The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-19 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 19, 1854*.

N . 19,3651

NAVAL AND MIL ITA R Y INTELLIGENCE.

and 10 ammunition waggons and other carriages. Another
field battery of the same strength is to occupy the barracks
at Norwich. • - _ •

PUBLICATIONS.

SIR GEORGE LA 'S. NEW' WORE.
Now reedy, in 2 ,vols, Bvo., with Illustrations, 30s. bound,.
TURKEY; ITS HISTORY AND PROGRESS:
from the Journals and Correspondence of Sir JAMES POILTER,
Fifteen Years Ambassador at'Constantinople ; continued to the Pre-
sent Time ; with a Memoir of Sir James Porter. By his Grandson,
Fir GEORGE LARPENT, Bart.
" This highly interesting work gives a fuller and more life-like
picture of the present state of the Ottoman Empire, than any other
work with which we are acquainted."—John Bull.
" No work on the subject could have been better timed, while the
information which it contains is not only accurate, butivaluable.”—
Morning Chronicle .
Ilurs and Blackett, Publishers, successors to Henry Colburn.

The Royal Albert has completed her coaling, and is re-
ceiving her armament of lower, middle, and upper deck
guns in.
The Duke of Wellington, 131, on her return from the
Baltic, is to come to Plymouth to be docked at Keyham.
It, is reported that the Exmouth, 91, new screw steam-
ship, fitting at Plymouth with engines of 400-horse power,
will be very soon commissioned by Captain the Hon. F.
Pelham, of the Blenheim, 60, screw, and that Captain
(Nemesis) Hall, of the Hecla, 8, steam-vessel, will succeed
Captain Pelham in the command of the Blenheim.
The Constance, 60, is ordered to be fitted as an advance
ship at Plymouth.
The Thetis, 40, is to bedocked at Plymouth on Saturday
next, and repaired, after which she will be jury rigged,
and, it, is confidently reported, exchanged for two Prussian
gun-boats, fully equipped for immediate service.
The Tartar, 21, screw steam-corvette, was taken out of
Woolwich basin yesterday, and proceeded in charge of Mr.
Pym, additional master of the Black Eagle, to Chatham, to
be rigged and completed at that fort for sea. She draws in
her present state 10 feet 11 inches forward and 14 feet 3
inches aft. The Monkey accompanied her to Chatham.to,
bring Mr. Pym and the men who navigated her.
The Miranda, 15, Capt. Lyons, left Portsmouth yester-
day for the Black Sea, calling at Plymouth, to take in a
mail which is to arrive there for her to-morrow.
The Horatio has been put out of dry dock, and remains
under fitting in the basin.
The Cossack remains in harbour still, her captain being
engaged on the courts-martial, now sitting on board the
Waterloo.

E 504.11 OF DESERTERS.—On Monday morning four pri-
vates of lie Royal Artillery made their escape •from the
lock-up at Balling° .
ROYALI AUTUMN, —Captain Huskinson, Second Lieute-
nant Bares, two serjeants, two corporals, one drummer,
and 63 p ivates, of the Chatham division, have embarked
on board the Nankin. Brevet •Major F. Campbell-, of the
same division, has joined the Hannibal, vice Varlti, sent
to sick quarters. A subaltern of the artillery companies
of the corps has been ordered to embark in the Dauntless
to relieve First Lieutenant Knight, recently triad by a
court-m4rtial, and who has been ordered to rejoin his own
division at Chatham. ' -

Now ready, in 2 vols., with Portraits, 21s. bound,
T" QUEENS BEFORE THE CONQUEST.
•By Mrs. MATTHEW HALL.
" There TOIUMCS open up a new and interesting page of history to
the majority of readers. What Miss Strickland has achieved for
English Queens s nee the Norman era has been accomplished by Mrs.
Ball on behalf of the Royal Lades who, as wives of Saxon kings,
have influenced the destinies of Britain, and the pleasure and in-
struction which the work will afford will be enhanced by its being
in a great measure uneXpt.cted."---Sanday
Published for H. Colburn, by his Successors, Hurst and Blackett.

'THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

COURT-MARTIAL ON SIR EDWARD BELCHER.
SHREANEss, Wednesday Night.—The court-martial re
assembled this mornin g on board the Waterloo, flag-ship
of Admiral the Hon. W. Gordon, at Sheerness, to proceed
with the trial .of Captain Sir E. Belcher, •commander of
the late Arctic squadron, for the loss of her Majesty's ship
Assistance, and also for having recommended the abandon-
ment of her Majesty's ships Investigator, Resolute, and
Pioneer. .Admiral Gordon presided, and the other mem-
bers of the court were the same as on the previous day.
The court was much crowded by officers throughout the
day, and the greatest attention was paid to the proceedings.
Sir Edward Belcher appeared as a prisoner, guarded by
the master at arms, but was allowed to bo seated during
the day..
The following evidence was then taken :
Commander Richards, sworn.
The Deputy Judge Advocate—Do you command her Ma-
jesty's ship Assistance ?—I do, and did so in August last.
• Was Sir Edward Belcher the captain of that ship ?—He
was 113 in the month of August last.
State to the court the circumstances connec Led with the
abandonment of her .ISl.,kiesty's ships Assistance and Pioneer.
—The Assistance broke out of her winter quarters in Dis-
aster Bay, Sir Edward Belcher having left for Beechey
Island. The'Assistance was at Cape Osborne on the 25th
of August. We got about half a mile further by blasting
of gunpowder, and she was then docked in the floe. The
Assistance sailed and steamed down, towed by the Pioneer.
There was no chance of moving her after that, and I in-
formed Sir Edward Belcher of it by letter. On the 10th of
August Sir Edward Belcher returned with some officers of
the Resolute and Investigator. On the 21th I gave orders
for preparing the ship for withdrawing from the ice. On
the morning of the 25th we left.
From the position the ships were in, was there any
chance of getting through the ice that summer?—The
i chances were very small.
Was there any water seen beyond the ice ?—No.
Did you express any opinion to Sir Edward. Belcher on•
receiving the order to abandon the ship ?—I had a conver-
sation the evening before, and expressed my opinon that
heavy gales could release the ships.
Did you give any opinion on the propriety of the aban-
donment of the ships ?—No.
Or make any observation ?—I knew it was Sir E. Bel-
cher's iuteation, if the ships did not break out, or.he re-
ceived intelligence from England, to abandon them.
How long had you been in the ice?—Since August, 1852,
except the time occupied in navigating the Wellington
ChannbL
The President—You navigated the Wellington Channel
from 1852, did you remain stationary all that time ?—No,
we remained stationary from August. 1852, till July,
1853. We were frozen in again about Sept. 1, 1853. We
were blown out of winter quarters by a heavy gale in 1853,
and we regained it on the 13th or 14th. We were then
frozen in again until Aug. 6, 1854.
Then there was no possibility of moving her from
August, 1852, to July, 1853 ?—Not in the least.
Do you know what distance you had to go from winter
quarters to open water ?—The distance was from 20 to 30
miles the day we left the ship.
yoWs
;erbeyabnlyasetffinogrt.s made to extricate her from the ice ?
Had that any effect ?—lt got her a certain distance—
half a mile—but we could get her no further.
thed
ton 2 laBtse
Channel ?—lt was
of your entering
WellingtonBr
What T.
PwaasCsl ehn Ytab—neWssl ? t hata
et I n
ofwaAugust,sw
then almost clear of ice. Welling
HoW far did you go up Wellington Channel before you
were stopped by the ice that year?—To Northumberland
Sound, at the head of it.
Was that in the Assistance ?—ln the Assistance and
Pioneer.
Were those your winter quarters that year ?—They
were.
difflnerreenttuf—ni
yngesn.next yereearw,
was
ws ascsarthceelysatnatey
woaftethr etoibcee
sveeerny.
Was the state of the ice in 1854 such as to render it im-
practicable and hopeless in getting through Wellington
Channel to the southward ?—ln 1854 it was as bad as 1853.
Captain Wyvill—What condition was the ship; in when
you left her on the 25th of August?—She was ready for
sea, but not very tight.
Had she received any injury from the ice ?—She had
received some pressure, and had been forced on shore by
the ice. She made more water than she did the first year.
Had the Pioneer received any injury or accident ?—She
was cast on shore in 1853.
Did you consider a serious damage arose from that?
—No.
Captain Tucker—You have stated that you knew it was
the intention of the captain to abandon the ships if they
did not break out by a certain day. Can you state what
You have stated that you got half a mile through the ice
dAaoyg ?—Wit. Awns—lt was between the 20th and 25th of
in 1854 by blasting ; how long were you doing it ?—About
16 hours, but we were favoured by circumstances, as the
ice was detached about half a mile from the shore, the
current helping us to clear the ice. About 7or 8 cwt.
of powder were used.
What was the state of the ship's company ?—I should
say the greater part of them were suffering from the effects
of the two preceding winters ?
Captain Stewart—Had you provisions for another year
if you had remained ?—We had for more than another
year, with the exception of preserved meat, of which we
had none.
What intelligence had been received of Capt. Collinson's
movements at the time Sou left?—That a notice had been
found at Princess Royal Island, stating that he had gone
southward.
Then, if he had continued in that course might he have
reached you ?—Very possibly.
Captain Fanehawe—You have stated that there was
little chance of getting through the ice that summer; yon
had 12 mouths' provisions on board, and the damage was
not serious. Do you consider it, would have been consis-
tent with security to have remained another winter, con-
sidering the state the ship was in ?—I consider she was in
a very insecure position, and I think remaining another
winter would have proyed fatal to a great number of the
crew. The chances of securing a place for the next winter
would have been very small, or of getting to Beechey
Island.
Do you allude to the health of the crew when you say it
would have been fatal 7—Yes.
If you had cut into a place of safety for the winter,
would the ship have been in the ensuing summer in a
worse place fur abandoning her if you had desired to aban-
don her ?—Certainly not.
Was there anything to prevent you from receiving in-
telligence from Captain Collinson, or the missing expedi-
tions ?—No.
Sir Edward Belcher—l think you have seen the effect of
the gales at the place where you left the ship. I mean such
a gale as blew on the sth of August, 1853. Do you think
the Assistance in a similar gale, with such masses as we
found when the Halkett's boat was discovered, could have
lived in that position 7—lf the Assistance had got among
such masses of ice it would, probably, have been destroyed.
Was it near the place where M. Ballot perished from the
sudden disruption of the ice ? It was about four miles
from where we left the ship.
What was the greatest thickness of ice near the Assist-
ance when last left in August ?—About 48 feet.
You have stated 20 or 30 miles to be the probable dis-
tance of open water from the ship, was the distance be-
tween our first anchorage and Beechey Island 52 miles dif-
ference in latitude ?—lt was.
Do you consider the last position in your own chart to
be a difference of 42 miles in latitude from Beechey Island ?
—Yes.
Are you aware that the ice on the 26th of August, 1861,
was computed to be 36 miles north of Beechey Island,
which would give 36 miles from the ship to the water ?—I
took it to be 15 miles from the floe.
it not considered
Ibelieve
e lieve tshhaetwthaes. 26th of August was the
latest date at which it would be safe to remain at Beechey
Island, and was the Phoenix hard pressed to escape at that
date 1s 8 n
Do yea. not know that I was commanded toreturn when-
ever my provisions should be reduced to twelve months ?
The question was requested to be postponed.
With respect to Captain Collinson, do you know whether
Peel's Channel is navigable ?—I do not.
What reason have you for supposing that Captain Col-
linson would desert his ship, and come up that channel ?
I think it probable he would have sent some of his crew
that way. If he had found another ship, he would not
have come to Beechey Island.
Was not the depot at Beechey Island 7—The North Star
was there, and also a house.
By cutting or docking in, I suppose, you allude to tem-
porary security, and not from the ice breaking up ?—To
have remained would have been possible with much labour
to cut into a place fer security.
Even if such a gale as Aug. 18, or Oct. 11, 1853, de-
stroyed all the ice on that shore ?—lt might have been
blown out, as every ship might be, unless land-locked.
Can you point out any land-lock position near the ship ?
—There is no place not open to the width of the strait.
Did we not consider the ships safe and firmly froze in,
and no signs of open water on the 10th of October, 1853,
when the ships were blown out 7—The ships were hie very
exposed position, but I do not think any one fancied they
u
over for the winter ?—They were per-
fectlyown
prepared.
What reason have you to suppose that Capt. Collinson,
having more provisions than the Investigator on board,
would desert his ship, and seek for provisions at Beechey
Island ?—I think most likely that he deserted his ship in
1854, and he might have done so.
Has an unreserved communication taken place every day
on the affairs of the expedition?-Yea, there was neces-
sarily every day a conversation about travelling.
Was it in consequence of such discussion that I changed
my orders, aid sent you to Captain Kellett ?—lt was. I
considered that it, was my privilege, in consequence of
being senior commander, to have the command of the ex-
pedition to the west, and I told Sir Edward Belcher so.
Mr. John F. Loney, master of the Assistance, was
sworn.
The Deputy Judge-Advonte—Are you master of the
Assistance ?—I am.
Is the log of that ship now produced kept by you?—lt
is, and the greater part of it is in my handwriting.
Is it correct in every particular 7—As far as I know.
If it were incorrect, must it have come to your know.
ledge ?—I think it must,
Were you on board the Assistance just before the time
she was abandoned 7-1 was.
state to the Court tto circumstances of her abandon-

THE SUPERINTENDENT OF WOOLWICH
DOCKYARD.

