The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-05 00:00:00

ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS

The report of the committee appointed by the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to inquire
into and report on the recent Arctic expeditions in
search of Sir John Franklin, together with minutes
of evidence taken before the committee, and papers
connected with the subject, has just been printed
The following is a copy of the report :
Admiralty,Arcqc Committee, Nov, 20, 1851.

Sir,-1. The Committee appointed by th;ir Lo;d.

ships' letter of the 22d October to inquire into and re.
port on the conduct of the officers entrusted with the
command of the late expeditions in search of Sir John
Franklin, and whether everything was done by them to
carry into effect their instructions, and to prosecute the
search for the missing ships, commenced their pro-
ceedings on the 24th ult.; and conceiving that the only
distinct inculpations are those contained in Mr. Penny's
letters to their Lordships of the 15th September and
10th October, we considered it our duty to direct our
attention in.the first instance to this part of the sub-
ject, and we accordingly examined Mr. Penny himself
and all the principal officers of the Lady
Franklin and Sophia, with the view of ascer-
taining satisfactorily every circumstance connected
with the exploration of Wellington Strait and the
channels discovered above it, and how far Mr. Penny's
subsequent statements are in conformity with those he
so distinctly expressed in his letters of the 4th and 11th
August, addressed to Captain Austin; and having ob-
tained all the information in our power, and most care-
fully considered the whole question, we are of opinion
that Captain Austin could only put one construstion on
Nlr. Penny's two letters referred to, and that, having
been thus assured by him that the open water found
above Wellington Straits was (to use his own expres-
sion), from " the fearful rate at which the tide runs (not
less than six knots) through the sounds that divide the
channel, dangerous even for a boat, much more to a ship,
unless clear of ice, which from its present appearance
would not be so that season," impracticable for naviga-
tion at that time, and that the shores and islands on
both sides had been thoroughly examined by the explor-
ing parties, without any traces of the missing ships
being discoverable, we do not think Captain Austin
would have been justified in commeneing a fresh search
in a direction concerning which he naturally considered
himself to have received such authentic information.
2. It will be observed that in Mr. Penny's letter of
the 4th August, 1851 (from which we extract the pre-
ceding paragraph), he distinctly acquaints Captain
Austin of his fixed determination to return immediately
to England, and that nothing is to be found in it in
any way expressive of his wish.for a further search
in Wellington Strait, and the channels connected
with it. In his journal, also, several remarks occur,
all equally discouraging and fully indicative of his
opinions at that period; and we can only account for his
subsequent change of language on his arrival in England
by his considering (as he himself states in his evidence)
that " he found everybody disappointed;" that it bad
boon said, " more might have been done;" and that " he
therefore wished to have the means of going out again;"
but we are bound to state that the evidence brought
before us has not, in our opinion, corroborated the state-
ment that ho expressed to Captain Austin at the time
any such sentiments; and it will be seen that Captain
Austin distinctly denies having received tiny communica-
tion to that effect.

3. Some desultory conversation, however, certainly
appears to have taken place on this subject when Capt.
Austin and Mr. Penny met on the 11th of August, 1851,
and it was for this reason that the former (very prudently
and properly, in our opinion) pressed Mr. Penny so
strongly for his opinion in writing.
4. We s think, therefore, that Captain Austin could
only form his judgment on Mr. Penny's written com-
munications, which, although very laconic, were suffi-
ciently explicit; and that, under all the circum-
stances of the case, much weight is due to the feel-
ing expressed by Cvtain Austin in his evidence,
that as Mr. Penny's expedition was, equally with
his own, equipped at the public expense, and receiving
its orders from the Admiralty, although independent of
his authority, he considered himself bound to abide by
the strongly expressed opinion of the officer who had,
by mutual agreement, undertaken that particular por-
tion of the scorch, that " all had been doLo which it was
in the power of ma❑ to accomplish."
5. We beg to remark on this part of the subject, that
although Mr. Penny endeavours to draw a distinction
between Wellington Strait ard the channel to the north-
west, which ho has since named Queen Victoria's Chan-
nel, no such distinction appears in the track chart deli-
vered by him to Captain Austin at the time, and which
we annex to this report; and we therefore think that
Captain Austin could not fairly be expected to recognise
any distinction between the upper and lower parts of this
channel.

