The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-13 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 13, 1854.

Ju t eublishcd,
QIEGE of SEVASTOPOL, WYLD'S NEW
MA I' of the SIEGE OPERATIONS at, with the Fortifications
and Lines of Fire of the Y ngl:sh, Russian, and French flatteries on a
large scale, embracing the country between the River Katcha and
the Harbour of Balaklava, showing the W2Ol Ground, the Approaches,
the Points of Attack, and the position of the Allied Armies. One
sheet, 2s. Cd. ; in case, 45.; on rollers, 7s. 6d.
WYLD'S 7I AP of the CRIMEA, showing the Roads, Fasse,,
8:c , 3t., 55., and 7s 6 I.

417171. D'S PLAN of the BATTLE of ALMA, Is., 2i., and 3s.

J.,mcs Geograph.r to the Queen. Charing-cross East, next
lour to the Post-office ; and 2, Royal Exclia,ge.

NORWICH IJNION REVERSIONARY
INTEttEST COMPANY.
Notice is Hereby Given, that the HALF-YEARLY DIVIDEND,
at the rate of 51. per cent., clear of Income-tax, duo 31st October
last, is now in course of payment at the 0111:.e of the Company.
HENRY NORRIS, Secretary.
23, Lincoln's-inn-Fields, 13th Nov , 1,54.
N.l3.—Proposals for the sale of Reversions, And applica'ion for new
hare,, may be addressed to the Secretary.

'llO LOTERS OF FISH.-
100 real YARMOUTH BLOATERS for 65., package included.
rho oberre forwarded to all parts on receipt of penny postage stamps,
or P. O. O. (preferred) for the amount. Send plain address, county,
ind nearest station.—Address, Thomas Lettis, jun., Fish-curer, Great
Yarmouth.

LAITRENT'S CASINO, ARGYLL ROOMS.-
Now Open for the Season.--Dating the week the orchestra
wnl perform this Overture to Zampa ; Waltzes : Le Refrain des Mon•
tagnes (first time), Germania, Solon Spruche : Polkas, Fidelin (first
time), Les Folics, Moscow ; Quadrilles : La G.:erre d'Orient (first time),
Schamyl, Partant roar la Syrie (by desire), L'Etoile du Nord • Schot-
tische: Malvina. (first tune), and (also uy desire) the Alma Galop.
Principal Cornet n Piston,. M. lioulcourt.—Al tarot ion of Time Doors
open at Eight ; commence at half-past.—Admission, One Shilling.

• PATRON—H. R. H. PRINCE ALBERT.
OPAL. POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.
t) Miss GLYN wi 1 read OTHELLO on Tuesday, the 14th inst.,
at Eight o'Clock, and HENRY the Sth on Thursday, the 16th, at
LECTURE specially addressed to the INDUSTRIAL CLASSES,
Monday Evening, 13th inst., at Light. Second Lecture of a Course
on PHYSIOLOGY, as connected with HEAL Hi, by Dr. CAarennta,
&c. Subject —FOOD and INDIGESTION.
FIRST EX II BITION of Dr. EI)WARDS' PHO TOGRAPHS of
the MOC)N, magnified by the Oxv-hydrogen Microscope.
LEC rURE by Dr. BACIIIIOFFNER on the PATENT POLY-
TECHNIC GAS FIRE. A Splendid Series of 40 COSMORAMIC
lEWS of ST. PETERSBURG, 310 SCOW, &c., and the CUSTOMS
of the RUSSIANS, is now open daily and in the Evenings. Dlii-
NOLVING VIEWS of the SEAT of WAR, SEBASTOPOL, &c.
Admission, Is.; stalls, 25. ; pit stalls, 3s.
Open on SATURDAY EVENINGS from half-past seven till ten,
with an Entertainment descriptive of the RISE and PROGRESS of
AMERICA, illustrated by a series of Dissolving Views of American
Scenery, by G. lleavEr, Esq.

GREAT REDUCTION IN:PRICE OF
SIR WM. BURNETT'S DISINFECTING
FLUID.
Gallons, ss. Quarts, 2s. Pints, Is. Half-pints, 6d.
This Valuable DEODORISER and DISINFECTANT instantane-
‘msly destroys all BAD SMELLS without producing any itself.
Its free use as directed, PREVENTS CHOLERA. and all CON-
TAGIOUS DISEASES.
Sold by all Chemists and Druggists, and at the Office, 15, Cannon-
street, London-bridge.
N.B.—Beware of a spurious imitation.

SIR JOHN FRANKLIN AND HIS

COMPANIONS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXAMINER.