- -
Sir James Graham has selected Capt. Horatio Thomas
Austin, C.B. (18:38), to succeed the late Captain Martin as
superintendent of Deptford dock and victualling establish-
ments.
Captain Austin will be recognised as an officer of great
energy and extensive experience. As a captain he is known
as the commander of the Cyclops, steam-frigate, in the
operations on the coast of Syria and at Acre_; as the officer
who mainly assisted to get off the Sphinx from the rocks
at the Isle of Wight.; .who acted for some time as super-
intendent of Woolwich Dockyard ; who commanded the
Blenheim as superintendent of the steam-reserve at Ports-
mouth ; then as the chief of the Arctic Expedition in
search of Sr John Franklin ; and latterly as superintend-
ent of the packet Perri ce at Southampton.

APPOINTMENTS.
Master Charles C. Scott (1854), to be a chief officer in
the Coast Guard.
Masters'-Assistants—Frederick Hunter, to the Fisgard
flag-ship at Woolwich; Michael S. Gray, to the Rodney,
90, on the Mediterranean and Black Sea station.
romoted
Second Master—W. B. Calver (1846), has been p
to the rank of master.

_
MEDICAL OFFICERS FOR THE EAST.
A reinforcement of medical officers being required for
the Feat of war, the following have been selected from the
medical staff at Chatham to procee.l immediately to Con-
stantinople and Sebastopol Newton, J. Summers,
and F. Rutter, second-class staff surgeons at the Invalid
Hospital Fort 'Pitt, Chatham. The above gentlemen are
ordered to proceed to Constantinople, and Assistant•Sur-
goon Johnstone. 65th Regiment, has proceeded from Chat-
ham to Portsmouth, to embark with a reinforcement of
Artillery for Sebastopol. It is expected that another
draught of medical men will be required from the hospitals
at Chatham for the seat of war.
During the week 12 additional surgeons have been de-
spatched from Ireland to the East to attend on the wounded.

ARRIVALS FROM THE BALTIC.
The cutter Sparrowhawk arrived at Portsmouth during
the gale of last night, from the Baltic. She was despatched
to the Baltic fleet by Messrs. Edwin Galt and Co., wine
merchants, of this port, and joined the fleet at Baro Sound
in July, was taken in tow by her Majesty's ship Arrogant
to Ledsund, and thence to Bomarsund by the Termagant ;
left Bomarsund three days after the siege, touching at
Stockholm and Copenhagen. On the coast of Norway
there has been a succession of heavy westerly gales. The
Sparrowhawk was windbound at Christiansand for three
weeks. At least 300 vessels remained in the ports of Aran-
dal, Christiansand, Gamla, Hellesund, and Mundal, from
stress of weather. Among these were eight Russian prizes,
in charge of Lieutenant Bathurst, of the Archer, Lieut.
Hall, of the Conflict, and Mr. Curtis, mate of the Cruiser.
The Sparrowhawk has brought home many (interesting
trophies from Bomarsund, the keys of Fort Nottich being
among them. Mr. Edwin Galt and Mr. Baldock have re-
turned in her.
The Lightning steam-vessel, Captain B. J. Sulivan, re-
turned from the Baltic on Tuesday evening to Woolwich,
in charge of Lieut. Cndlip, Captain Sulivan haring been
ordered by Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier to remain on
board the Duke of Wellington flag-ship until the return of
the fleet from that sea. The Lightning accomplished her
duties as a surveying vessel in a highly satisfactory man-
ner, and, having run in close to Cronstadt, had a good op-
portunity of reconnoitring the strength of that fortress.
The month of the harbour is narrow, and one ship only
could enter at a time, which she would have to do under
the concentrated firing of 104 guns, and if she passed the
outer entrance she would receive, before entering the inner
harbour, the concentrated firing from 280 guns on a double-
tier battery erected at its entrance, and in which 14 ships
of the line are now lying. The walls are of solid granite,
18 feet thick, and it would require a considerable land
force to aid a powerful fleet when attempting to destroy
the fortifications.
The Leopard, 18, paddle-wheel steam-frigate, Captain
George Giffard, whose arrival at Spithead from the Baltic
we announced yesterday, left Oregrund, Gulf of Bothnia,
on the Bth inst., Faro the 10th, and Copenhagen the 13th.
At Oregrund she left the Odin, 16, paddle-frigate, Captain
Scott, and at Baro Sound, the Cruiser, 14, screw, Commander
the Hon. G. Douglas, and the Gorgon, 6, paddle-sloop,
Commander P. Cracoft; the Heels, 6, paddle, Capt. Hall,
and the Driver, 6, Commander Rice, were at Elsinore ob-
taining supplies for Rear-Admiral Plumridge's squadron
at Kiel. The Leopard has been and is extremely healthy.
She passed two French line-of-battle ships and three
steamers off Wingo Sound, homeward bound. She has
brought home Lieutenant Magrath, of the Odin, on pro-
motion, and, as trophies, a 13-inch mortar and a long 24-
pounder, captured at Bomarsund The Sprightly, port
tender, had been in the Channel all night, on the look-out
for the Leopard, to inform Admiral Martin of the illness
of his father (the Admiral of the fleet), and to hasten him
to his bedside ; and, immediately on arriving in the Leo-
pard, the Sprightly took him out at Spithead, and con-
veyed him into Portsmouth harbour, towing his barge
astern to land him without delay at the dockyard.
No. 118 transport, Lieutenant Robinson in charge, has
returned from the Baltic to Deptford, and has brought
home several trophies of the attack on Bomarsund, among
which are two helmet-shaped caps of the Ist Regiment,
remarkably well made, of black polished leather, with
pieces for defending the head from the blow o 1 a sword, in
addition to the front plate. They are lighter and much
softer, and sit easier on the head than the shako of the
British service. The spike rising from the top is admira-
bly adapted for ventilation, and-the strong tinning inside
has the name of the owner upon it in Roman and Greek
,otters each an inch long. .

LIVE SHELLS AND ROCKETS FROM THE
BLACK SEA.
The Palmyra, transport, which brought invalids and
stores from the Black Sea and Malta, has completed the
time for which she was hired. When her stores were dis-
charged at the dockyard great consternation was pro-
duced from several cases being found to contain live shells
and Congreve rockets.

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
,It is most currently reported that after the present
court-martial now sitting on Captain Sir Edward Belcher
is finished, three othor courts-martial will sit on officers
connected with the expedition for drunkenness.
Friday is named for the first of them to take place, as,
under present circumstances, Sir Edward Beleher's case is
not expected to be concluded till to-day.

ROYAL ARTILLERY.
Four pinnaces of the Fisgard, flag-ship at Woolwich, in
charge of Mr. Bean, master, serving on board, proceeded
to the Royal Arsenal on Tuesday morning, and towed the
right half battery of 9-pounder guns of Captain Gibbon's
company, 12th battalion, across the Thames, in barges, to
North Woolwich, on the Essex side, and the half battery
marched thence to Norwich, where the entire battery is to
be stationed. The pinnaces proceeded to the
acrossynal, on Wednesday morning, and towed the left
half battery, on its way io Norwich.

