The Sun.
London, England, 1847-11-29 00:00:00

ARCTIC LAND EXPEDITION

The following deeply interesting and most impor-
tant letter has just been addressed by Dr. King to
Earl Grey, as the Colonial Secretary :
TO THE RIGHT HON. EARL GREY.

17, Saville-row, Nov. 25.
The last ray of hope has now faded that Sir John
Franklin by his own exertions can save himself and
his 125 followers from the death of starvation. I
trust, therefore, your Lordship will excuse my call-
ing your attention to my letter of the 10th of June
last (see ante, No. 1,024), which is acknowledged,
but remains unanswered. I should not have intruded
myself again on your Lordship's notice were I able
to believe that your Lordship is fully sensible of the
heavy responsibility which the calamity has placed
upon you. The Admiralty Board may send assist-
ance by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans—they may
set in motion every mariner who has assisted in
ploughing the northern seas, yet it will not relieve
von from responsibility as the principal Secretary of
State for the Colonies. The service which I have
proposed as a matter of precedent sh,mld emanate
from the Colonial Board. It was from that board
that assistance was dispatched in search of Sir John
Ross, and from that board the Polar Land Journeys,
so fruitful in result, were one and all set on foot.
I have already called yGur Lordship's attention to
the evidence which Sir Edward Barry on his retire-
I wilt from active service has laid before the Admiralty
in confirmation of his opinion that the most serious
consequences to his crew would be the result of
passing a third winter in the Polar regions—and a
'third winter, it is now too evident, the lost expedition
must pass in the inclement North. In order, how-
ever, to save our fellow- creatures from all the hor-
rors of starvation and its awful consequences, I have
offered to your Lordship to undertake the boldest
journey which has ever been proposed ; and one
which is justifiable only from the circumstances.
I have offered to attempt to reach the western
land of North Somerset before the close of the sum-
mer of 1848 —to accomplish, in fact, in one summer
that which has never been accomplished under two
summers, by which means I incur the risk of having
to winter with the Esquimaux ; or of having to make
the journey along the barren ground to winter guar •
ters on snow-shoes. How, your Lordship may in-
quire, is this Herculean task to be performed ? Upon
what grounds do I rest my hope of success ? I would
state, in answer, that it is necessary the leader of such
a journey should have an intimate knowledge of the
country and the people through which he has to
pass—the health to stand the rigour of the cli-
mate—and the strength to undergo the fa-
tigue of mind and body to which he will
be subjected. It is because I have these requisites,
which I conscientiously believe are not to be found
in another, that I hope to effect my purpose. The un-
civilised man—and upon the service under conside-
ration we must have large dealings with him—in
choosing his subject looks for physical, not mental,
qualifications; an -I if these are not apparent, he is
cautious and undecided—and the more ycu hurry
him the less certain you are of making him answer
your purpose. Time, the, most important element in
Polar travelling, will in this way be lost to the
stranger in the land, ard the journey rendered un-
availing ; whi?e my great activity, power of en-
durance, and success as a physician, during my
journey in search of Sir J. Ross, must be fresh in
the recollection of nine-tenths of the Indian popula-
tion through- which such a m'ssion as I have pro-
posed will have to pass—and cannot fail to secure to
me every co-operation. It is a well-,scertained fact
that the medical traveller succeeds while all others
fail.

If •-our Lordship will take a glance at the map of
North America and dirnt your attention to but
three places—Behring Strait on the Pacific, Barrow
Strait on the Atlantic; and the land of North Somer-
set between them—you will perceive that to render
assistance to a party situated on that land there are
twc ways by see and one by land. Of the two ways,
the route by the Pacific is altogether out of the
question. It is an idea of by-gone days; while
that of the Atlantic is so doubtful of success, that it
is merely necessary, in orAer to put this assistance
aside as far from certain, to mention that Sir John
Ross found Barrow Strait closed in the summer
of 1832 ; and as this Strait has been visited only
six times, it msy be far from an unusual circumstance.
To a land journey, then, alone can we look for
success; for the failure of a land journey would be
the exception to the rule, while the failure of a sea
expedition would be the rule itself. To the western
land of North Somerset, where, I maintain, Sir John
Franklin will be found, the Great Fish River is the
direct and only route ; and although the approach to
it is through a country too poor and too difficult of
access to admit of the transport of provision, it may he
made the medium of communication between the lost
expedition and the civilised world,—and Indian guides
be thus pieced at their disposal to convey them to the
hunting grounds of the Red Men. Without such guides
it is impossible that they can reach these hunting
grounds. It was by that intricate and dangerous river
that I reached the Polar sea, while acting as second
officer in search of Sir John Russ ; and as there
were but two officers on that honourable service,
your Lordship can but look to these officers for the
elements of success, if a mission by that river is
resolved upon. All that I can do, as one of those
officers so peculiarly circumstanced, is to place my
views on record as an earnest of my sincerity. Even
if the Admiralty should determine to try to force
provision-vessels through Behring and Barrow
Straits, and scour the vicinity in boats for the lost
expedition—and try they must, and succeed—it
will be satisfactory to know that such a mission
as I have proposed was adopted ; while if they
should fail in their attempts—and I am sorry
to say that I fully believe they will fail—
and the service under the consileration is put aside,
it will be a source of regret, that not only the nation
at large will feel, but the whole civilised world.
When this regret is felt, and every soul has perished,
such a mission as I have proposed will be urged again
and again for adoption • for it is impossible that the
country will rest satisfied until a search be made for
the remains of the lost expedition by a person in
whom the country has confidence. No inexperienced
person can go upon such an errand. The efforts of
the Danish Government for the lost colonies of Green-
land, the efforts of the Portuguese Government for
the brothers Cortereal, and the efforts of the French
Government for the unfortunate La Perouse, cannot
fail to raise our national pride when placed in similar
circumstances.