Sir,—The letter signed " S. Lichfield, Oct. 31," and
be letter of Dr. Rae, quoted by you in answer, deserve
from me a few comments. .

Dr. Rae deservedly takes rank with the Arctic heroes,
and he is a traveller after my own fashion--simple and
inexpensive, bold and enduring in his personnel and
materiel. I should be sorry, very sorry, therefore, to
say anthing to give him pain.
Had Dr. Rae " limited his belief," as you, sir, "to
the proofs of identity and death," much pain and anxiety
would have been spared to us. The intrepid traveller
has formed an opinion s lely upon his pantomimic con-
versation with as Esquimaux—solely upon "the few
words which pass between two men who speak co com-
mon language ;" and is still striving to maintain that
opinion, solely and irrespective of all others, of his own
knowledge of the country he is dealing with. I believe
be cannot, I hope he cannot, establish that opinion.
The conclusion, as I understand it, at which Dr. Rae
has arrived, is that the white men at the Great Fish
River have died the death of starvation and cannibalism.
His premises are these. The Esquimaux had no abund-
ance of wood, and they would have had abundance of
wood if they had plundered Franklin's ships. The
Great Fish River is deficient of game in the spring, and
it was in the spring they were said to have died.
Dr. Rie has stated in the Times, he has not read the
"Blue Books ;" and a relative of Sir John Franklin
states for him in the Times, that he knew not of the
10,0001. prize offered by the Government in 1850 for
the traces of the Franklin Expedition. I can scarcely
presume, therefore, to think h has ever read the humble
narrative of a journey by me to the Polar Sea by the
Great Fish River, or a History of the Esquimaux by me
in the Journal of the Ethnological Society of London.
Further, that he is not acquainted with my "cache "
at Montreal Island, notwithstanding constant reference
has been made to that cache, not only in the daily press,
but within the walls of the Geographical Society ; and
notwithstanding Mr. T. Simpson visited it to correct his
longitude and raise a memorial of his visit.
These are Mr. Simpson's words :—" On the 16th we
directed our course, with flags flying, to the Montreal
Island. Directed by M`Kay our people soon found a
deposit among the rocks, containing two bags of pad-
can, several pounds of clocolate, two canisters of gun
powder, a box of percussion saps, and a japanned tin
vasculuna, inclosing three largo fish-hooks. The pemi-
can, or taureau, as the voyageurs call it, was literally
alive ; and it was wittily remarked, L'isle de Montreal
sera bientOt, peupl4a de jeunes taureaux.' The minor
articles Mr. Deese and I took possession of as memo-
rials of having breakfasted on the identical spot whore
the tent of our less successful precursor (Sir G. Back)
stood that very day five years before. Finding it im-
possible to reconcile Back's longitude, I have ad-
hered to my own observations the longitude
of the island will thus be 90. 24. 15, instead
of 95. 18. 15 ; and the extent of our discoveries
be diminished by twenty-five miles."—(Narrative of
Discoveries on the North Coast of America, by Thomas
Simpson, Bth Jan., 1843, p. 370.)
I can assure Dr. Rae that he is wrong in all his pre-
mises. First, the Esquimaux have no use for wood, for
they de not use wood for fuel, the sea-oil is their fuel ;
for they do not use wood for boat-building, the walrus-
skin is their boat ; and, as the little wood they use,
together with walrus ivory, in the manufacture of im-
plements of the chase, is so adapted as to return to the
owner, we may almost say they do not use wood even
for the manufacture of implements of the chase. More-
over Dr. Rae seems to forget that the Esquimaux do
scribe the forty white men as dragging a boat, and of
course its complement of oars and masts ; and as forty
men could not get into one boat, at least such a boat
as Franklin would select to pass up rapids and cascades,
there were most likely two boats, aye, and even three
boats, enough wood for several generations of the Esqui-
' inaux of that locality. There is also the Victory steam-

ship left by Sir J. Ross close by.
Second, Dr. Rae states :--" That portion of country
near to, and on which a portion of Sir J. Franklin's party
was seen, is in the spring notoriously the most barren of
animal life of any of the Arctic shores, and the few deer
that may be seen are generally very shy, from having
been hunted during the winter by Indians on the bor-
ders of the Woodlands."