6. It appears to have been under this impression,
which wo think Captain Austin fully just►fied in enter-
taining, that, after finding Wellington Strait closed, the
ice still presenting the same impenetrable barrier it had
done in 1850, ho decided on occupying the remainder of
the navigable season in the examination of Jones's Sound,
to which inlet his own instructions, as well as Mr. Pen-
ny's, directed attention, but which the latter had been
unable to explore in the preceding season.
7. We think that considerable benefit might have
arisen, especially in reference to future operations in
Wellington Strait, if one of the expeditions had re-
mained near the entrance about a fortnight longer, in
order to obtain the latest information of the state of the
ice in that direction, and therefore the probable prac-
ticability of the navigation of this strait, and we think
this might have been accomplished by Mr. Penny, with-
out involving any serious risk of being detained during
the winter; but we are clearly of opinion that as no
certain traces of Sir John Franklin's ships had been met
with in any direction beyond their wintering place at
Boechey Island in 1845.6, and no record of the route in-
tended to be pursued by them could be discovered, after
the moat diligent and repeated search (thus leaving this
question a mere matter of conjecture), both Captain
Austin and Mr. Penny were fully justified by the tenor
of their Lordships' instructions in not risking their de-
tention in the ice during another winter; and we beg to
add that all the most experienced Arctic officers in both
expeditions appear to have unanimously concurred in
opinion as to the expediency of returning to England.
8. With respect to the conduct of the officers en-
trusted with the command of the expeditions and several
exploring parties, we most gladly express our highest
and most unqualified admiration of the zeal, energy, in-
trepidity, and perseverance with which every individual
amongst them performed their respective duties. They
appear to have been animated by a common feeling of
determination to endure every hardship, and brave every
danger, in their endeavours to obtain some traces of
their missing countrymen. The journeys accomplished
under the most difficult and trying circumstances, far
exceed, both in distance and duration, any to be found
in the previous records of Arctic exploration in those
parallels of latitude; and the arrangements made by
Captain Austin and Mr. Penny were so well considered
and so complete that all their parties returned (with
only one exception) in perfect health, and without
having experienced any sufferings beyond those which
were inseparable from severe fatigue in such inclement
regions.

.0. With respect to the results of the late expedition,
as regards the search for the missing ships, on which
their Lordships desire cur opinion, we may remark that,
in the first plec; it is a matter of no small interest and
importance to have ascertained with certainty the exact
position in which they passed the winter of 1845-6,
while the careful and minute exploration of the coast to
the southward and westward by Captain Ommaney and
Lieutenant M'Clintock without discovering any traces
whatever of Sir John Franklin, would seem to afford a
very strong presumption that he did not pass that way;
and conjecture, therefore, naturally turns towards Wel-
lington Strait, to which it is well known he had often
looked, as affording ono chance of a passage to the
north-west, and which we see by Mr. Penny's account
of his
to examinationform n t Ic
aosft. the
a p
oupperssi
blpossible
outlett o f
itnh et
hcahta nn el, ap-
pearsdirection.
10. It is not without considerable hesitation and
anxiety that we proceed to reply tourthoepinlaisotn,pnoainniet
which their Lordships request your
" what benefits can be expected from any
further re-
search,
with the means and directions in which the ly,
on
com-
mittee are of opinion that such search should be
grieveat being
prose-
cuted."
11. We should deeply
capable of treating with coldness or indifference consi
natural and praiseworthy feelings of those who are
still without certain information derthede
their
nearest and dearest relatives, who of
thisfatenaturally
cling cling to hope e , in
and t... s stateh o
se
" even against hothoughts
(as might he expected) turn eagerly towardsw further
explorations; in any and every direction; but we have
felt, at the same time, while cunsideriug calmly and
carefully this difficult question, that we have an equally
icapottatit duty to perform towards those brave and
meritorious men whose lives must be risked in this
arduous and perilous search, and to reflect in what
manner it may be best conducted with a dee regard to
their safety.
12. Taking, therefore, all these circumstances into
consideration, we have, after a most careful and anxious
deliberation, decided on recommending to their Lord-
ships that an expedition should be dispatched next year
to Barrow's Strait, consisting of the tame ships which
composed Captain Austin's division, namely, two sailing
ships and two steamers, with others to proceed direct
to Beechey Island, and to consider that harbour—be-
yond which wo think ono sailing ship and one steamer
should on no account bo taken—as the base of future
operations.
13. We consider any further exploration in the direc-
tion of Melville Island or to the south-west of Cape
Walker wholly uanecesoy; 4/14 r
t We Reins therefore