It has been stated in the periodical literature of the
day, that a party of sappers and miners sailed last
June in charge of provisions destined for the Mac-
kenzie River, as supplies for the lost expedition ; and
that Sir John Richardson is to leave England in
February next to head this party. I hope this may
be mere report. Such an expedition would be one
of relief from a difficulty which, to be successful,
anticipates the difficulty to he overcome ; for, if the
lost expedition can reach the Mackenzie River, or
even the Great Bear Lake by the Coppermine River,
to benefit by these supplies, they have solved the
problem of more than three centuries ; they have dis-
covered the north-west passage, a dream we can
scarcely expect to be realised.
The recent survey of Dr. Rae is satisfactory only
so far as confirms the Esquimaux chart furnished to
Sir J. Ross ; and as it supports my views, that the
western shore of the Great Fish River estuary is.con-
tinu-Jus with the western land of North Somerset—
or, to use my own words of 1836, " that from Cape
Hay the land trends N.N.E, when it dips the horizon,
where a small space intervenes—in all probability a
deep bay—to a land gradually rising into boldness,
following a north-westerly course ; the extremes of
which are named Points Ross and Booth.*" if the
survey of Dr. Rae could be depended upon, the view
I have taken is the correct one ; but at present it is
valueless in a geographical point of view.
wretld state, in conclusion. *h...
veys Whin have been, set afloat since I came forward
in 1836 as a volunteer have but cleared the way to
render the soundness of my views the more apparent.
The several expeditions which have since been under-
taken, whether they have resulted in success or failure,
have afforded so many successive links in the chain
of evidence which demonstrates the scientific character
of the views advanced by me in 1836, and for adherence
to which I have been refused all character as a sci-
entific traveller and all honorary acknowledg-
ment of faithful service to my country. I am
not, however, asking your Lordship to recom-
mend to her Majesty the bestowing upon me a
mark of approbation, as a reward for the sound-
ness of these views, which has been bestowed upon
those who contradicted them. I am asking
.your
Lordship to appoint me to a service for which I am
peculiarly qualified, a service of extreme hazard and
labour, but which, to be successful, must be under-
taken by some one of great experience. I am willing
to labour still for that recognition which will give
me equality with those who are now my superiors,
and when I state to your Lordship that I stand alone
as a single individual, isolated from the heroes of the
Pole in regard to reward for services, I trust your
Lordship will consider that I have strong claims
for such a service. Tho time has arrived, I say,
when I am able to refer your Lordship to my past
services and my present character as a guarantee
that I am sincere in my offer, and as an
earnest that I will faithfully discharge the duties
which will devolve upon me if I should be honoured
with the service I am seeking at your Lordship's
hands. Surely, my Lord, I should now have a peace
offering. A considerable portion of the main conti-
nent of North America bears the outline which I
gave to it—in which I differed with Sir George Back.
The Great Bay of Simpsgoninoamyfaaintnadhrteaetihlnaesnordturnnensln ding of the
aamilislye.dwt Pr.uotialids;
andla no ds s
although na onrdt hB- eoao stt thh
LoftwreChnaidcpliein
S.E., and not east and west as Sir George Bach has

majped it—and the peninsularity of North Somerset,
fornhich I have for twelve years contended, have to
be proved, they are rendered highly probable by the
journey of Dr. Rae.
Oat I have laboured through this difficult subject
for io many years, and at last successfully, that I have
beets the first to show how the great puzzle of three
centuries could be unravelled—and that I have con-
stantly offered, for a period of twelve of those years,
whenever an opportunity occurred, to be the means
of unravelling it—inspire me with the hope that I
shall at last find justice at the hands of your Lord-
ship, and that I may be allowed to have my place in
the great effort which may be made for the rescue of
the 126 men who compose the lost expedition.
I have the honour &c.
RICIIARD KING.

