The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-28 00:00:00

AMERICAN NEWS

SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY.
The American packet Franklin arrived off Cowes
at nine o'clock this evening, on her way to Havre;
she left New York on the 15th instant, at noon.
Amongst her cargo is specie to the value of 105,000
dolls. for &gland, and 500,000 for Havre.
The American papers are filled with the reports of
the reception of Kossuth in England. Captain Long,
of the Mississippi, huts published a letter from Kos-
suth himself showing the kind feeling existing be-
tween them.
Mr. Fillmore's claims to the Presidency are not
likely to be pressed.
Mr. Webster has received a communication from
Kossuth referring to the celebrated letter of Hulse-
mann, the Austrian Minister.
Judge Starkey has been ordered to Havannah to
demand the trial or release of Mr. Thrasher.
In a telegraphic message from Washington, dated
November 13, it was stated that the President had
sanctioned Mr. Webster's refusal to accede to the
Spanish demands. The telegraph also announces that
Mr. 'Webster would shortly resign.
According to further returns of the New York
Election, the,Whigs.have a majority of two in the
Assembly.
Mr. Toombes has been elected for Georgia. In
his speech he stated that the constitutional union
party will adhere to its present isolated independent
organization and name.
An awful steam-boiler explosion had taken place
at Buffalo.
An extensive 4failure had occurred at New Orleans,
where Peter Cowry, jun., bad stopped payment ;s,
his
assets are stated at above one million dollars, and his
liabilities at about eight hundred thousand dollars.
A large and enthusiastic meeting had taken place
at Boston to choose delegates to the State Conven-
tion, and to nominate Daniel Webster for President.
The Radical democrats at Utica are about to start
a daily paper to oppose General Cass for the Presi-
dency.
A heavy freshet has occurred in St. John River,
New Brunswick. At Frederickton the water rose
suddenly fifteen feet, and did great damage.
Mr. Johnson, a Protectionist candidate, has been
elected to the Assembly from St. John.
From Mexico we learn that the Mexican Govern-
ment are concentrating their forces at Montmerey.
Usage, with 5,000 men, is to march to the seat of war
to suppress the revolution.
Destructive fires have taken place at Baltimore and
Troy.
With respects to the Massachusets Legislature, the
Whig majority is reduced to 19, and there are above
100 representatives yet to be chosen.
The Money-market at New York on the 14th
p.m., opened firmly, but closed heavily; the amount
of specie to go out in the next week, which it was
supposed would amount to two millions, had a re-
strictive effect.
The Cotton-market was without change, and the
sales were 1,000 bales. In flour there was a fair
business doing, particularly in Western and State
flour. The exchange on London was 110 k to 1101.
At New Orleans, Nov. 11, Cotton .was animated ;
sales 7,000 bales, at full prices, strict middling, 'Tic.

THE ARCTIC SEARCH.
Amongst the many instances of generosity and
self .devotion which the recent annals of Arctic en-
terprise have afforded, there is none more striking
than one which has lately come to our knowledge,
and which we trust will very soon attract public

attention.
Captain Beatson, of the mercantile marine—a
gentleman who, for a series of years, has, in com-
mand of his own ships, visited every quarter of the
globe,: and experienced every vicissitude with which
an adventurous career is usually rife—has for the
last two years, or ever since the unsuccessful expe-
dition of Sir James [toss in search of Franklin, de-
voted his attention to the fate of the missing Arctic
ships, and to the causes of the failures which have
hitherto attended all the efforts made by the Govern-

ment for their rescue.
Persuaded that no pursuit of the missing expedi-
tion can lead to any successful issue which is not car-
ried on far beyond the limits which can be attained
by a single wintering in the ice—that the search,
viewing the lapse of years, has not yet been made in
the right direction—and that the missing ships should
now be met as well as followed, and that in a much
higher latitude than has yet been attempted—Captain
Beatson proposes to take a screw steam-ship up Beh-
ring Strait, and to press with it westward and north-
ward so as to turn the barrier of ice and islands which
is supposed to extend from that meridian eastward
towards Melville Island. And, having gained the
open water which he believes to lie behind this barrier,
he intends to work his way eastward, year by year if
necessary, in a high latitude, towards the northern
entrance of Wellington Strait—thus eventually meet-
ing, it is to be presumed, the expedition which will
doubtless be sent by the Government up that channel
next spring, for the purpose cf following in the treok

