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

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 in
latitude 74.41 s 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.
Hal you ever been in the Arctic seas before 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 ?—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 in ?—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 ?—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.
By Sir E. Belcher—The drawing produced is mine,
and I believe it to be correct. and one, the tracing pro-
duced, was ma-le by me, and I believe it to be a fac-
e

mile of the original.
Do you know the object of sending this drawing to
me ?—lt was sent, as I understood, as a track-chart, as
is the custom of the service.
What is the distance between Point Griffiths and
Beechey Island 7—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, 1854 ?
The Deputy Judge Advocate—Has he seen the orders?
—Yes, they were distributed 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 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 l—We were.
Captain Francis Leopold M'Clintock sworn.
Were you commander of the Resolute for service in
the Intrepid ?—I was.
Did you leave England with tho Resolute ?—Yes.
And accompanied her to Dealy Island 7—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 7—Yes.
Have you had any experience of Arctic voyages 7—l
served in both the preceding expeditions, under Sir Jas.
Ross and Capt. Austen.
From your experience do you consider the vessels
could have got through the ice this autumn ?—I beg to
draw attention to the chart, showing our line of drift in
the ice after the navigable season of 1853 bad closed.
Before the closing in of the present navigable season I
think it probable they would be drifted nearly as far
east as Griffith Island, and if so I have but little doubt
that
hheiv
srpyvhowahwde
Was it
seiti
you
hutel
niepaoderssuat
besetbbl
remember
been
ehgei have brought them home this autumn.
From the position the ships were in would there have
t
been any danger to them or to the crew from their re-
maining another winter 7—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 7—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.
D
nmnhe thegintbnyteeyohtrnohurtureoi
rieepgxl
ay were
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aasseunneonntecmcdaeeaees
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teoeSueti
ironcomer
command
mai
breaking7npm—at
ooneyi sdnßaw Ross's
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n.h Leo-
poldeuwhen
?—Yes, it was about 240 miles.
Bay 7—Yes.
in
ao
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thet lheef t2lBlottihhi r
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sit
t.
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inn
vlBhsa3t, oi
en
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eperiod August.
the time they are freed till the
again?—From about the 15th of August to about the
18th of September. that
time shipsthey aresre ffrreoeze from
the

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
the barrier of ice removed from the mouth of Barrow
Strait before the 22d of August, and that that period is
assumed by Sir E. Parry as the only safe guide in his
communication to the Arctic committee of 1849 ?—Yes,
they have always been supplied to the ships for general
information. I ant not aware of what is stated, as to
the experience of Sir E. Parry. On the contrary, I be-
lieve that Sir E. Parry entered Barrow Strait very early
in August, 1819. I am not aware that Sir E. Parry
assumed the 22d of August to be the only
safe guide.
Have you read the opinion 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 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
as follows :—" Judging, however, from what the skips
under my command were enabled to effect in that year
I should hope the Enterprise would be able during the
season of 1848 to get as far westward as Melville Island,
as I find that, independently of our discovery and exa-
mination of Prince Regent's Inlet, and notwithstanding
the disadvantages of a navigation then entirely unknown,
the Elecla 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, front the Ist to the sth of August, and front the 21st
of August to the sth of September."
Mr. William Thomas Demville, M.D., examined—
Were you surgeon of the Resolute I—l was,
Did you leave England in her ?—I did.
And oeconapanied her to her winter quarters did.
'What was the state of the health of the officers and crew
when the ships were abandoned I—Good, but there were
some exceptions.
How many of the officers could you have recommended
as fit to remain another winter in the ice ?—There were
no exceptions to the officers.
How many of tie crew were fit to remain ?—A certain
number had been named, amounting to fifty, bnt 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 lilb.
per man per day, as well as small game killed I—Such a
ration as that was never issued le 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.

Do you speak that from positive knowledge as to the
allowance, and are you sure that such information was
given roe by Captain Kellett I—l believe the ration was
11b. a day.
Mr. W. H. Richards sworn—Were you clerk in
charze of the Resolute I—l was.
Were you with her at the time she was abandoned ?
—Yes.
What quantity of provisions had you in her and the
Intrepid ?—We had on board provisions to last fifty men
until August, 1855, except preserved meats, of which,
previous to receiving ordera-to abandon the ship, we
should have required about 750 lbs. from the depot at
Dealy Island to have completed us to that time. We
should also have required 1001bs of tea. On abandoning
the ship there were no preserved meats left on board.
There were also several articles not generally used on
board the ship.
What sort of articles I... Fruits, driecl_apples, a 413A11.