• King's " Artic Ocean, vol. ii. p. 26.

STATE OF TRADE.

FOREIGN WOOL TRADE, LEEDS, Nov. 26.—1 n
regdrd to transactions no improvement whatever has
occurred in this branch of business during the past
week, but a better feeling prevails as to our future
prospects.

ENGLISH WOOL MARKET, LEEDS, Nov. 26.
There has not been any increase in the transactions
in this branch of trade during the present week i • but
the tone of feeling is rather better than it has lately
been. The reduction in the consumption of both
combing and clothing wools during the last two
months is very large.
LEEDS.—There was very little business done at our
Cloth Halls either on Saturday or Tuesday. The
continued mildness of the season checked the demand
for heavy winter goods, and the high value of money
prevents purchases on speculation. There have, how-
ever, been pretty considerable deliveries of fancy
stripes and other light goods for the India and China
trade during the week, but at very low prices. Busi-
ness has also been very quiet in the warehouses. The
mild weather keeps the drapers out of the market for
winter goods, and although there are considerable
orders in the town for foreign iaccount, the very high
rate of money MARKET,
their execution.
BRADFORD MARKET, THURSDAY, NOT. 25.—The
supply of wool is not large, but quite equal to the
demand. The sales during the week are again
limited, the prices being too high. In the yarn
market, also, the same dullness is experienced as we
have noticed for some time past. Short time is now
adopted nearly in every establishment, so that the '
production is much decreased, and the sales that are
effected are at a great sacrifice. In the piece market
the only sort of goods inquired for are a low sort of
moreens, which are eagerly bought up. Dress goods
are bought in small quantities, but at low prices.
There is no increase in stocks.

MANCHESTER THURSDAY EVENING.—We have
to report a further improvement in the demand for
cloth this week ; though the improvement is a very
slow one, still it is an amendment, and one that is
likely to continue. The better qualities of printing
cloths are in most request, but all kinds partake of the
improvement. The favourable news from India has
caused more inquiries for shirtings, both grey and
white, and prices are quite firm for all descriptions.
Yarns are saleable, but at low prices. No. 20 water
twist is to be had for 71c1. per lb., a low figure cer-
tainly.

GLAsGow.—ln Glasgow, factory business is still
depressed, only two or three spinning and wearing
mills being on full time. The common extent of
working is from three to eight hours per day, and
further reductions are contemplated this week. Se-
veral factories are altogether closed, one in this po-
sition having employed no less than 1,500 workers.
LEICESTER.—The demand for both the London
and Manchester markets continues very limited,
buyers having positive orders not to purchase more
than wanted for present supply. The stocks on hand
in both factor and manufacturers' hands perhaps
were never smaller at this period of the year than at
present, and when confidence is more restored be-
tween buyer and seller, and the money market will
admit of it, a fair demand may be expected, it being
understood that orders are now in the hands of parties
who cannot give them out, as their profit would be
lost in the discount market. A great many hands
were discharged last week, and more, we fear, will
follow, especially in the straight-down branch. Yarns
are dull of sale. Spinners are acting with the utmost
caution, and, besides working short time, let a part
of their machinery lay idle; notwithstanding this
state of trade, combing wools are but little affected ;
the staplers are not large holders, and are not disposed
to make sacrifices on their stocks ; the growers are
the principal holders, and are careless of selling out,
at present prices.—Leicester Journal.

AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH.—An atful inttance o
the instability and insecurity of human life was exam
plified on Saturday morning in the ease of John Camp
bell, a sugar baker, residing at No. 2, Marlborough
lox( et, White chapel, and who for many) ears was in the
employ of Messrs. Fraist y, Brothers, extensive sugar
refiners, whose premises are situate in Church lane,
Whitechapel. It appeared that he was at work that
morning early, and returned hors e to his breakfast at
tight o'clock, apparently in his usual health. Ile had
not been in the house many minutes before he com-
plained of a pain in his he ad, and lay down on the bed,
where only a quarter of an hour afterwards he was di:—
covered by his disconsolate wife apparently lifeless.
Medical aid was iustantly called in, but all efforts at re-
suscitation were fruitless—the vital spark had fled, and
within four hours from entering his house in perfect
hr alth he was a corpse.