-
of Franklin.
Captain Beatson, with a purpose of heroic con-
stancy worthy of the cause, contemplates devoting no
less than five years, if needed, to this daring enter-
prise ; but he has the strongest confidence that within
that period he will fall in with the long-lost navi-
gators, or be able to solve the intolerable mystery of
their fate. He devotes to this arduous undertaking,
not only his unpaid personal services, both in the
equipment and conduct of the expedition, but even
the profits he has made by the produce of his own
talents and industry—amounting to a sum which, if
quite insufficient to launch the expedition, is yet all
he can command. We understand that he is the in-
ventor of several ingenious nautical instruments (es-
pecially an altimeter for measuring distances in fog)
which are well known and appreciated, especially
.in
Russia, where they have procured him several in-
terviews with the Emperor, and are exten-
sively employed in the Imperial Navy. He
took out patents for these inventions, and
it is by the sale of these that he has been
enabled to lay the foundation of the fund required
for his expedition. He must look to his country for
the rest, and, supported as he is by some of the most
influential and respectable bankers and merchants of
the City, we cannot fear that his appeal to the sym-
pathy and liberality of all who have hearts to feel, and
money, be it much or little, to spare, will be made in

vain.
Gladly, indeed, would we see Mr. Beatson's sacri•
fices rendered unnecessary, and the field of search he
contemplates occupied by her Majesty's ships, under
the command of some of those brave young officers
who have lately tasted of Arctic adventure and toil in
another quarter, and who are doubtless ready for
fresh and more enduring labours. And though as
yet the Admiralty have made no sign, and impene-
trable mystery still shrouds the report of the Artic
Committee, we do not despair. That an expedition
will be sent up Wellington Strait in the spring, to
follow in the trail of Franklin, and that this will be
done vigorously and perseveringly year after year, if
need be, till he is tracked to his last position, we
cannot doubt—the country demands it ; but this dis-
covery would in all probability be greatly accelerated
if the pursuit were commenced at both ends.
If good ships were few in number, and brave men
scarce, we should have no hesitation in sending all
our expeditions up the Wellington Channel in prefer-
ence to any other. But it must be remembered that
at the other end of the passage which Franklin was
sent to seek, lay the goal of that gallant veteran's
ambition, which he would steadily strive to reach, for
no man had a more exalted sense of duty ; that Beh-
ring Strait, therefore, was his looked-for exit—that
he would press toward it accordingly—and that he
may have so pressed on till retreat became impossible.
The enterprise in which Lieutenant Pim is embarked
is based on this supposition ; nay, it presumes not
only that Franklin attained the desired western longi-
tude, but that he has been carried beyond it. And
we presume it is on the same supposition—
namely, the arrival of the discovery ships or their
crews at the end of their navigation—that the Ad-
miralty, year after year, maintained a depot ship in
Behring Strait, securely harboured there, in order to
welcome and refresh the way worn, but, as we would
still hope, triumphant navigators.
The course Mr. Beatson proposes to take is wholly
new ground, for Captains Collinson and M'Clure are
pursuing their course towards Melville Island in a
luwer latitude, divided probably by the barrier of ice
and land, broken or unbroken, which has been already
alluded to, from the northern sea. And even if they
should succeed in reaching in their ships the position
aimed at—which we du not expect—or of pushing on
afi
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We
hope that the Admiralty will give
a helping hand to an expedition thus possessing so
many claims to our sympathy and support, and that
they will not witness the generous efforts of a private
individual, struggling against difficulties of every
description with indifference. There cannot be one
ship too many in the new and untried region lying
between Wellington and Behring Straits. The dis-
tribution of land and water in those northern latitudes
is wholly unknown to us. We cannot tell in which
channel, among many, perhaps, Franklin and his
companions may be shut up—on what coast or what
island, amidst a group or chain, or lying alone upon
the waters, they may be supporting existence. There
is work enough for all. Nor, much as we deplore
the sacrifices which Captain Beatson is making, would
we check that gallant man's efforts, even were there a
fleet of the Queen's ships and a flotilla of boats en-
gaged in the same exploration. Ile has a right to his
vocation; and such noble instincts as his, sustained