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 lo'ng written defence, in
the course of which be read extracts from various orders
issued by the Lords of the Admiralty for his guidance
in the conduct of the expedition. By instructions dated
the 16;1 of April, 1852, Sir Edward was directed to
proceed 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 pees 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
o❑ its way horse, and to the eastward of Barrow Strait,
whenever their stock of 1. revisione shall have been re-
duced to twelve months' full allowance."
In the instructions dated the 12th of May, 1853, the
following paragraph appears :
"2. In communicating with you on the subject of
your former orders and the service on which you are
employed, we are aware how impossible it is for us to
send out any definite instructions with reference to your
future proceedings, when we are ignorant of the position
in which you may now he placed, or whether any traces
of Sir John Franklin's expedition may have been found
during last autumn o; the spring of this year, and what
steps you may have 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
there is any other direction in which a prospect of their
discovery can be expected. Every accessible part of the
shores of the Polar Seas, west of Lancaster Sound, will
have been visited without finding a trace of the missing
ships, except their former station at Beeehey Island in
1845 and 1846 In such a contingency as this, and if
such should likewise be your opinion, after mature con-
sideration with the senior off►cers under your command,
there appears no other course left but to abandon all
further search.
• "3. But in case you should have found any trace of
the expedition, it will be your duty to follow up that
trace. In doing this you must exerc►se extreme caution,
so as not to lose your means of communication with
Beechy Island ; nor are you to incur any hopeless risk
by proceeding beyond reasonable limits, for the safety of
your crews must be your first care. We place every con-
fidence in your zeal and intelligence, and feel assured
that you will act with sound judgment in whatever situ-
ation you may be placed. We therefore leave it to you
either to abandon the expedition altogether if you are of
opinion that no further steps can be practicably taken,
or to send such of the ships to England as you may
not require, transmitting by them to our secretary, not
only a full account of all your proceedings, but charts of
all your discoveries, and keeping us informed of your
views and intentions, so that if it should be necessary
every requisite aid may be given you in the summer of
1854.
" 4. Before your final departure from the Polar Seas,
should you think proper to adopt that course, there ap-
pears one very important subject which will require your
serious censideratien ; and that is, the present position
of the ships under the command of Captain Collinson
and Commander M'Clure, which entered the ice to the
north-east of Point Barrow (Behring Straits), the latter
in August, 1850, and the former in July, 1851. These
officers, with their respective crews, may have been com-
pelled by circumstances to abandon their ships. If such
should be the case, they may probably attempt to reach
Melville Island, and having had this in view when you
left England, we directed in your instructions that a de-
pot of provisions and ether stores should be formed itt
that island. From this position they will no doubt en-
deavour to make their way to Beechy Island or Port Leo-
pold. It will therefore be your duty before returning to
England to be fully satisfied that a proper depot of coals,
provisions, &c., had been formed at Melville Island by
Captain Kellett, and that clear information had also been
left there that similar supplies would be found at
Beechey Island.
" 5. This depot on Beecbeylsland is to consist of a

