The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-13 00:00:00

THE SU N, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 13, 1856,

RENEWED SEARCH FOR THE FRANKLIN

PRICE OP WHEAT.

(From the Derbyshire Courier.)

The price of wheat has suffered a heavy decline
during the last few months. The average for the
first week in August was 77s 10d a quarter, while
that for the week ending Nov. 22 last was 63s 3d
a quarter, being a fall of 14s. 7d. a quarter in four
months. Good wheat was bought on Saturday last
at Bs. a bushel (645. a qr.) and inferior at 565. and
58s.

The payments of the agriculturists at this time
of the year have a tendency to promote freer sales
and lower the price, but this cause has only
a temporary, and not very powerful, influence.
Thus, last year, the price of wheat, which was
765. 6d. at the beginning of October, had risen to
82s. by the last week in November. More active
and extensive causes must operate to effect a con-
siderable decline. Among the causes at present
operative in the direction of lower prices of grain
must be reckoned the large importations from
America. These importations are, gdoubtless,
greatly facilitated by the opening of the Grand
Trunk Railroad of Canada. This gigantic under-
taking, which is now completed, connects the great
corn-growing regions of the North-Western States
of America, Wisconsin, and Michigan, with the St.
Lawrence and the Atlantic, extending from Toronto
nearly to Quebec, a distance of 850 miles. The
whole expenditure of the company up to June 30
was, we are told, no less than 8,693,080/.
There can be no doubt that this great under-
taking has been and will be productive of a power-
ful influence on the cheap supply of grain from the
north-west of America, and therefore on English
prices.
As little doubt can exist that the prosperity of
the Canadian provinces will be extensively pro-
moted by this great national highway ; and that
with increased prosperity will come an enormous
increase in the quantity of wheat consumed in the
Can adas.
The fact of a whole nation being placed in a con-
dition to consume better food, and more of it, is
sometimes not sufficiently taken into calculation
in estimating the probable effects on prices of au
improved system of locomotion.
At this time there is perhaps no British colony
manifesting a more rapid development of its mae-
nificent capabilities than Canada. It will soon
open a very wide mouth for the consumption of its
own food.

A letter headed " Corn Averages and Gold,"
from Mr. C. M.. Willich, whose statistical researches
are so well known and appreciated, has just ap-
peared in the London papers. It contains much
useful information on tho subject to which it
relates, and opens out other causes which operate
powerfully on the preseut and future price of
wheat in this country. It appears, he says, that
the average import t,tion of wheat (Tuciwling flour)
into England, during the last ten years, bas been
41 millions of quarters annually. In 1854 we
imported 5,586,218 quarters. Yet the average of
wheat that year was 725. ld. a quarter ! We paid
no less than 20,133,6601. for our supply of foreign
food.

This letter supplies a clue to the reason of this
high price with enormous importation. Mr. Willich
appends a table of the supply of goll obtained in
California and Australia since 1848, by which it
appears that 105,950,7051. has been added in the
eight years ending with 1855 to the quantity of gold
previously existing in the world. "For the present
year," he adds, " there is every probability that the
produce will much exceed any former year." The
supply of wheat may be large. Its price depends
in a great measure on the supply of money also.
The continued drain of silver to the East will,
Mr. Willich observes, render the adoption of a
gold standard in France necessary. Of this there
can be no doubt. Unless France reduces the weight
of her silver coinage, the foreign drain, exporta-
tion being profitable, must continue. Were the
drain of silver to the East put a stop to, and the
consequent drain of gold from this country checked,
we should see but one reason 'why the price of
wheat should not speedily recover, nor why wages
should not rise in full proportion, as they ought to
do. That reason is, that the arbitrary restriction
of the circulating medium by making the Bank
Note convertible into gold at a fixed rate instead
of at the market price of the commodity, must ever
exert a pernicious influence ou the productive in-
dustry of the nation.
One hundred millions of gold have counteracted
the evil tendency of Peel's Bill. But they have
not corrected, and cannot correct, a bad financial
principle. Sooner or later the country will, in
spite of Australia and California, suffer for the ob-
stinate perversity with which it clings to its absurd
and dishonest Money Laws.

FIRE AT EARN WORTH PAPER MILLS.