Dr. Rae must excuse my saying this is mere assump-
tion, and altogether gratuitous on his part. He is not
justified in saying any such thing. Dr. Rae, it has to
be borne in mind, has never put his foot on a single
inch of the ground under consideration. He knows only
of. the Great Fish River by hearsay. The only three
travellers wh• have visited the Polar coast-line between
the Coppermine River and the Great Fish River are Sir
G. Back, Mr. T. Simpson, and myself. The three narra-
tives of these travellers are published, and all show the
country to be teeming with animal life, even up to the
great human family.
The Esquimaux are very numerous in the vicinity of
the Great Fish River, and as we know rilthing of their
moral and intellectual character they may turn out in
the end to be as treacherous as the Esquimaux of the
Mackenzie River. There is not a doubt in my mind
that the small seal the 40 white men traded from the
Esquimaux was for the known beauty of its young
skin, and that thirty-five of the forty white men were
subsequently murdered by treachery ; that •f the five
white men en Montreal Island, one of them was Sir
John Franklin himself, and that he had saparated with
his four companions from the ether thirty-five for the
purpose of depositing in the King cache a memorial of
his visit, which had been his practice year after year, as
Captain M'Clure visited the Parry Sandstone. The
Esquimaux, taking advantage of the separation, fell
upon the thirty-five white men at Point Sir Charles
Ogle, who were most assuredly withou,'... fire-arms, and
massacred them—five only escaping—and then sur-
rounding Montreal Island, starved out Franklin and his
four companions.—l have, &e.,
17, Savile-row, Nov. Bth, 1854.

RICHARD RING.

TRH WELSH IRON AND COAL TRADRS.—Theee, the
staple trades of South Wales, still continue in full acti-
vity ; the demand is unabated, and the natural result is
that there is ne tendency to decline in prices. The iron
market has been firm throughout the autumn, and the
usually least active quarter has closed without the least
sign of any diminution in the demand. Pig iron is par-
ticularly firm, the consumers beinc, unable to obtain the
least alteration in the rates of this description. The rates
for coal are advancing, and there is no doubt that before
long the price of this essential article will be materially
advanced. An advance of 25 per cent, has been for
some time established upon customary prices, and now
this will be increased before Christmas. The demand
still is larger, if possible, than ever, and enough, it is
said, cannot be raised at the pit's month to meet the
consumption.
DEPUTY-LIEUTENATS FOR CORK.—The Earl of Ban-
don, Lord-Lieutenant of the county and city, has no-
minated John Nicholas Murphy, the mayor ; William
Fagan, M.P., Francis B. Beamisb, M.P., Andrew J.
Wood, and Thomas Tobin, Esqrs., deputy-lieutenants
for the city
of Cork,

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE..

Royal Albert, 121, screw, Captain Sir Thomas Pasley,
is still at the fairway moorings at Sheerness. On Satur-
day she got steam up and tried her engines, &c. We
bear everything works admirably. Tomorrow morning
she will leave her moorings and proceed out on her trial
trip. She has, we understand, got' all her ammunition,
&c., on board, and sails bent. This splendid screw is
now in good sailing trim, and fully ready for sea, with
the exception of not being fully Manned. On that point,
particularly as far as seamen are concerned, she is very
deficient. No doubt, however, many will avail them-
selves of joining this, almost the finest ship in the world.
Hannibal, 91, Captain the Hon. F. W. Grey, arrived
at Devonport on Thursday last. She has some defects
in her engines, which are being made good. She is re-
ported to be ready for sea by the 13th (this day). The
detachment of Marines, under Lieut. Casey, which
arrived from Woolwich for service in the Black Sea,
embarked on board the Hannibal on Thursday last. Her
complement is to be made up by a draft from the crew of
the Cossack. She takes a mail for the Black Sea.