THE SCREW STEAMER JURA.
The large iron screw steamer Jura, to which we referred
yesterday, will leave Liverpool on Saturday for Cork,
where she will embark about 1,200 troops, composed of
detachments of various regiments for Constantinople. She
has on board upwards of 500 tons of Ordnance stores and
other supplies, received from the Tower and Chester
Castle.

MISCELLANEOUS.
Captain Smyth's field battery, Royal Artillery, leaves
the garrison at Woolwich this morning for Ipswich.
Two more Russian vessels, one called the Elise Wilhel-
mina, Peterson late master, and the other the Esse,
Sanders, master, have been seized as Crown droits by the
officers of Customs at Leith.
yesterday the baggage of the detachment of the 23d
Foot, on duty at the Tower, left for the dep6t at Win-
chester ; the men march this day to be ready toe mbark
for the Crimea.
The Russian schooner Volga, prize to the Miranda, laden
with rye meal, under pilot charge of, and as prize-master,
Mr. Ireland, late pilot of the Eurydice, left part of the
prize crew at Sheerness, on board the Waterloo, only
taking sufficient men to navigate her to London. This
prize is said to be valued at 1,4001., ship and cargo. She
arrived at Sheerness on Tuesday, and proceeded for the
West India Docks the same day.
Colonel Sir Charles Hamilton, of the Guards, arrived
at the War Department with despatches from Lord
Raglan.
in Smyth's field battery Royal Artillery leaves the
Captain
garrison at Woolwich, this day morning, for Ipswich.

MILITARY.
The newly-appointed commander-in-chief for this dis-
trict, Major• General Eden,
nerarrived here
ted on Saturday
On Monday the gallant general was visi at G
House by the commanding-officers of regiments and corps,
and the heads of departments in his district. He has since
left the ,arrison, having been granted leave till the 31st
inst., thne command of the district again devolving on Col.
Ward, R.E., until General Eden's return.—Plumouth
Mail.
, after having
A draft of the 3il Buffs is now in Cork. This draft, with
those of the 9th and 14th, will shortly depart for Malta,
in the Poicticrs.
Ipswich barracks are again to be occupied
remained empty since the month of April laFf . The
wilo:ic destination Ipswich, aro the V hold Lattm yof
Ithe Royal Artillery, consisting of four officers, 1 staff-ser-
tieant, 5 aerie:tuts, -148 rank and file, 86 hctraes, 0 guns,

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ment.—Sir Edward Belcher rrived on the 23d of August,
accompanied by several offioers of the North Star and
Resolute. On the following morning orders were given for
her abandonment. The hatches were battened down,
anchors were reticle fast, and the ship prepared for leaving.
At four o'clock the next morning the ship was abandoned.
The Ship Was then lying in lat. 75 23 and long. 92 30. The
ship was then in a very unsafe position,, being about half a
mile fidm shore.
How far was she from open water ?—She might have been
20 or 25 miles.
sftop;tsoewa.as the ship and her tender ?—ln every
respect
.sile at all damaged, or her tender damaged ?—They
were both slightly damaged from getting on shore.
,Hoiv long had you been in Wellington Channel ?—Since
August, 1852.
Was there, in your opinion, any probability of her
getting out of the ice that summer ?—There was a possi-
bility, not a probability. -
Would it have been safe to }rave remained in or near the
place where the ship was during the winter months ?
Certainly.
And in that case could you- have left in the ensuing sum-
mer ?--Certainly.
The President.—How lcng was the ship in the position
you mention,biLlf a mile from the shore ?—Witness--About
15 days.
What was her position before?--about half a mile to
the westward.
had you been driven that half mile from the weather?
—No. Daring the time we were in that position the ice
opened from the shore, and, by blasting, we succeeded in
getting down half a mile. The distance blasted, however,
was not more than 400 yards.
What amount of provisions had you on board 2—About
one year's supply of the principal articles.
Captain Pasley—Was the ship on her way down Wel-
lington Channel when she was beset?—She was.
Was the ice thick ?—About 11 feet thick,
Had you any previous experience of the ice in Welling-
ton Channel ?—Not before the expedition of 1852.
When you went up Wellington Chanel Wal, it deer of
ice?—Yes.
• Did it appear to you probable from the lateness of the
season that the ship would be able to make a passage to
L Beechey Island in the state of the ice?—My opinion is
she could not, but it is impossible to say.
Captain Fanshawe—You say the ship was in an unsafe
position. Was it temporary ?—I mean that it was tempo-
. irhhspnhaoearosrrhyirieteersif:eborucaneo,
evonmdnentswsidhttafheeoirirferct:icy
..teaghhßd:reeaeoaiol:ntionirityhe:
leasieonature
tmo
suddenly
d theenl y ice,brokenbeing u
p closeshe
might
o th e
nehacolwrfme haas as.
et
mile
Tsi
tloheouewn adl
fromrei soundings s
tlwvh
haewaswas going
oot
lirhneefg. shiputnde
her ?—The ship in her first position was 31 fathoms, and in
ono spot we had as little as four fathoms, and in her last
whole time. •

Before you were secure in your first position, was she
in 75 fathoms by the log ?—I think it probable she may
have been.

Have you any reason to know an official report to that
effect was made to me in writing ?—I find 58 fathoms
from the log, and it is quite possible it might have been
more.
Was it not possible that another half-mile would have
places the ship high and dry from the steep nature of the
•beach?—l think half-a-mile would have placed her ashore.
Are you aware, from the report of the officers who
found the bay open in October, 1853, near the spot where
Lieut. Bellot perished, they considered that it would not be
a safe place to take the Assistance to when the gale of
October, 1853, left me that option ?—I believe Commander
Pullen told me so.
How long have you served with me ?—Seven years.
Have my conversations with you in the service con-
nected with the proceedings been op-en and unreserved ?
During my service with you in the Samarang you were
in the habit of conversing with me ; but during my service
in the Arctic regions you did not do so, which I attribute
to my not having had any previous experience in the ice.
During our sledge journeys were you my companion for
52 days in tent, and were not these matters unreservedly
and privately canvassed ?—They were.
Mr. David Lyall, surgeon, sworn.
The Deputy Judge Advocate—Were you surgeon of the
Assistance in August last ?—I was borne on her books,
but was not acting as surgeon.
When did you leave the Assistance ?—ln May, 1854.
Where did you go to then ?—The North Star.
With Sir E. Belcher?—No.
Did you, previous to leaving in May, make any survey
of the crew ?—I did.
Can you state the result of the survey, and when it was
made ?—lt was made a few days before I left, and from
what I saw I considered the lives of several and health of
many of the ship's company would have been endangered
by another winter in the ice, in the circumstances in which
the Pioneer and Assistance were placed.
Did you so report to Sir Edward Belcher ?—I did.
The President—Had you any previous experience in the
Arctic seas ?—I had previous experience in the ice, hating
been with Sir Jas. Ross in his Antarctic voyages as assist-
ant surgeon.
Were the crew generally healthy during the time they
were on board the Assistance?—Until the last winter they