full store of coal, provisions, clothes, aid other stores,
and you will take care to have it most carefully secured
against the depredatiens of bears or other animals ; you
are also to leave one of your ships there, with or with-
out a crew, as you may deem most advisable, so that
Captain Collinson or Commander M'Clure's party may
find every possible assistance which they may require,
and have the means at their command of returning to
England; but should you find it practicable to place the
ship or a depot of stores, in a mere advanced position,
between Melville Bay and Beechy Island, it might be
expedient to do so. This is a point on which you can
form R. better judgment than we can. Our most anxious
wish is to establish the best possible arrangement with
the view of giving succour and support to the crews of
those ships, should they be compelled to seek refuge in
the direction we have pointed out.
"6. Having expressed these general views, which
will require your careful consideration, we leave it to
you to take such steps as you may consider most expe-
dient for meeting the circumstances of the ease."
The following document, which was read by Sir E.
Belcher, contains the latest instruction which lie re-
ceived from the Admiralty
" Admiralty, April 28, 1854.
" Sir,—My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
have directed her Majesty's ships Phoenix and Talbot,
under the orders of Captain Inglefield, to proceed with
provisions and stores to Beeohy Island, for the purpose
of replenishing the ships and depots ; and Imn com-
missioned by their lordships to acquaint you that
on the return of the Phcenix from Beechy Island
last year, they had the satisfaction of hearing of the
safe arrival of her Majesty's ship Investigator, under
the command of Captain M'Clure, at Banks Land,
having completed the discovery of the north-west pas-
sage, though, unhappily, without discovering traces of
Sir John Franklin, and that part of the crew bad been
enabled to reach Captain Kellett's station at Melville
Island. By de.Tatelies which they received from
Belirtriz's Straits they have information that in August,
1851, Captain Collinson, in her Majesty's ship Enter-
prise, passed the entrance of the Colville river ; and their
lordelips trast by the reports he may have obtained from
the natives of Prince Albert's Land, as well as from the
records deposited by Captain M'Clure on his passage
along; that shore, that he may also have been enabled to
reach some harbour on Banks Land, whence he has
made known his position either to Captain M'Clure or
Captain Kellett.
" Their lordships have desired me to direet your spe-
cial attention to the measures they now require to be
adopted at once for withdrawing, if possible, the whole
of the force now employed in the search of Sir J. Frank-
lin, from the Polar seas ; for effecting this object they
refrain from issuing any positive instructions how you
are to act, or what steps you are to take, as they are
aware you must be entirely guided by the position of the
ships, and these varying circumstances which in that
region must influence our operations ; but their lord-
ships' views may be stated generally as follows :
"If the crews of the Enterprise and Investigator are
at Banks Land they must abandon thelr ships, and every
endeavour should be made to get them to Beechy Island,
that they may return to England. If this has already been
effected, and Capt. Kellett, with his ships had returned
from Melville Island, you are immediately to proceed to
England with the whole of the ships and their crews,
abandoning all further search for the missing expedition,
unless any circumstances (on consultation with the senior
officers of her Majesty's ships) should induce you to be-
lieve that your remaining out another year world tend
to clear up the fate of our missing countrymen. But if
Captain` Kellett has been unable to move from his posi-
tion at Melville Island, it may be necessary to give
orders to him to abandon the Resolute and Intrepid,
and secure his retreat to Beechey Island ; but as this
cannot be accomplished this year, you need not detain
any officers or men who may have .already reached
Beeche Island, but send them to England forthwith.
"2. hould no tidings have been heard of Captain
Collins oin in her Majesty's ship Enterprise, it becomes
absolutdly necessary to provide for her safety. For this
purpose!the Melville Island depot must be replenished
with previsions and stores ; and it will be necessary for
a ship and steam tender to remain there, also the North
Star, or Talbot, with a tender, at Beechey Island, and
at those stations everything which can add to the
health and comfort of the crews should be deposited ;
and, having done this, it does not appear to their lord-
ships to be necessary that any of the ships should remain
another year in the Polar sea, unless, as before stated,
you consider further search prudent and necessary.
"These are the views of their lordships, their great
object being to recal, with the least possible delay, the
whole of the ships or crews named in the margin (As-
sistance, Pioneer, Resolute, Intrepid, Enterprise, In-
vestigator, North Star, Phcenix, Talbot), if it can be
done ; if possible to do so, they leave it to your judg-
ment and discretion to send home such of them as may
not be required, and to adopt those measures which you
consider most necessary to insure the safety of Captain
Collinson and his crew, and their speedy return to Eng-
land. This, their lordships are aware, must depend on
the information you may have received from Melville
Island, the position of the respective ships under your
orders, the state of the depots, &c. ; all their lordships
can do is to confide in your judgment, and they autho-
rise you to take such steps, and give such orders, and
to make such exchange of officers and men as you may
deem necessary for carrying their wishes into effect.
" They trust, however, Captain Collinson is safe ; and
if so it will be a source of much satisfaction to them if
during the approaching autumn the whole of our ships
and crews shall arrive in England.
"On the return of any of the ships to England from
Beechey Island, it is desirable that the coast to the
southward of Ponds' say, namely, from the iiyer Clyde

In reply to the Deputy-Judge Advocate,
Sir E. Belcher said he 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 tho 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 WAR justified
in giving such orders. The court is further of opinion
that from the great' confidence repos7d in Captain Sir
Edward Belcher by the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty, and the ample discretionary powers given to
him, he was auth,rised, and did not act beyond his
powers, in abandoning the Assistance and her tender, the
Pioneer ; and in authorising• the abandonment of the
Resolute and her tender, the Intrepid. Although if
circum•tances had permitted, it would have beedadvisa-
ble that he should have consulted with Captain Kellett
previously. And the court adjudges the said Sir Edward
Belcher to be acquitted, and lie is hereby acquitted ac-
cordingly.
The President then restored Sir E. Belcher his sword,
but without making any observation, and the court
broke up.