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

ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

The following are the instructions given by the
Admiralty to Captain Sir Edward Belcher, relative
to the method in which the Arctic search should
be conducted :

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 Beechey Island, for the purpose of replenishing the
ships and depots under your orders ; and lam commanded
by their lordships to acquaint you, that on the return of the
Phoenix from Beechey Island last year, they had the satis-
faction of hearing of the safe arrival of her Ma,esty's ship
Investigator, under the command of Captain Al`Clure, at
Banks Land, having completed the discovery of the North
West Passage, though unhappily without discovering traces
of Sir John Franklin ; and that part of the crew had been
enabled to reach Captain Kellett's station at Melville
Island. By despatches which they received from Behring's
Straits, they have information that, in August 1851, Cap-
tain Collinson, in her Majesty's ship Enterprise, passed the
entrance of the Colville river ; and their lordships trust,
by the reports he may have obtained from the natives of
Prince Albert's Land, as well as from the records deposited
by Captain 31`Clure on his passage along that shore, that
ho may also have been enabled to reach some harbour on
Banks Land, from whence he has made known his position
either to Captain M'Clure or Captain Kellett.
Their lordships have desired me to direct your special
attention to the measures they now require to be adopted
for at once withdrawing, if possible, the whole of the force
now employed in the search of Sir John Franklin 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 those vary-
ing circumstances which in that region must influence your
operations ; but their lordships' views may be stated gene-
rally as follows :-
1. If the crews of the Enterprize and Investigator are
at Banks Land, they must abandon their ships and every
endeavour should be made to get them to Beechey Island,
that they may return to England. If this has already
been effected, and Captain Kellett, with his ships, has re-
turned from Melville Island, you are immediately to pro-
ceed to England with the whole of the ships and their
crews, abandoning all further search for the missing expe-
dition, unless any circumstances (on consultation with the
senior officers of her Majesty's ships) should induce you to
believe that your remaining out another year would tend
to clear up the fate of our missing countrymen. But if
Captain Kellet has been unable to move from his position
at Melville Island, it may I,e necessary to give orders to
him to abandon the Resolute and Intrepid, and secure his
retreat to Beechey island ; but as this cannot be accom-
plished this year, you need not detain any officers or men
who may have already reached I3eechey Island, but send
them to England forthwith.
2. Should no tidings have been heard of Capt. Collinson,
in her Majesty's ship Enterprize, it becomes absolutely
necessary to provide for his safety, For this purpose, the
Melville island Depot must be replenished with provisions
and stores ; anti it will be necessary for a ship and steam
tender to romain there, also the North Star or Talbot,
with a tender at Beechey Island, and at those stations every?
thing which can add to the Leclth and comfort of the crews
should be deposited ; and having done this, it does not ap-
pear to their lordships to be necessary that any of the
other ships should remain another year in the Polar Sea
unless, as before stated, you consider further search to be;
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," if it can be done.
If not possible to do so, they leave it to your judgment and
tliscretionito send home such of them as may not be required,
anti to adopt those measures which you consider most neces-
sary to ensure the safety of Capt. Collinson and his craw,
and their speedy return to England. This their lordships
are aware, must depend on the information you have re-
ceived 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 authorise you to take such steps, and give such orders,
and to make such exchanges of officers and men, as you
deem necessary fur 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 your ships and crews
shall arrive in England.
On the return of any of the ships to England from
Beechy Island it is desirable that the coast to the south-
ward of Ponds Bay, namely, from the river Clyde towards
Cape Walsingham, should be examined ; and you are,
therefore, to endeavour, in your instruction to the ships
proceeding to England, to meet this contingency.
In the event of your health rendering it necessary for you
to return to England, and the necessity of a part of the
squadron remaining out another winter, you are to make
known to the officer whom you may appoint to succeed
you in command all your views and arrangements, respect-
ing further proceedings.
Although this country is now at war with Russia, you
are clearly to understand that you are not to commit any
hostile act whatever, the ships under your command hav-
ing been fitted out for the sole purpose of aiding those
een-
gaged in scientific discoveries, and it being the established
so
otn.
practice of all civilised nations toconosfidwerarv. vessels
am' &c.,
ployed as exempt from the operations
(Signed) R. OSBORN S.
* Assistance, Pioneer, Resolute, Intrepid, Enterprize,
Investigator, North Star, Phoenix, Talbot.

THE GREAT BRITAIN. We have hardly anything
new to communicate to-day in reference to the Great
Britain, save that the removal of the cargo, in order to
lighten her, is proceeding vigorously, withoutintermis-
sion. We believe that some of the passengers have
availed themselves of the liberal offer of Messrs. Gibbs,
Bright, and Co., and have returned to their former homes
to see their friends, but we have not heard of any in-
stance where a wish has been expressed to leave the
ship, as all seem inclined to wait until she is again ready
to start. We have only again to say, that every care
has been taken of the passengers of all classes.—Liver.
pool Daily Tillie&
FIRE IN TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROAD.--This morning,
between 12 and 1 o'clock, a fire, attended with a con-
siderable loss of property, broke out in the premises
belonging to Messrs. H. A. Morton and Co., builders,
&c., at No. 8, Francis-street, Tottenham-court-road.
The fire when first discovNed was raging in the work-
shops at the rear of the main building, at which time
the front premises were empty, being under repair. The
Royal Society's fire-escape, and several engines of the
London Brigade, together with that of te West of
England-office, were quickly on the spot, and a plentiful
supply of water having been obtained, the engines were
' set to work, but the fire was not subdued until property
valued at nearly 1,0001. was consumed, and the front
building considerably injured. The sufferer was insured
in the Sun Fire-office.

IMPERIAL BRAZILIAN MINING ASSOCIATION.—At a
meeting of the Imperial Brazilian Mining Association,
held yesterday afternoon, the report for the half-year
was unanimously adopted. The works at Gongo Soco
are proceeding satisfactorily, the gold produced from
the Jacotinga formation in the middle section having
realized 4,0111., while the cost was 2,4291., showing a
profit of 1,582/. It is also considered that the Cumba
vein has been discovered, which it is thought will in-
crease the prospects of general success. The appearance
of the Camara lode is favourable, but returns have been
temporarily delayed through the failure of a crushing
machine, which, instead of reducing, as was supposed,
forty tons, could only be made to operate to the ex-
tent of about four tons per diem. This experiment
will, however, not interfere with the usual stamping
power which is to be employed in carrying out this
portion of the undertaking. At Cata Funda re-
searches are being made to discov.v a gold deposit
which is stated to exist in that locality. The
bper
eon-
perties of Antonio Pereira and Cata Preto. remain in the
no having
Tnielegorteinaltiisosnicsaiofthe duty on
tchlo3lenncdglBuodoldefdetxlfileomrertothemediprafim wale,
e'Brazil has come into operation,
the special arrangement being allowed to exist until re-
turns shall have covered the expenditure. The outlay
for the last six. months has been 6,9651., and the income
4,0551., exhibiting an unfavourable balance of 2,910/.
The reserve fund amounts to 6,000/. Three-and-a-
Quarter per Cent. Stock. Little discussion followed the
adoption of the report, but a feeling appeared to prevail
that steady progress is being made. The result at
Gongo Soco is regarded as encouraging, especially as
the quantity, 93 lb. 2 oz., is the largest obtained in a
similar period since 1846. The expenditure on the
Camara lode, although considerable, will, it is edified,
be speedily returned when the works shall have been
brought into active operation.