s
805r2,a nliBmsa3l!
andbee nlpBrme s e?rd
—v n
were.
quartersauSriirszTt.hPeawsleinyt—erHad
a y
game
o f 1
the autumn of 1851 some walrue were killed, and during
that winter several bears were also killed. No game of
any kind was obtained. That was all that was killed in
the winters of 1852 and 1853. No bears or walrus were
killed in 1854. There was no fresh meat of any kind dur-
ing the two last winters, and very few of the men would
eat either walrus or bears.
Was any game seen in the neighbourhood of Cape Os-
borne or Beechey Island?—One deer was seen near Cape
Osborne ; a few hares and some ptarmigan were also seen,
but none shot.
Captain Wyvill You say the ships' crews were in
danger from the position in which the Pioneer and Assist-
ance were placed. Do you mean from the exertion they
would have to make or the food they would have to live
upon?—From both.
Captain Stewart—Did you see any natives ?-37e saw
none after leaving Uppernavik, in Greenland.
Sir E. Belcher—Before the arrival of the Phoenix, on
Ang. 24, 1851, were you aware that no preserved meats
could be spared from the depot placed for Captain Collin-
son's support at Beechey Island, and were the crew of the
Assistance endangered by the total absence of preserved
meats, should she be compelled to winter ?—I understood
none could be spared from the depot. The want of pre-
served meats would have had a serious and prejudicial ef-
fect on the health of the crew.
Independent of the health and comfort of the crew, are
you not personally aware that the officers had no remain-
ing stock to render their winter comfortable ?—I am.
Sir T. Pasley.—How many men could have been found
sufficiently healthy to have stayed in the ship if she had re-
mained another winter ?—Out of the two ships' companies
of the Pioneer and Assistance not more than 45 or 50.
If there was a sufficient crew to remain, was there a suf-
ficient number of officers to command them, or winter with
them ?-- -I think neither Sir E. Belcher nor Commander
Richards could have remained with safety another winter.
Was your own health or that of the master sufficient to
warrant Sir E. Belcher in leaving you behind with a total
want of comforts ?—I consider our health would have suf-
fered, but I should have had no fear for our lives.
Mr. John Rickards, acting surgeon of the North Star,
sworn. .
The Deputy Judge-Advocate.—Are you acting surgeon
of the North Star ?—I am.
Were you lent to do duty on board the Assistance, in the
spring of this year ?—Yes.
When did you join ?—ln May, and I continued till she
was abandoned.
During that time did you make any survey of the men
on board?—Yes; an inspection and survey took place every
fortnight, and a report of it was given to Sir E. Belcher.
What was the general state of the health of the ship's
company ?—lt was such that 20 or 30 of them were sent to
Beechey Island, to insure their passage to England this
autumn, should any vessel arrive.
Can you state how many officers were fit to remain
another winter, under the circumstances in which the As-
sistance and Pioneer were placed ? All except Sir Edward
Belcher, Commander Richards, Mr. Lewis, clerk in charge,
and Mr. Harwood, officer of the Pioneer.
How many of the crew were fit to remain another win-
ter ?—I should say, in the Assistance, not more than ten
or twelve. There were other men who were obtained from
the North Star.
Who was left to navigate the North Star ?—The ships'
companies of the Investigator, Intrepid, and Resolute.
We sent the men to Beechey Island.
The President—How many men did you get from the
North Star tn-I cannot recollect exactly, but I think 14
or 15.
Those you considered fit to remain another winter?—
Yes.
Have you had any previous experience of the Arctic
Seas ?—None.
Sir E. Belcher—Of the increased crew sent from the
North Star, are you aware that the total number assem-
bled to extricate her Majesty's ship Assistance were lent,
and only amounted to 106 men, and of this number that
not more than three were of the new men exchanged from
her Majesty's ship Phoenix in 18532—There was such a
sacceion of arrivals and departures during the spring
and summer that I cannot positively recollect the exact
number.
Were not the North Star men exchanged down to three?
—I cannot say.
Were not their names Warne, Glass, and Hall ?—They
were of the North Star. I was under the impression there
were more men from time to time.
Mr. James Lewis, clerk in charge of the Assistance, was
sworn.
The Deputy Judge-Advocate—Were you clerk in charge
of the Assistance in August last ?—Witness, I was.
Were you with her when she was abandoned ?—Yes.
What was the state of the provisions ?—They were in a
good state of preservation generally.
How many months' provisions ? There was a survey in
July, when the remains were found to be equal on the
scale of victualling then in force to about one year of the
full complement.
What was the scale of victualling then in force ?—lt was
a special scale, established by Sir E. Belcher on the Bth
December, 1853.
What do you mean by a special scale—was it a reduced
scale ?—lt was established upon the recommendation of
the surgeon and the assistant-surgeon.
Was it a scale in reference to the health of the men or
the reduced state of the provisions?—lt was in respect to
the health of the men and also the state of the provi-
siong.
Had you a year's provisions ?—Yea ; but no preserved
meat: We had sufficient salt meat to serve for one year.
The President—Was the established scale for provision
generally more or less than the ordinary allowance ?—I
think it was less.
How much less ?—About ilb. of meat per day less, and
Vb. of flour less on the days for the issue of flour, suet,
currants, and salt beef.
How long had that been established ?—For the whole
commission after December, 1853.
Before that were they on full allowance ?—No, on the
reduced allowance from May, 1852. On that day they
coalmencati a special seale of victualling established by Sir
'Edward .Belcher that had reference to the total quantity of
provisions with which the Arctic squadron was provided.
That continued to the Anal departure from the ship, On

