The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-14 00:00:00

THE ARCTIC EXPEDiTION.

By the latest news from the United St rtes, we
learn that the position and wants of the Amide ships
in search of the long-missing expedition of Sir
John Franklin, continue to be a subject of national
interest, and that steps are being takes to intro-
duce a measure to Congress, in Decemb.r mat, for
the equipment of a steam boat for Behring Straits, with
the view of advancing from that direction to the relief
of Franklin, or of the allied searching squadron. It
may be in the recollection of some of our readers,
that in April last we mentioned the probabi-
lity of such a measure, and we rejoice at this nearer
Prospect of the fulfilment of our anticipations.
It remains to be seen whether our own short-
comings may not present to our spirited allies
the necessity of doing the rest of our work
for us also, by effecting a communication with
the searching ships from the esstern side—a measure
of still more Importance than the other. We are per-
suaded that the interest felt in the subject in the United
States will receive additional stimulus by the know-
ledge of those more recent circumstances and facts
which we have lately brought forward. For, if the
arguments were sound which we used a few months
since, when the question of sending a steamer
into Barrow Straits was brought at an unlucky mo-
ment before the House of Commons, to to
smothered by a few flimsy assumpduns to which
the forms of debate did not admit of reply, how touch
have they been enhanced by recent facts? We refer to
the failure of Commander Pullen—to the revelation lately
made with so much distinctness of the existence and pro-
bable position of a cairn left by Sir John Franklin's
perty—and lastly, and still more, to the deplorable pro-
bability of the whole Arctic squadron being ignorant of
a deposit of stores and provisions, on which they relied
is case of losing one of their ships, or otter misfortune,
having been lett by the North Star in Lancaster Sound.
This assertion may require farther explanation.
It appears that, on meeting Captain Penny in Lan-
ca-ter Sound, the commander of the North Star, Mr.
Saunders, received buppl+ meatary orders requiring him
to land his carge (which, it will be remembered, had
13, en sent out the previous year for the purpose
of re-provisioning Sir James Rose's ships, and ar.
resting the return of the Investigator) at
Disco Island, on the east side of Davis Straits
rather than risk a farther detention. Mr. Saunders
was unable to perceive that, the contingency (that of
his not having crossed to the west aide) upon which
the orders must have been framed no longer existing,
he was bound to throw aside t'is reference ; and he
not only was not moved by the arguments broug, t

torwarri by Captain Penny, but— even rejeci..d
his off: r to stop for the purpose of assisting
him to land the provisions. Captain Penny was ci.m-
pelted to pursue his voyage under the impression that
Mr. Syunders would ectually wend his way ba• k
Disco. and thus place the tormidable barrier Ot the Middle
Se':, between the searching squadron and the inestimslaiy
pl.( cloth, fi eight which should have been at their cocumuts,.
After she departure of Capt. i'enny, Mr. Saunders way in-
duced to act upon the advice be had so strongly urged; bu
we repeat that Caplau Penny, through whom alone it
could be made known to the other ships if he tell in
with any of them, is unable to make any such comma-
pica:ion ; so that the deposit alluded to might as well
never have left Woolwich, for any thing the Arctic ships
probably kn.,w about it. We must deeply regret that
anxiety if the Admiralty to hurry home their ship
should have led to this, now perhaps irretrievable,
blunder.

A few months may or may not throw light upon this
and other subjects, but if we should not hear anything
from Captain Austin this autumn, our Government will
find itself compelled to pay the pe►,alty of former
neglect and rebistance, by having to double the means
and expenditure which would now suffice to communicate
with the searching squanron, in order to meet an emer-
gency which the lapse of another season may have in-
creased tenfold.— C/u °nick.

