144 days,
with an expenditure of 200 tons of coals.

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

COURT-MARTIAL ON SIR EDWARD BELCHER.
SHEERNESS, Oct. 19.—The court-martial on Sir E.
Belcher was resumed on bsard the Waterloo this

morning.

Mr. George Frederic M'Dougall sworn—l was master
of the Resolute. I left England in her. I was with her
when she and the Intrepid were abandoned. I produce
the log of the Resolute. It was kept by me, and I have
every reason to believe it is correct in every particular.
The ships (the Resolute and her tender Intrepid) were
abandoned on the 15th of May, 1854. They were is
latitude 74.416 north, and 101.22 west longitude. They
were south-west by south, true 28 miles off Cape Cock-
burn, Bathurst Land. They were frozen in.
Had you ever been in the Arctic seas before ?—I ac-
companied Captain Austen in his ship to the Arctic re-
gions during the years 1850 and 1851.
From your experience do you think it probable the
ships might have got through this autumn l—From our
great distance from land, and the existence of a chain of
islands extending across Barrow Strait to the eastward
of our position, I think the chances of our getting out
were considerably lessened, but on the whole I think it
probable the ships would have got out.
What state were the ships kilt—They were quite ready
for re-occupation.
Were they at all damaged ?—With the exception of
the loss of the false keel of the Resolute she had sus-
tained no damage, and I believe that the Intrepid was