the ship ?—I had no alternative. I SAW Captain Kellett
on the matter.
You have no doubt of the propriety of the orders you
received !—None whatever.
Did you receive orders from Sir E. Belcher relative to
the abandonment of the ship ?—None.
The President-Was the ship abandoned in consequence
of the scurvy on board ?—lt was. It was abandoned. b 7
order of Captain Kellett, but that had no reference to Sir
E. Belcher.
Had you a written order to that effect ?—I had; and
gave it to the court yesterday.
Sir B. Belcher—You stated that you wintered in the
peek in 3850 and 1851, did you experience any" i,xtraor-
, dinary danger between that point and Point Barrow,
and would Captain Collinson, in returning by that route,
incur any extraordinary risk I—Between the position where
we wintered and Point Borrow, we experienced nothing
more than the ordinary difficulties of ice navigation, and
with reference to CaptaiwCollinson. should he pursue the
course alongthelmerienn continent by which T came, there
is little danger to be apprehended of her safety.
Whet Provisions did you believe her to have remaining
in August, 1853 ?—I cannot answer that questinei, but am
. convinced Captain Collinson would have had more than
Throe years' provisions, as the Enterprise was considerably
larger than the Investigator, with the same complement of
men, and I knew it was his determination to fill her with
provisions, and he had 25,000 lb. of flour from the Investi-
gator on board, and he -would have completed from the
whalers, as he directed me to do, on entering the ice
llinson
Having seen the papers deposited by Captain Co
in August, 1852, have you any reason to suppose there was
any doubt of his safety, or• cause him to desert his ship,
when he stated he had lost no men, and were all well? —I
cannot tell what difficulties would beset him, but I am
aura Ceptain.Collinson would not desert his ship without
being reduced to the utmost necessity, or wreck. In either
of which cases, I think we shouldhave heard of him at Port
Leopold this year.
If Captain Collinson fails back on the notices which have
been deposited at Princess Royal Island and is assured of
your safety, -he will return by Behring's Straits?—lf he is
still in his ship I think he certainly will - being convinced
and apprised that I have not been able to get the Investi-
gator through.
The President—Bat has he been apprised?—The docu-
ments deposited will apprise him.
Captain Kellet called in, and sworn.
,e pu un tdye
under certain
rlgtaeinAdesiroccuarates—taDniedes,ytoou
leave
M . 'TChI eu
r De
thCeasphitaipn?
—I did.
Did you do so without reference to any positive orders
froin Sir Edward Belcher?—l did. I did it on my own
responsibility.
Was Sir E. Belcher beyond communication ?—He was.
He was at his winter quarters in Wellington Channel, and
I was at 'etelville Island.
How far are they apart ?ear
,ctile. ice, about 500 miles.
.(e ..Was the -Bay of Mercy ?7,7sTes ;About 176 mils.
further.
Sir E. Belcher declined to put Rey questions.
Captain Kellett wished to put in a report from the sur-
geons of the Investigator on the state of the crew. It-was
dated from her Majesty's ship Investigator, Ba of ercy,
May 23,1853. It said—" In obedience to youry order con-
veyed. to us through Commander M'Clure, directing a sur-
vey to be held on the.officers and men remaining on board
this ship with a view of ascertaining their general state
of health and efficiency for further service in the Polar
Seas, we have the honour to inform you that we have this
day held a strict and careful survey accordingly, and beg
to state as the result thereof that their present state of
health is such as renders them entirely unfit to undergo
the rigours of another winter without entertaining the
most serious apprehensions for the consequences."
What was the object of your expedition?—There were
two objects, one a search for Sir John Franklin, and
the other to deposit a supply of provisions at Melville
Island.
How far did you accompany Sir E. Belcher?—To
Beechey Island. I arrived there about the 9th of August.
I was ordered to pursue a course up Barrow Straits for
Melville leland, N% here I was to piece.% depot of provisions, •
clothing, and fuel for the ships under Captain Collinson.
I reached Winter Harbour on the 7th of September.
Finding I could not winter there, I returned to the east-
ward to a harbour I examined, but fortunately did not
get into. I returned to the westward, where I cut into
the floe, and completed the first portion of my order from
Sir E. Belcher, where I wintered. Commander M'Clin-
tear immediately started overland towards Melville
Island, to see if the route was precticable for sledges.
He found that it was practicable for sledges, and traced
the coast along Bank's Land to Melville Island. All the
officers and men left in September, 1852. We broke out,
August 18, 18;13, in a heavy gale, and endeavoured to
get easterly, in the direction of Beechey Island with the
whole of the Investigator's crew on board, with the
exception of Lieutenant Cresawell and Mr. Wynyatt,
being the only two persons who were considered
capable of undertaking a journey .to Beechey Island .
with the despatches for Captain M'Clure. In two days the
ships arrived at Port Griffiths' on the south-east of Mel-
ville Island. From that time till September 10 we were
endeavouring to get to the eastward, but failed, and got
beset, drifting about in the rick until we were finally beset
on the 12th of November, 28 miles SW by S true of Cap*
Cockburn, where the ship was abandoned on the 15th of
May, 1851, by order of Sir Edward Belcher.
What was the state of the ships when abandoned?—ln
a perfect condition, except the false keel was off the Reso-
lute, which was rather an improvement. She wasbattened
down, and provisions and stores were left on board. She
was in a state for re-occupation, according to order. The
state of the health of the officers and crew was very good.l
How much provisions had you on board 7—With the ex-
ception of preserved meat, I had a supply for 50 men for
twelve months.- I had also a large proportion of comforts
provided by the Lords of the Admiralty.
What induced you to abandon the ships 7—The order I
received from Sir Edward Belcher.
Did he confer or consult with you before giving the
order 7—No.
Do you think it would have been practicable to have got
through the ice this summer 7—l think it was very pro-
bable.
From your knowledge of Arctic navigation, if there was
a more than ordinary quantity of ice, do you consider you
could have got through the ice in the summer?—Yes, in
the autumn.
Do you think, from the state of the ships and crew, if
you had not got through this mummer, that you could have
remained another winter without incurring more than or-
dinary risk ?—I think we might.
Do you think if you had remained you could have as.
sisted Captain Collinson ?—I think Captain Collinson will
never come up to the northward. A document was depo-
sited at Ramsey Island by me, in which I advised him rot
to return by that route ; that is, if he was obliged to desert
his ship ; but I think that parties would have been use-
fully employed next spring in following his traces, which
cannot now be done.
The President—Did you advise Captain Collinson to re-
trace his steps to the westward 7—Witness : Sir Edward
Belcher had a copy of the record I left, and I advised him
to return by Behring's Straits, as all had been done to the
westward that could be done. In fact, no more land could
be seen to the westward of my travelling parties. Had he
found my record I could have been no assistance to him by
remaining if his ships were intact. .
Do you consider Captain Collinson would find your re-
cord ?—No ; Captain Collinson states it to be his intention
to follow a supposed strait which one of his travelling par-
ties had already gone up more than 100 miles. That I think
he will pursue as far as practicable. Failing there I con-
sider he would attempt to get easterly, as Capt. M'Clure
had already coasted along the western shores of Baring
Island, where Captain Collinson followed him, and found
his record stating he had gone on.
Were you aware of Capt. Collinson's intention when you
abandoned the ship ?—Ne ; I obtained that information
by the unparalleled journey made by Lieut. Meacham.
Where were you when you received that information 7
—At Beechey Island, after I had abandoned the ship.
That information was sent to Sir Edward Belcher by M.
Dupre, the French mate, by dogs, in two hours after I re-
ceived it. The officer informed use that he reached Sir E.
Belcher in a few hours.
If it had been thought desirable that the ships should
remain another season, with the view of affording assist-
ance to Captain Collinson, do you think there is ann reason
why they should not have remained for that purpose ?
No, the ships and crews were quite equal to it:
Sir Thomas Pasley—Was it too late to make other ar-
rangements after the receipt of this intelligence 7—My
opinion is that it would have been improper to have de-
tained the North Star a single moment to endanger her
wintering another season with the Investigator's crew on

