The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-05 00:00:00

usual course to lay on the table instructions that had
been issued or might be issued to the commanders of
vessels, the Government would make no opposition to
the motion. The right hon. baronet then, in a very in-
distinct tone, proceeded to observe, as far as we were
able to collect, that he should neglect his duty if he did
not impose some limit en the search after Sir John
Franklin, which had now been protracted for many
years, and was unhappily attended with great risk and
possible loss of life. He had not thought it hitherto ex-
pedient to suspend the sending of additional ships, or to
refuse incurring additional expense, for he had deemed
it right in the present year, to send some additional
vessels both to the American and Eastern shores. A
ship had been sent to Behring's Straits for the purpose
of communicating, if possible, with those vessels which
had passed three winters within the ice. The house was
aware that two ships bad entered Behring's Straits in
search of Sir John Franklin. Captain Maclure suc-
ceeded in effecting his passage to the eastward, and the
gratifying intelligence had been received that he was
safe ; but he regretted to add, that with respect to Capt.
Collinson no information had been received, and great
anxiety and most serious apprehensions were entertained
with respect to him. (Hear.) He was last seen on
the western edge near Behring's Straits, and instruc-
tions had been sent that if happily he (Captain Col-
linson) should be safe, he should at once leave the ice,
and also all the ships ; but if any circumstances should
occur which might excite a last lingering hope that as-
sistance might yet be given to Sir John Franklin, and
that his safety might still be secured—though there was
hardly in his (Sir J. Graham's) opinion any hope left
with regard to the safety of that gallant officer and his
companions—then orders would be given for the pro-
longed stay of the ships of search for the period of a
year. But, with that single exception, it would not be
consistent with his (Sir J. Graham's) duty to promise
any of her Majesty's ships for the search.
Admiral WALCOTT considered that all that was con-
sistent with the honour of the country had been per-
formed in seeking by every practical means Sir John
Franklin, and he was of opinion that the vessels forming
his expedition had foundered and that the crews had
perished. He knew also, that that was the opinion of
many professional men, and that any further effort to
discover the ships would be an absolute waste of life.
His only regret was that the First Lord of the Ad-
miralty should have determined to remove the names of
the officers employed on that expedition from the list,
until the return of Sir Edward Belcher, which he hoped
would not be later than September or October next.
He wished the right hon. baronet to consider that point.
Captain SCOBELL said, that although it might be
hopeless to save Captain Franklin, still Captain Col-
linson remained a survivor in the ice, and he might
yet be rescued. He was one of those who thought
that Sir John Franklin was not now alive ; and that,
whether alive or dead, the spot where his ship was
had never yet been reached. With respect to the pos-
sibility of his being alive, Captain Maclure had given
them some evidence on the point, for he bad described
an island which he had explored, and which was full of
means of life. He thought it would be advisable to
allow all the coming summer to be employed in con-
tinuing the seareh, not only for Sir John Franklin, but
for Captain Collinson, who had only been four years in
the ice.

Sir J. GRAHAM said that the instructions were ex-
press that if Captain Collinson was not heard of the
ships should remain in the ice during the present summer.
Lord STANLEY entirely agreed that there was no
ground for sending out a new expedition in search for
Sir John Franklin, but he concurred in the propriety of
allowing the ships now in the Arctic Seas to pursue the
search ; but he hoped they would be allowed to do so
according to their own judgment, and not be required
to remain longer in the ice than circumstances would
reasonably justify.
Sir J. GRAHAM said, that a discretionary power was
given them to pursue the search as long as they thought
necessary.

The motion was then agreed to.
On the motion of Mr. HUME, a return was ordered of
a copy of the Post-office Regulations now in force for
the transmission of Parliamentary Papers to parts in the
United Kingdom, to the Channel Islands, and to the
several colonies and possessions of the Crown.
EDUCATION (SCOTLAND) BILL.

The LORD ADVOCATE postponed the Education
(Scotland) Bill until the sth May.
The house adjourned at a few minutes past 1 o'clock.

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—ArniL 4,
POSTAL COMMUNICATION (ARRAN).
Motion made and question put, "That an humble ad-
dress be presented to her Majesty, praying for the esta-
blishment of postal communication with the Islands of
Arran, west coast of Ireland." The House divided—
Ayes 92, Noes 80.