propose that all the strength and energy
ra
tion should be directed towards theeneexamination of the
of the expedi-
arnedof
opinionl
upper part of Wellington Strut, and vv— e that by the adoption of the came careful
sidered arrangements which were attended b wanenlhCon-
-'ll-
tisfectory results on the late occasion this examination
danger
may be effected without any serious risk of loss or den
14. If, on arriving at the proposed rendezvous
early.
in August, the barrier of ice at the entrance of the strait
renders any attempt to penetrate it unsafe or imprudent,
it may, perhaps, still be possible to convey boats on
runners, or sledges, or by any small " lanes" which may
over, and launch them into the open water above, and by
this means depots of provisions may be advanced to the
most convenient points, and such further information
obtained during the remainder of the navigable season
as might very much Lcilitate the operations of the en-
suing spring.
15. These operations must, in that case, be commenced
as early as possible in the season of 1853, and pushed
forward with as much rapidity as is consistent with pru-
dence, it being clearly understood by all the exploring
parties that they must return to the depot at Beechey
Island in good time for their embarkation by the middle
of August at latest. The object in view would be to ex-
amine the upper part of Wellington Strait, as far be-
yond Mr. Penny's north-western advance as possible;
and if Sir John Franklin did really proceed in that di-
rection, it appears highly improbable that some traces of
his expedition should not be discovered by the exploring
parties in their search.
16. If, on the other hand, Wellington Strait is found
open and navigable on the arrival of the expedition in
judge such a
the summer of 1852, we think one of the sailing ships,
with a steamer, might proceed at once to take advantago
of this opportunity, if the officer commanding should
but with the mostmeasure safe ,toanaddrbaencethtuos
placed in winter quarters in a more favourable position
for commencing thel 1-, in the spring of 1853,
ditlnctinjuanndetipornuednontt
land set!rc,,
such a distance as to endanger their return to the depot,
or their communication
with it in that year; and it
should be enjoined with equal strictness, that in the
event
of any irreparable disaster to this ships so proceeding, or
if they should be too firmly fixed in the ice to be extri-
cated during the summer
off
1853
doned, and the crews brought
d, they are to be alma-
onpe to the depot.
17. It is, however, proper to provide contingency, namely, that of for one possible
the
at a Into season rendering thedifficulty of travelling
res
Beechey Island more hazardous to their
remaining by the ships (if they are only !westhan their
tiler winter; and in that case the division fr"en
up) anc"
Island, which will be still amply provided at Beechey
provi-
sions, &c., must remain also until the following
but this is, we hope, an improbable suppositionwing fear-
confident belief is, that, with the improvede' and our
and appliances of all kinds which past exper7euniPin"s
dictate, such an exploration will be made in the
willy part of 1853 as to enable the whole expedition to
reeri-
tau to England before the close of the navigable season. ra
18. It is obviously impossible to provide in a report of
this kind for more remote and less probable eontio.
gencies; but their Lordships' instructions to Captain
Austin (par. 4 and 7) contain all the discretionary
power with which an officer under such circumstances
can be entrusted; and we conclude they will be embo-
died in any future orders on the same subject.
19. We have thought it right to request from the
several gentlemen named in the margin their opinions on
this interesting but most difficult question; and we an-
nex their replies, to which we beg to call their Lordships'
attention.
20. We have also requested from Captain Austin and
the officers specially employed in his travelling parties
such suggestions as to practicable improvements in
equipments, clothing, and provisions, as their recent
experience so well qualifies them to offer. They are
annexed to this report, and will be found of considerable
importance.
21. Althcugh our instructions do not advert to the
report of the loss of the missing ships received from an
Esquimaux named Adam Beck, and to which Sir John
Ross in his evidence still attaches much weight. we beg
to state that a paper written by Adam Beck, in the pre-
sence of Sir John Ross and Captain Ommanney' end
purporting to be the substance of information comm uni-
cated to him by another Esquimaux, now in England,
named Erasmus York, on the subject of the loss of the
ships and the murder of the crews, has, on being trans-
lated before us by a Moravian missionary well ac-
quainted with the Esquimaux language, proved not to
contain a single word relating to this occurrence.
22. Adam Beck's subsequent deposition, which was
sent to Copenhagen for translation, has not yet been re-
turned; but if their Lordships should consider any fur-
ther inquiry necessary, we would only express an earnest
hope that it may bo conducted separately, and not al-
lowed to interfere with the early arrival of the proposed
expedition in Barrow's Strait.
23. With respect to the efforts now making to afford
relief to the missing ships in the direction of Behring's
Strait, we do not venture to offer any suggestions, be-
yond a hope that, until further accounts are received from
Captain Colliuson and Commander M'Clure, the Plover
may be kept fully provisioned.
We have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servants,
Wm. BOWLES, Rear-Admiral.
ARTHUR FANSIIAWE, Rear-Admiral.
W. E. PARRY, Captain.
F. W. BEECHEY, Captain.
GEORGE BACK, Captain.

To J. Parker, E:q , M.P., &e., Admiralty.