PRICE SD.
L

the 15th of Decembeir the quAntity of meat was reduced,
but it was afterwards increased on the recommendation of
the medical otcers.
Was any flour served on salt-meat days I—None. Two
days a week lib of biscuit, was substituted for lib of flour.
The biscuit wass.,iisued on salt-beef 'days, There are' two
sorts of flour iu,..the Arctic service—one for biscuit, and
one for puddings, and the proportions supplied of biscuit
and flour Adrniaod of flour being issued on five days, and
biscuit two days a week, at the rate of :11h per man per.
day.
Captain Tucker —Can you give- the totalivictualled•iu.
August, 185/..—G-tmerally about 100. It varied with the,
arrival and d epartAare "of sledges: It was' continually.
varied.
Sir E. Belch er—ls the scale adopted by Capt. Austin-as
nearly as possible that adopted by myself throughout the
Arctic squacbta us;_ and
_recommended by Mr. Brooman to
the Arctic corn ...mittee, not sufficient? And are the extra
comforts not ei tumerated in the list at the:discretion of the
captain to ware-. the same.?—The quantity of preserved
meats was less than in the expedition of 1851 and 1852,
but soups and -,regetables were issued in additiot.
Do you consi'.e,er that I consulted the comforts -of my
crew, and did frequently consult you how I could do so
without &Antrim:lt to th© public; service?
What'clothit ig remained for another Winter,' or to clothe
any new men a Nat ?—There was no clothing, with the ex-
ception of one mit that remained, that was intended for a
man who died..
Was there any Arctic clothing similar to that gratui-
tously supplied. by Government—skin-dresses, fishing-
boots, and opther Hand' of
clothing ?—There were four or
five pair oft boobs, and a very small quantity of other
articles.
The Presideest- —What quantity of fuel remained in the
ship ?—As near at 3 I can judge, and it coußbe ascertained
for the time, tilers" were coals in the Assistance for two or
three months of the winter consumption.
Were there any means of getting an additional supply
—There were some in the tender, and I had beard that
there were scum) at. Cape Riley, near Beechey Island, de-
, posited there ,;ey the Phoenix, in 1853.
Is not Cape Riley_ beyond Beeeltey Island ?—About three
Miles to the ea, rtward. ~• .
Did you ever a neet with any driftwood in that part ?
During the prose at expedition I have not seen driftwood
enough, with tb e exception of a small stump of & tree
about three feet :long, to light a large fire.
The court was cleared for a short time. On our re-ad-
Commander Sherrard Osborne, commander of the As-
sistance tender, sworn.
The Deputy Judge-Advocate.—Were you borne on the
books of the .A.ssistance, and for what time?—l was from
February, 18: i 2, to the date of my commission as a com-
mander on th e 13th of October, 1852, and subsequently to
that period as commander up to the 30th of May, 1851.
State the po eition of the ship when you left her on the
30th cf. May.- -She was about five miles NNW from the
pitch of Cape C'sborne, to the best of my belief.
What was the state of the ice?—l can only answer for
the Pioneer. She was pressed on shore in the autumn of
1853, but receive.i. no damage, and was in as safe a condi-
tion as the ord ins Sry casualties of Arctic seas will allow.
What was the. state of the ice ?—I left on the 20th June,
and the ships wer e then frozen in.
aye you bee n before in the Arctic service I—Yes,

twice.
How long had the vessels been in the ice I—They had
been in that position from the 15th October, 1853.
Was there an unusual quantity of ice in Wellington
Channel in 1851 —No ;it was merely frozen over.
Could you form 3.‘n opinion of the probability of the
ships getting through. the ice that summer?—l was led to
believe they would escape early, from thennmerous cracks
in the ice I crossed on ivy way to Beechey Island.
Did anything occur to induce you to alter your opinion?
—Yes, in consequence of this southern gales in Barrow's
Straits preventing the escape of the ice, as I believed it
would have don.).
Could you form an opinion from Beechey Island whe-
ther the ships could get away that summer 7 No ; I think
the officers who last visited the ships on foot in Welling-
ton Channel can. convey to the court the best idea of it.
Do you know the exact position of the ships when they
were abandoned. 7—Only from hearsay.
Are you aware what quantity of provisions there was at
Beechey Island and in the North Star ?---I know, unoffi-
cially, that 12 months additional provisions were for-
warded to Beechey Island in 1853.
What quantity of fuel 7-800 tons of coal were for-
warded at the same time.
Were the Assistance and her tender, in your opinion,
fit to encounter another winter in the Arctic seas 7—Per-
fectly so, as fat as the ships were concerned.
Are you awaxe of any other reasons why they should
not have remained 7—The crews would have required
fresh arrangements.
Are you aware if any arrangements could have been
made to allow the ships to remain in safety 7—Having no
knowledge of Sir Edward Belcher's orders from England
in 1851, I did pot know that the crews of the Talbot and
Phcenix would be available. If they were I should have
employed them to remain by the ships.
How far were the ships from Beechey Island when they
were abandoned 7—About 40 miles.
Were you discharged from the books of the Assistance
in June ?—I was.
Into what ship ?—The North Star.
Upon whose orders 7—Sir E. Belcher's.
Was it possible to transport provisions from the North
Star to the Assistance and Pioneer by sledges 7—Yes.
Who were the last officers who visited the vessels from
Beechey Island 7—Commander M`Clintock, of the Reso-
lute ; Mr. Cndd, master of the Investigator, and Dr. Lyall,
surgeon of the Assistance.
Were the crews of the Assistance and Pioneer fit to re-
main another winter 7—Only a small portion of them, but
the ships might be.
You speak of the Admiralty sending out one year's pro-
visions in 1853. Do you mean for the squadron, or for
one ship I—For the squadron. They were furnished by
the Phcenix.
You say on or about the 26th of August, when leaving
Beechey Island, the Talbot and Phcenix came in; do you
know.if they had any provisions ?—I understood the Tal-
bot came for the use of the Arctic squadron.
Sir E. Belcher said he had no questions to put to the
witness, who was ordered to withdraw.
Commander Leopold M'Clintock was next called.
The Deputy Judge-Advocate—You are additional com-
mander of the Resolute, performing service in the Intre-
pid ?-1 am.
Did you travel with Sir Edward Belcher from .Beechey
Island in 1851?—Yea.
Was the state of the ice such as to render it doubtful if
the Intrepid could get out of the ice that summer 7—Yes.
The President—Have you had much experience in the
Arctic seas 7-4 served in both the preceding expeditions
under Sir James Ross and Captain Austin.
Did you find the state of the ice on the latter occasion
nearly similar to the former, or was there more or leas ice ?
—Within a few miles of the Assistance the ice was of the
ordinary floe. More immediately about her it was heavy

ice.
Did you leave the Pioneer at Beechoy Island when you
went to the Assistance?—lt was with us.
Had you any previous acquaintance with the Wellington
Channel on former expeditions ?-31orely in crossing its
mouth.
Do you know if it is very rarely free from ice ? —Wel-
lington Channel is as often as free from ice as Barrow's
Straits. .

Were you frozen in the pack with Sir James Ross?
Yes.