Orion, 90, screw, is lying iiiidertieTsheersint,l;e dock-
yard, Sheerness. The Monkey, arrived on Friday with
the main shaft, towing the Beaver, with two of her
boilers and other pieces of machinery, which she took in
on Saturday. Each boiler weighs something like 25
tons, by John Penn and Son. This ship, although only
a two-decker, is six feet longer than the Royal Albert,
and with the aid of the caisson will barely (if at all) go
into the dry dock. They say she will only take in her
machinery there, and go back to Chatham, to get ready
for sea. Orders have been received for Mr. Penn's me-
chanics to work from 6 a.m. till 7.30 p.m., which will
forward her very materially these short days. Like
most screws upon launching she is six feet by the stern.
The Pylades, screw corvette, 20 guns, building at
Sheerness, is fast being completed. Her figure-head is
being put on,, and ties 23d inst. it the time named, if pos.
Bible, for her being 'matched. She is a Jiislentil& model
(her planks are of teak), with a long, sharp bow, clipper
like. Penn and Sons' men are fixing the tubes, and the
Monkey has taken down some of her machinery.
Horatio, 22, screw, is lying over on the east side of her
Majesty's basin, Sheerness, waiting orders, &c. • She is
refitting.
Janus, 5, paddle, Lieutenant Commander Kane, is
still moored over on the west shoreat Sheerness, waiting
orders, &o.
Cuckoo, 3, paddle, Lieutenant Commander Augustus
Murray, has hauled out of her Majesty's basin at
Sheerness, and is lying up the harbour refitting, ice.
Porcupine, 3, paddle, Lieutenant Commander Jack-
son, is lying up the harbour at Sheerness. 'We hear her
crew, with few exceptions, have all returned.
Drake, mortar vessel, was masted at Portsmouth on
Saturday, and the plankings of her docks completed.
She will be ready to proceed to the Black Sea in less
than ten days, fit for service.
We learn by electric telegraph from Plymouth that
the Meander, 44, for Lisbon, left that port yesterday at
11 a.m. with a fine breeze from N.N.W.
The Curacoa, 31, screw-frigate, Captain the Hon.
George F. Hastings, was paid advance at Spithead on
Saturday, and a general signal was made to send to her
all supernumeraries for the Black Sea and Mediterra-
nean, for which station she sails day, taking a mail.
The Brisk, 14, Commander Curtis, hauled out of the
fitting basin at Portsmouth on Saturday, after a refit.
A large screw steamer, brig-rigged, with the funnel
close to the foremast, passed up Channel off Plymouth

at noon.
The powder was taken out of the St. George, 120,
Captain Eyres, on Thursday, preparatory to her going
up Hamoaze.
The Diligence transport received a new mainmast and
bowsprit from the Devonport Dockyard on Thursday,
preparatory to her taking in stores for the Eastern
yards.
The Prussian barque Condor, Capt. Steffings, 15 days
from Dantzic, with timber for the dockyard, arrived at
Plymouth on Friday.
The barque Alpha, Capt. Tulloch, 16 days from Got-
tenburg, with deals for Melbourne, put into Plymouth
leaky on Saturday.
The officers and men of the Davenport Dockyard have
subscribed one day's pay each to the Patriotic Fund.
It is the intention of the Lords \of the Admiralty to
enter 400 men forthwith among the different branches
of artisans employed in the Devonport Dockyard.
The Avon steam-vessel, from Portsmouth, arrived at
Plymouth on Friday.
A contract for 2,000 quarters of wheat was taken at
the Royal Clarence Victualling establishment, Gosport,
on Saturday, at an average of 765. Bd. per quarter.

strongest and most seasoned oak, with the sides pre-
pared to resist the heaviest shot. She is progressing in a
manner truly astonishing, and about June next will make
room for another on the Fame stocks. We have also
the screw guard-ships Hastings and Pembroke, convert-
ing rapidly, besides three first-rates, all of which will
be fitted with the propeller prior to launching.
DEVONPORT. —A. considerable increase is to be made
to the mechanical departments of our naval arsenals
forthwith. The immediate increase in the establishment
.at this port will be nearly 400 men, and a proportionate
number of officers. Of the 400 about 150 are to be
shipwrights.
KETUAIL—A jetty, upwards of 700 feet in length,
parallel with Moon's Cove, is to be built forthwith, for
the convenience of bringing ships alongside previous to
being docked.
SHEERNESS.—The greatest possible activity prevails
throughout the whole of her Majesty's Dockyard, Sheer-
ness ; a tram-road is being laid down for carts, &0.,
and pipes for gas, in lieu of the oil lamps hitherto glim-
mering throughout the yard. A boiler factory of large
dimensions is being built, and progressing fast. The vie•
Walling department, or a portion of it, is being got ready
for the crews of those ships that are ordered here from
the Baltic to winter. We hear the Euryalus frigate, 50,
screw, is expected here, and that orders have Leen received
respecting her. Mr. T. Hoekings (principal in this depart-
ment), whose health has been impaired by the duties ne-
cessarily devolving upon him, is now under medical
treatment at Melville Hospital, Chatham. We hear,
however, change of air, &c., has much improved him.
The out-houses for the sailors' accommodation are built
updn improved principles, and rapidly progressing.
Great discontent appeared to prevail throughout the
artisans in her Majesty's Dockyard on Saturday, in
consequence of some alteration in their pay ; they all
assembled in a body, and refused to go to work without
some satisfaction with reference to their future pay-
ments ; it was arranged that a deputation of five should
wait upon the dockyard authorities on Monday morn-
ing, to see what arrangements they could come to.