[HE UNITED STATES.
DISTRESSING ACCIDENT IN NEW YORK.
LIVERPOOL, TIIIIIODAY NIGHT, 9.15.—We have
just received three days later advices from the United
States by the Collins steam-ship Baltic, which sailed
from New York direct to this port for the 22d ult.
The Baltic brings over about fifty passengers, and
specie to the extent of 1,500,000 dolls.
The city of New York had been the scene of a
heartrending calamity, the particulars of which are
detailed in the advices to hand. In the ninth ward
school house a false alarm of fire had been raised.
' The school, which is a very large one, numbers 1,800
children, and they made a rush to the doors. Unfor-
tunately the banisters of the stairs gave way, and the
scholars were precipated downwards, upwards of fifty
of them being instantly killed, and seventy-five in:,
jured.
The political intelligence to band is not important.
Business was is an easy condition, the large expor-
tation of specie not having effected to any great ex-
tent mercantile operations in the leading marts.
Stocks and securities had made a slight advance, and
the money market was in a better state than when
the Canada left. The exports of precious metals were
likely to continue.
.„,

Bieadstufl's were not in active request. Prices
were much as formerly. Western Canal Flour, 3
dolls. 53c. to 3 dolls. 62fc. per barrel. Gennessee
prime Wheat, 920. to 94c. per lb. ; Indian Corn,
round 3 allow, 60c. to 62c. per bushel, steady ; Indian
Meal, 3 dolls. 25c. to 3 dolls. 37ic. per barrel.
The cotton market at New York was quiet, and
business to a moderate extent only had been done.
Prices were quite steady as follow :—New Orleans
and Mobile mid. fair to fair, 9fc. to lOic. per lb.;
Uplands mid. fair to fair, Bc. to 9c. per lb.
Provisions were unchanged.
Exchange on London, 1101 to 1104, in good de-
mand ; Paris, 5 12 ; liamburgh, 36f to 362; Bre-
men, 7941- to 79f.

COWES, IS-LE OF WIGHT.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

COWES, DEC. 4.
from
France,
o
landed at Eastp
Cowes.
Antwerp for America, have been
ROYAL CHARITY.—Two hundredf phdilafidletleehnia,of the
passengers in the ship
known to her Majesty, orders were given that they
supplied with coffee, bread, and soup, from an
should be
On the situation of these unfortunates bring made
establishment fitted up for the purpose by her Majesty's
orders at Kingston Farm, on the royal estate. The
royal children contributed from their little gardens
turnips, carrots, and ether vegetables for the soup, and
their little barrows may be seen every morning loaded
for the unfortunate foreigners. It is surprising how the
ship could sustain the terrible shock that she rec4ved
from some unknown vessel on the night of the 24th of
November; she was cut down nearly to the water's
edge, her windlass broken, and such was the force with
which she was struck that the planks were driven out
on her starboard side; indeed, she is such a wreck that
it is thought that she is past repairing. Her cargo is
being discharged into warehouses.
DEATH OF CAPTAIN JAMES WILKINSON, R 14T
This distinguished officer departed this life at three
ear iVest
o'clock yesterday afternoon, at Gurnard, Cowes, after an illness of only
, and actively
lie was hale and hearty the day Pre"clin''of his farm.
employed superintendfeig the business
at the cap-
Captain Wilkinson was second
in
Admiral Napier; at that
ture of Don Miguel's fleet
by
Aci
Commodore Reeves.
time he was bettor known
readsro
's fleet was given to
duration.
When the command of
the gallant Napier, hie first of Wilkinson as second in
Cowes, to secure the services
gallant officer never trod
whisurto start for
the quarter-deck. aD°:t business inessfew
command, than whoa:

aunderna sgat
e
Nn"11"13"IWof Re
stand that the trustees
in the life-boat report--namely,he price stated
ND
of P a
thelz it
RoyalL r r E noe
HarbourT.—
builder for t
they intend cordially to co-operate with the
have liberally purchased. this excellent boat from its spirited
250., and that
Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from
Shipwreck, in carrying out its benevolent objects, of which
society his Grace the Duke of Northumberland is the presi-
dent. We hope th at other wealthy trusts of harbours will
follow the laudable example set them by their Ramsgate
brethren, for the want of life-boats , n the coasts of the United
Kingdom is really a disgrace to us as a great maritime na-
tion. 'there are only about 95 of these life-preserving vessels
on the wilt le extent of our rocky coast, and about one-halt
of them are reported as unserviceable.
The If•tters from Calcutta received on Wednesday
by the overland mail express great misgivings as to the re-
sult of the operations which have been carried on throughout
the year. Since the India Company abolished their system
of of making advances on produce, the joint-stock ban_kesit,.si . _
said, have adopted ths practice to an extent thatr.L_c!
the
greater evils than were then complained ef. level
markets are constantly kept above the .
e multiplied
would harmonise with prices on this d
small capital, which have of course
greatlyursue a constant
since the crisis of 1547, are induced to P
o no failures had
course of speculation. Thus far,happily,tohave been sustained
taken place, but the losses known naturaland houses of
traders surprise that the the part of the more cautious
ou led with the conviction
sys-
tem has continued so long,
coupled
rt must end in serious die-
that unless it be speedily checked both en exports awl imports are such as to have created on
&atom