Was the position of the Pioneer and Assistance less
hazardous in that pack ?—I think less so.
If the Pioneer and Assistance had not been abandoned at
the time they were, would there not have been great risk
of their getting to England this autumn ?—The chances
were certainly against their getting home.
Was the state of the ice in Wellington Channel such as
to render it probable that the ice would break up and let
them through ?—lt was possible, but not probable.
Sir E. Belcher—Are you aware of the object for which
you accompanied me to her Majesty's ship Assistance ?—I
understood it was for the purpose of remaining out in com-
mand of her.
'Was it from my positive knowledge of the ice in Wel-
lington Channel for two years that if I deemed it possible
to rescue the ship to leave you in command ?—I was not
aware that it was limited to one season.
Did you understand that you were to be left if I consi-
dered that any chance of escape offered, or in the event of
the vessel being besot by the ice you might remain, if my
instructions of 1851 warranted such a measure 7—l was
not aware of the circumstances as to the limitation stated.
Captain M'Clure was then c lied and sworn.
The Deputy Judge-Advocate —Did you leave England
in 1850 in command of the Investigator 7—l did.
For what purpose ?—For the purpose of preceedingd
through Behring's Straits in search of the missing expedi-
tion of Sir John Franklin.
Did Captain Collinson accompany you 7—He did.
Was he your senior officer?—He was.
When did you part company with him ?—Two or three
days atter leaving Plymouth. I afterwards met him in
the Straits of Magellan. We steamed out in tow of the
Gorgon, and parted company the same day, and I have
not seen him since. The only communication I have since
had from him was left at Oahu, in the Sandwich Islands.
Where did you then go 7—To Behring's Straits, where I
met the Plover, Captain Moore, and the Herald, Captain
Kellett. That war in July, 1850.
State the course you took up to the loss of the ship.—
After parting company with the Herald we rounded
Point Barrow on the 6th of August, and proceeded to the
Prince of 'Wales' Straits, where we were.frozen in till the
10th of September, where we wintered. We broke out on
July 14 in the following year, and endeavoured to get into
Barrow's Straits. On the 17th of August bore up and
rounded the western side of Baring Island, and finally, on
the 24th of September, 1851, got frozen in the Bay of
Mercy, where the vessel was loft.
State to the Court the circumstances of the abandon-
ment of the ship.—ln April, 1853, Lieut. Pe fain
kellett,
the Bay of Mercy with intelligence from Captain
which I con-
j. ed
in the Resolute, then at Deleay Island, from
sidered it necessary to join him, for the
osition—whether
ing what should be done in our presentsk se
he
purpose of arrang-
"t possibility of
at once to abandon the vessel,
getting her through Barrow's Sthorraite arscotooroEpnigi.lhanmde,nats
ofit wastht
my object to effect it, so that t
north-west to follow me on the
passage might be decided without any possi-
bility of doubt. Half the crow were
sth of April to command the return vessels, so that the
remainder might receive the full allowance of rations if it
should seem advisable for me to remain. On those men
arriving at the Resolute, Captain Kellett ordered a sur-
vey. From the report he found so many to be suffering front
scorbutic affection and general debility that Capt. Kellett
thought it advisable that a survey should be also held on
those remaining on board the Investigator. If they were
not found in bettor condition, he considered it advisable
the vessel should be quitted: That report has been already
before the court, and on it we came to the determination
that the ship should be abandoned. There were not
enough men who volunteered to remain to insure the pos-
sibility of the ship being brought home this summer.
How had you been off for provisions ?—Since October,
1851, we had been on two-thirds of the regular service
allowance.
Had that any visible effect on the men ?—Not in the
first year, on account of the quantity of game killed ; but
it was perceptiole in the last year on the health and spirits
of the men, and they lost flesh considerably. •
Do you consider it was the only court* open to 'abandon

board.
If Captain Collinson got tho Bet in the channel near
Victoria Laud, would he have been within the reach of
travelling parties?—l am not aware of the distance, but
if ho had been within 600 miles they would have reached
him, for my officers travelled 1,200 miles—GOO out and
600 back.
Should you have come home if it had been left to you ?
—Without orders from the Lords of the Admiralty I
should have come home.
Sir Edward Beleher—Were the orders to withdraw your
crew, leaving the ship in a condition for re-occupation,
given under the impression that you or Captain 41`Clure
had taken the necessary steps in 1853 to ascertain If
are?
Collinson had come upon the traces of Captain /Velure?
—I am not aware of Sir Edward Belcher's impressions.
Was it expressed in a private letter to you?—l am un•
able to say.
If you had exercised the discretionary power entrusted
of
to you, should I not have known of the safety Captain
Collinson a year before ?—No.
hnaoat hParYo;
Were any orders given to Captain rittriorV proceed to the
Bay of Mercy to seek for the Investigator
If
downfarilreidn to
foundflehdelsnoytterisdti,gvatoonitta,nhde
found the records of Captain Collinson in 1853 . He would,
returned in time for me to
fiAnldbetrthe's
but would not be able to have
send them to you.
In your despatch sent by LieutenanttHantilton of a later
date, should I not have been apprised_ of Lieutenant Pim's
success had he so proceeded?—You would have been
pried by my despatch by Lieutenant Hamilton.
The Court then adjourned.

Axp:iira FOREIGN CREDITORS.--The lad
l'ixWestEliiicd°la. mail brought the first three numbers of the
Mexican, Economist, the new periodical started in the
city of Mexico, by Mr. Rickards, the agent of the Eng-
lish bondholders. Its chief object is to spread a know-
ledge of the commercial resources of Mexico, and, at
the !mine time, to advocate the claims of the foreign
creditors. Politics, under the existing dictatorship,
are, of course, to be avoided, except in so far as the
illusions may be favourable to General Santa Anna,
upon whose intentions there is a strong eulogium from
a correspondent in the last number. According to
this writer, the aim of the General is, that his dictator.
ship should merely facilitate a transition to some of the
advantages of a constitutional system, by preserving
order until an habitual respect for it shall have grown up,
" I have the honour of his own words," it is observed,
" to the effect that any pledge ever given by him will
be honourably fulfilled at the seasonable moment, or
when it can be dune with safety to intact national secu-
rity." It is passible that this may be a true representa-
tion of Santa Anna's views, a,nd there can be no question
as to the necessity of stringent measures to repress_
anarchy into which the country had fallen. The pon.
L cGiPeanieriamliinstforto when the
shall have
himself distrustto b liesbe
the i in
solethe
judge . circumstanceas that the
" seasonable moment" for limiting his power

arrived.
A GOOD LANDLORD.-The Earl of Erne bite been pay-
ing a visit to his tenantry in this county, acoompanied
n 3 lltios lsouredhs hai as hive
bgaoyees
hinystirliuseatig)eiist,tJo.
pßvuthtiliesdgteen,
aEnstqg .fotro warbyominhverhoayseingievlemn
ctlhoenehobuystehseamn,dafiaidnntsoiLgi igvoeudproorvdiesrio.
this day to Crom Castle, carrying with him the bleesiegs
of hie numerous tenantry.—Mayo CoNtitutfott.