SINGULAR A EMUS Pli ERIC PHENOMENON
"THE SPECTRE OF THE BROCKEN" IN SCOTLAND.
—The following remarkable phenomenon, pertaps
unprecedented in this country, was witnessed by a
highly. respectable and intelligent farmer in the neigh-
bourhood of Hawick. Walking over a hill on his
farm early on the morning of the 13th of May last,
his attention was arrested by a light cloud of pale
mist of remarkable form, being perfectly circular,
slowly uprising from the neighbouring valley. The
sun was shining brightly around him from the other
side, and as the cloud gradually floated up, still re-
taining its form, which was very like that of the
halo often observed round the moon, he found it pre-
sent an inner circle much smaller, but well defined,
and containing, as in a frame, a human figure of most
colossal proportions. Instead of standing aghast in
the mute amaze of motionless horror, as many would
have done, be saluted the spectre with a bow, which
was returned by the airy phantom with the utmost
promptitude and civility. He then walked away for
a little, and, on returning, found the shadow still vi-
sible, which continued to bow and otherwise imitate
every motion be made, thus proving it to be a reflec-
tion of his own form in the cloud. This appari-
tion is identical in appearance and cause with the
famous " Spectre of the Brucker," with, perhaps,
the additional beauty of the enclosing circles, which
we nowhere find recorded in the accounts of the
German travellers. Of course, owing to the great
diff-rence in altitude, and the vast extent of that
reflecting surface of liar zian mist, it will be deficient
in tnsgnitude to our Germanic ghost. It is a little
curious and worthy of mention that the celebrated
travellers, M. J. L. Jordan and M. Haus, the former
ascended the mountain of the Broeken
tw, lye tunes for the purpose of observing the famous
srctre, and the 'encr no less than thirty times, were
each re.. arded for their trouble a bout„Whitsuntide;
~easott of the year corresponding with that at which
the above inTeresting phenoutenun was witnessed.—
Berwick Wurder.

CALEDOAIAN RAILWAY PLEASURE

EXCUILsION.

On Friday morning this railway company gave a
plea.ure trip to their servant's, accompanied by their
wives and sweethearts, in all to the number of 1,500,
as far as E linburgh. The train started from Greenock
about h*l,-past five, and arrived in Edinburgh at 20
minutes past 10. On .the way they had an additi..n
at Glasgow of three carriages, making in all 31,
which were all beautifully festooned with flowers and
decorated with flags. Having arrived at Edinburgh
each took his several way—some to visit the Cistle
and its environs, and others to see the preparations
that were then being made for the teetotal reception
on the following day at the Queen's Parks, nut for-
getting to ascend the famed Arthur's Seat, and
obtain a drink of pure water• from St. Anthony's
well. Many others made still further pro-
gress by making exit from the romantic city,
visiting Haddington, Dal keitb, Lasswade,
Portobello, and Newhaven, thence to Bruntis-
laud. One party, at least, traversed the whole of this
ground, and returned again to Greenock the same
evening—so much for railway travelling now-a-
days. About four o'clock the fair city's streets were
again crowded by the visitors, and before six (the hour
tor starting) many of them were very ill prepared for
setting off, not having seen all their eyes would fain
have feasted upon. The hour having, however, ar-
rived, a few were rather behind. We were pleased to
see the great good humour that was displayed through-
out the whole day. The immense train having
reached Carstairs Junction, a vacation of ten minutes
was allowed for recreation, where there was a good
demand for lemonade and not a little for the "ardent,"
but the place being " teetotal" they could find none
to quench the unabating thirst. It was rather amu-
sing to see the many tumblers of water that were
fetched by the more gallant to their fair partners,
more especially being met by some who wished to
share the spoil before reaching the destined aqua-
drinkers. The train then moved off and reached
Greenock at half-past ten r.M., and we are sure all
were delighted with their day's excursion, and at the
same time thankful to the Caledonian Railway Com-
pany, and to the management of Mr. Symington and
his assistants, for the kindness of the one and the care
of the latter. Such excursions as this cannot but be
conducive to the interest of the company, by creating
a good feeling between employers and employed.--
North British Mail.