THE TELEORAPH.—By the transmission of' the
Queen's Speech to Scotland, and indeed to the whole of
the north of England on this occasion, we have witnessed
the most remarkable triumph of science that has ever been
accomplished. The Speech was delivered in the House
of Peers a little after one o'clock on Tuesday. It was
there taken down in writ'ng, and carried a distance of
three miles to the North Western Railway Station,
where it was communicated to the north by telegraph.
There is still three breaks in the telegraph between Lon
don and Edinburgh, where the Speech had to be read off
at one station, and read on again at another. At one
of these breaks—that at Newcastle—there is fully a mile
between the two stations ; still the Commercial Tele-
graph Company were enabled to communicate every
word of the Speech verbatim at Edinburgh about half•
past five in the evening—being only three and a halt
hours from the time when the communication reached
the London Station at Euston-square.—Glasgow Satur-
day Post.
MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.—EarIy on Saturday morn-
ing, the 20th instant, considerable sensation was caused
in Ripon by a report that Mr. J. Hodgson, of Norton
Conyers, about four miles from that city, had committed
suicide, by shooting himself with a gun, and on making
further inquiry the rumour proved but too true. From
what has been ascertained, it appears the unfortunate
gentleman for ten or fourteen days previous had been
suffering under a liver complaint, and during that time
appeared to be in a melancholy and desponding state, but
on Thursday, the 18th lost , his medical attendant
deemed
.him so touch improved as to require no (tail)
attendance. The next day (Friday) he was out shooting
with his gamekeeper for near two hours, and continued
to appear in an improved state. On the following morn
ing (Saturday) he arose from his bed about four
o'clock, apologised to his lady for disturbing her rest,
and stated he had occasion to go to another part of the
house. Mrs. Hodgson felt no uneasiness at the time, he
having got up early on two or three previous morning,
for the same purpose ' but not returning to bed as usual,
she became alarmed and got up, but not finding the
deceased, she immediately summoned two of the do-
mestics, and they together prcceeded to the principal
rooms of the house. On approaching what is called
" the Green-room," there was a • strong smell of gun-
powder, and on opening the door a dreadful spectacle
presented itself, the unfortunate gentleman being laid
on the floor, 4ith his skull literally blown to pieces, and
his brains scattered about. From the position of the
deceased, it is supposed he committed the dreadful act
whilst laid on the floor, and by placing the muzzle of
the gun iu his mouth, caused the report not to be heard
in the distant rooms. The deceased, about 45 years of
age, was a gentleman of very extensive property, and
much respected, was a magistrate for the liberty of
nzpuu, auu or Um Norm Riding of Yorkshire. On
Saturday an inquest was held on view of the body,
before Mr. W. Diusdale, coroner for the North Riding,
and a respectable jury. After fully investigating the
circumstances, a verdict of " Temporary insanity" was
returned.—Leeds Mercury.
TEMPERANCE IN A KING.—Our total abstinence
friends are not, perhaps, generally aware that Charles
XII., " the mad King of Sweden," as he was called by
some of his contemporaries, was a pledged man, if not a
member of a teetotal society. The anecdote on whichp
this statement is founded is given in M. de Bury
" Essai Historique et Moral sus l'Edueation Fransise.
Charles, as everybody knows, in the commencemento f
his career, drank to great excess. In one of his drunken
bouts he so far overstepped the limits of propriety as
to
treat the Queen, his mother, with great disrespect.
next day, on being informed of his rudeness, he
Queen's
glass of wine in his hand, and repaired to the
room. " Madam," said he to her, "I have learned that
yesterday in my cups I forgot myself towards you. I
come to ask your pardon: and, to prevent recurrence of
such a fault, I drink this glass to your health; it shall
be the last during nay life." He kept his word, and
front that day never tasted wine. We may add, by way
of recommendation to the habit, that no King wasever
r
known to undergo greater hardships, or enjoy be
health, than this cold water monarch.
SABBATH DESECRATION.—THE EDINBURGH AND
GLASGOW RAILWAY AGAlN.—Another flagrant act of
inconsistency was perpetrated on this best of all lines
on Sabbath last, at the Glasgow station. The facts
speak for themselves, and only
require to be reported.
About two o'clock on ,Sundy morning, half-a-dozen
mechanics were employed laying
rails, at which they
continued until eleven o'clock A when they ceased,
and all remained quiet until il o'clock P.M. (thus
affording time for the workmen to attend divine service,
no doubt); after which hour, the inhabitants of Cathe-
dral-street were annoyed with the clinking of hammers,
&c., during the remainder of the day and 'throughout
it
th,etennigthimt—e:sone of the parties so annoyed expresses
had been more noise was created than if the trains
runnin • g every hour, far less morning and
‘ezening. What does Sir Andrew say to this 7—Scotch
oefonmrs' Gazette,