sound.
Were you in a dangerous position in case you had
been compelled to pass another winter where you were?
—I do not think we should have run more than the
usual risk always attendant upon an Arctic voyage.
At what time in your former voyage had the ice bro-
ken up to admit navigation I—ln 1851 we were extri-
cated from our winter quarters, near Griffiths Island on
the 11th or 12th of August, and in the year 1853 we
were blown from our winter quarters, near Dealy
Island, on the 18th of August.
itD e
to
col i
be
er —c
oTr
rheee
fd. raanwdi nogn
ep,
theducterda e
ii
is)
gmpi nr
oe ~.
adluißdceYld,bSewilriaesEve.
of the original.
ma le by me, and I believe it to be a fac-
simileeor
sf sending
od ,
asa chart, this'
track
s
me Dlo—ylotuwkans know the
f, a
as
objectp t
ouil
d
is the custom of the service.
What is the distance between Point Griffiths and
Beechey Island I—About 230 miles.
If with this chart before me the Resolute made good
not more than 76 ;miles from August to the 12th No-
vember, 1853, and was driven to the southward of the
range of hill] in Barrow Strait, so as not to recover the
northern lead until late in the season, what special
ground have you for imagining you would recover that
lead, or that the Resolute and intrepid could be extri-
cated in time to obey the commands of the Lords of the
Admiralty, before the end of August, 1354 ?
The Deputy Judge Advocate—Has he seen the orders?
—Yes, they were distlibuted in the squadron.
Witness (in answer)—During the present season
southerly winds prevailed to the time of our departure
from Beechey Island, materially assisting in pushing the
vessels to the northward, and I believe it is considered
an established fact that the body of ice near our last
winter quarters finds an exit through Lancaster Sound.
Is that your belief, or do you know it to be a fact ?
From my experience I believe it to be the case.
With the wind at south-east and no space of water for
the ice to be blown into, explain how it could escape I
I form my opinion from the voyage of Sir Edward Parry,
who cast south of Lowther Island on his outward pas-
sage, and returned without any difficulty the following
year.
Were you blockaded in 1853 I—We were.
Captain Francis Leopold M'Clintock sworn.
Were you commander of the Resolute for service in
the Intrepid?—l was.
Did you leave England with the Resolute ?—Yes.
And accompanied her to Dealy Island I—Yes.
State the position the ships were in when abandoned
in May, 1854.—Twenty-eight miles S.W. by S., true,
off Cape Cockburn.
Were they in a good condition I—Yes.
served
dvei
nyou o
tillhad
ea npyr
escxepedi ringe necxep
eodf i
tAi
ornc tsi, cu
nvdoeyrage Sirs
Jl—asl.
Ross and Capt. Austen.
From your experience do you consider the vessels
draweould ahtatev lei
tgi
oont
tt loi rtohueg
chhtahret , icesfio this
gautumn
e? —0 f I beg
drift
to
in
the ice after the navigable season of 1853 had closed.
Before the closing in of the present navigable season I
far
east it probable they would he drifted nearly as
east as Griffith Island, and if so I have but little doubt
that we should have brought them home this autumn.
as
sn
eini
followsear t inolny
disadvantagesocf:
From the position the ships were in would there have
been any danger to them or to the crew front their re-
maining another winter I—Not more, I think, than we
had experienced from the previous winter spent in the
pack.
Should you have felt it your duty to have remained
with the ships if you had received no orders to the con-
trary I—As an officer I certainly would.
What was the general health of the officers and crew ?
—Compared with the previous expeditions with which I
have served it was good.
Do you remember the distance that Sir James Ross's
ship drifted when you were under his command when
they were beset in the pack somewhere off Point Leo-
poldl—Yes, it was about 240 miles.
Was it not right through Lancaster Sound into Baffin's
Bay I—Yes.
The ships being entirely beset all that time ?--Yes.
What has been your experience of the ice breaking up
in former voyages ?—We left our winter quarters in
Port Leopold in 1842, on the 28th or 29th of August.
In 1851 we were freed on the 11th or 12th of August ;
in 1853, on the 18thof August.
What is the average period that ships are free front
the time they are freed till the time they are frozen in
again?—From about the 15th of August to about the
18th of September.
By Sir E. Belcher—Are you aware that the copies
of all previous Arctic voyages were supplied for my in-
formation, as well as that of Captain Kellett, and that
by the experience of Sir Edward Parry he never found
tahse.ubmaredriebryosf
iriceEr.epmaorrvyedasfrotimle tohnelymsoaufeth of Barrow
communication to the Arctic committee of IgBu4i9d
Strait before the 22d of August, and that that period is
they have always been supplied to the ships for general
information. lam not aware of what is stated, as to
the experience of Sir E. Parry. On the contrary, I
assumed the 22d of August to be the only ?e
—i ny hise s ,
be-
lieve that Sir E. Parry entered Barrow Strait very early
in August, 1819. I am not aware that Sir E. Parry
Have you read the opinton of Sir E. Parry, printed
by order of the House of Commons on the 20th April,
1849, and dated Bth of January in that year I—l think
it probable I may have read it at the time. I cannot
now recollect.
The opinion was read from the blue book, and was
sleaslsioonulodf
as I find that, independently of our discoyery and exa-
oabmse effect
awb
Melvillehl eiantd ttubhreailnts during yearialni thepds,
lftaegneanyti'gsaTtniolnett,haetindenntoilt.ewiyitulanstkainlodwinng,
exa-
mination
the Hecla and Griper were only 19 days actually en-
gaged in making their way from the entrance of Lancas-
ter Sound to the longitude of Winter Harbour : that
is, from the Ist to the sth of August, and front the 21st
111080—ppineslintntoaheneegodeEt
wnaetser Judging,
fer
aperrni
westward
eb sltewd however,t
rof ,
wouldri
of August to the sth of September."
Mr. William. Thomas Dunnville, M.D., examined—
Were you surgeon of the Resolute.?—l was.
Did you leave England in herl—l did.
And oecompanied her to her winter quarters I—l did.
What was the state of the health of the officers and crew
when the ships were abandoned ?—Good, but there were
some exceptions.
How many of the officers could you have recommended
as fit to remain another winter in the ice I—There were
no exceptions to the officers.
How many of the crew were fit to remain I—A certain
number had been named, amounting to fifty, but as a
matter of necessity more might have been obtained.
By Sir E. Belcher—Did the difference of health as
compared with the crew of the Assistance result from the
liberal supply of ',beef and venison, at the rate of 141 b.
per man per day, as well as small game killed I—Such a
ration as that was never issued to my
knowledge. It
was issued on Christmas-day ; the state of health of the
crew was superior to that of the Investigator and As-
sistance.

tity of salt meat above what would be required, and
suet, and several other artioles of minor importance.
This closed thecase for the prosecution.
Deputy Judge Advocate—Would you like to have
any time to consider your defence ?
•
Sir E. Belcher—About an hour.

The court then adjourned for an hour, and on re-as-
sembling Sir E. Belcher proceeded to read his defence.
Sir E. Belcher then read a long written defence, in
the course of which he read extracts from various orders
issued by the Lords of the Admiralty for hie guidance
in the conduct of the expedition. By instructions dated
the 16th of April, 1852, Sir Edward was directed to
Rroceed with the Assistance, Resolute, Pioneer, Intre-
pid, and North Star to Beechy Island, which was to be
considered as the grand rendezvous of the expedition,
and on arriving at that point his attention was directed
to two great objects—first, endeavouring to pass up
Wellington Channel with one sailing vessel and one
steamer ' • and secondly the advance of a similar force
towards Melville Island. The following is the last para-
graph of the instructions :--
"You are distinctly to understand our directions to
be, that the several ships under your orders shall each be
on its way home, and to the eastward of Barrow Strait,
whenever their stock of irlvisions shall have been re-
duced to twelve months! full allowance."
In the instructions dated the 12th of May, 1353, the
following paragraph appears :
"2. In communicating with you on the subject of
your former orders and the servic3 on which you are
employed, we are aware how impossible it is for us to
send out any definite instructions with reference to your
fatirre 'proceedings; -when we are ignorant of the position
in which you may now be placed, or,whether any traces
of Si; 'John Franklin's expedition may have been found
during last autumn or the spring of this year, and what
steps you may" haire considered it most expedient to
adopt. But if no trace of the missing ships have been
found beyond the Wellington Channel, and if it should
appear that by the extended search you may have been en-
abled to make in that quarter, that the missing ships did
not proceed in that direction, and if Capt. Kellett should
have reached Melville Island, as directed by his instruc-
tions„ and his land expeditions should also have failed
in finding any such. trace, it does not appear to us that
shsdtlhhhBai
seiov4cprresoese
v:bai e
ens a e
or
xedyfneny other
te
clhvpaBjetns:Polar6tbteh.
ede ei
without
expected..
Seas,ftreohecsrcotumteucio
dteh.
westrn in d
fi
nas
a contingencytnoiEveryg station
which
naLa a prospectt
atatrenacßcoeaeesssetoicebfharl
esettpioisrsiole
afdoan,theirfnat
.missingh
inlifel
y

[PRICE SD.

towards Cape Walsingharn, should be examined, and you
are therefore to endeavour in your instructions to the
ships proceeding to England to meet this contingency.
"In the event of your health rendering it necessary
for you to proceed to England, and the necessity of a
part of the squadron remaining out another winter, you
are to make known to the officer whom you may appoint
to succeed you in command all your views and arrange-
ments respecting further proceedings.
" Although this country is now at war with Russia
you are clearly to understand that you are not to commit
any hostile act whatever, the ships under your command
having been fitted out for the sole purpose of aiding
those engaged hi scientific discoveries, and it being the
established practice of all civilised nations to consider
vessels so employed as exempt from the operations of
war.

" I am, air, your most humble servant,
" B. OSBORNE."
In reply to the Deputy-Judge Advocate,
Sir E. Belcher said be had no witnesses to call.
The court was then cleared, and in about an hour and
a half was re-opened.
The Deputy-Judge Advocate then read the finding of
the court, which was to the following effect :—The court
is of opinion that the abandonment of H.M.S. Investi-
gator was directed by Captain Kellett, who wag justified
in giving such orders. The court is further of opinion
that from the great' confidence reposed in Captain Sir
Edward Belcher by the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty, and the ample discretionary powers given to
him, he was authorised, and did not act beyond his
powerr, in abandoning the Assistance and her tender, the
Pioneer ; and in authorising the abandonment of the
Resolute and her tender, the Intrepid. AlthoUgh
circunr tances had permitted, it would have been advisa-
ble that he should have consulted with Captain Kellett
previously. And the court adjudges the said Sir Edward
Belcher to be acquitted, and he is hereby acquitted ac-
cordingly.
The President then restored Sir E. Belcher his sword,
but without making any observation, and the court
broke up.