About 20 minutes to four o'clock on Thursday morn-
ing a fire was discovered by the watchman on duty in
the extensive paper works of Messrs. John and Thomas
Bonsor Crompton, Farnwortb, near Holton. It origi-
nated in the centre of the top room, in a four-storey
building in front of the works. The building was 18
windows in length, and from six to seven yards wide.
The first floor was occupied as a finishing room, and
contained five hydraulic presses, and a considerable
quantity of paper. The second and third storeys were
used as rag stores ; and the fourth, where the fire broke
out was a place where females were employed cutting the
rags into small pieces. As might be supposed, these
rags burned with great fury, and, from the first, there
was little hope of saving the building in which the fire
originated. The works not being insured, Messrs. Cromp-
ton keep three fire engines, and a number of their men are
trained as an effective fire brigade, and everything was
therefore done immediately to check the progress of the
raging element. Au engine from the will of Mr. Thomas
Barnes, M.P. (Prestolee), and another from the paper
works of Mr. Roger Crompton' of Elersley, were also
speedily on the spot, and there being a plentiful supply
of water from the river Croal on one side, and the
reservoirs on the other, the works wets providentially
saved from destruction. The reflection of the fire had
been observed in Bolton, and when a messenger arrived
for the corporation engines Mr. Superintendent Beech
and the fire brigade were in readiness to start with two
engines ; the Etna engine of Messrs. Orinrod and Hard-
castle, and their firemen, were also ready, and gallope
at full speed to the works, which they reached a little
before seven e'slock. They also rendered effectual a d
in confining the fire to the range of buildings in whi:ts
it originated. At the:end of the building named there
was a clock tower, with a bell at the top, and this wee
destroyed, the clock face indicating that, it was stopped
at 4.20. From this tower the fire spread to another
rag loft, forming the angle of the centre building. it
was four storeys high,and about eight windows in length,
and here also, from the combustible nature of the mate-
rials, the fire defied every effort to subdue it. At length
the roof and the floors fell in, and the whole range of
rag lofts lay a mass of burning ruins. Adjoining tb building there is a machine shed, containing
three valuable paper machines, and a portion of the
burning material.,
tanin,
upon the roof about one-half
of
in ratedas destroyed, but the machines are very little
j .
a 24 -horse Bene.4 th •the firstoiamed rag store there is
engine, which adjoins the machine room,
and a portion of
flooring the walls and rocf faking through the
upon in,t,t
,considerable damage is done, but fortu-
nately it will.
any portion of the works, as they
have water-power to supply its place. Ttie
fire was got
suunbddeurLb.oult seven o'clock, and at eivi4t it
was entirel
wans the finishing rooms, on the
there
lower storey
all
considerable o.teantity of
paper, but it was nearly
from
rea
h.snt out. Pc
fire was prevented itunately tte
pal,wrc ing the w7..rehouse
and also the brown
~were considerable stock% finishing room, where there
are a great number at bajdBP:Per- in these mills there
The damage,
there will be no steippsge
of
tritTloyed, and, for, unately,
it is thought, will. be about
to adopt
are not insured, in conoeci;xcuet
of
tAhleesLr;.bCperuemapiutonni
every precaut io
required ; their custom being
that Messrs.
against lire. Another account state
Powerful fire-
Crompton keep on their premises ea 3
and thee as
a
nge, as well
engines, named the Ruyal and the Mi
force-pump, worked by a water. eh, ;
immediately brought into play, and, under the were
superintendence of Mr. Rideout, rendered
,great see able:
in preventing the spread of the flames to the a
I.:viee
buildings. It is not known how the fire originated •
and the damage is estimated at from 5,000/. to 6,0001
Work will 'De resumed in a few days.—ivanchwei.
uardialr,

LIVERPOOL, Dc. 12.—The clipper-ship Gipsey Bride
ailed hence tc-Jay for Melbourne, with 300 passengers
;'ad a larr,e cargo.
PUBLIC' INCOME AND EXPENDITURE.—The pull c
,ncorne for the year ended the 31st of March, 1856,
amounted to 705521451. a!!aitn-t 64,091,571/. in 1855,
and the expenditure to 93,149,
3101. against 70,236,8171.
in 1855. Thus there wasexcelsof expenditure over
income in 1855-56 c f 22 597,1651., and anexceons (
slf
6,145,246/. in 'the year 1854-55. The Cu
1855.56) yielded 35,635 5" 1552/. ; the Exei: e, 210 3811.
'"amps, 7,063,610/ ; a.sessed and lane tax,,,, 3.1:36
the income tax, 15,1594581. (against 10,922,267/ the;
Year ended the 31st of March, 1855) ; the Po c st.o e;
2;767,2011.; and Crown lands, 421,7151. The duties on
spirits and wines remain very ,tationary ; those on malt,
hose"ffee, tobacco, snuff, and sugar rave increased. The
house tax yields 72F 'B9/., and land 1,157,5251
The expenditure in 1875-56 included 2,863,3531. for col•
lecting the revenue, 28,112,8251. for the public debt,
1,695,052/. for the civil rrovernment, 3,192
,420/. f law
and justice, 366,443/. f.,r diplomatic salaries, 47,461,1881.
for the army, navy,
and ordnance (aOainst 28,321,7071.
in the preceding ear), and 4,200.000/ for the vote of
credit (war with Russia) Ti„ army cost the coon
17,395,0591., the navy 19,654,585/ ,
and the ordnan.oy
c
10,411,5141. The civil list privy PurFe, the salaries of
the Royal household, and the pa3.uient4 of the Queen's
• tradespeople include the Burn total of 371,800/ , and the
allowances to the several branches of th.i Royal family
151,7881. King Leopold (pays int., the exchequer
33,500/, out of bis pension of 50 'OOl., after makisg
annuities and pen-,
sundry deductions for the discharg,,
moue to the eAabliLbint.nt pf the late piiiice66 chariot",

EXPEDITION.

On Wednesday evening a meeting of Arctic navigators
was held at the Russell Institution, Great Coram-street,
for the purpose of considering the propriety of undertaking
a new search for Sir J. Franklin and the missing expedi-
tion under his command, information recently received in
this country having been deemed sufficient to warrant such
an undertaking. There was a very numerous attendance.
Among those present were Capt. Sherard Osborn, Lieut.
Pim, Professor Creasy, Dr. McCormick, Capt. Inglefield,
➢r. Hodgkin, Mr. Barrow, Dr. King, Mr. Findley, Mr.
Seymour, Dr. Seaman, &c.

Mr. Bishop, member of the council of the College of Sur-
geons, occupied the chair, in the absence of Sir R. I. Mur-
chison, and in opening the proceedings briefly adverted to
the strong desire manifested, even at this remote period of
time, to ascertain whether any further traces of the unfor-
tunate expedition under the command of Sir J. Franklin
could be discovered. Information had been recently re-
ceived in this country, from which it was believed that the
exact spot had not been ascertained where the Erebus and
Terror had been blocked in the ice. Upon that point the
meeting would be addressed by Dr. King, who had visited
the Great Fish River; after which solve of the eminent
Arctic navigators present would, doubtless, state their opi-
nions. (Hear.)

Dr. KING observed that up to the present moment four
expeditions had been despatched in search of the missing
ships—two by sea and two by land, namely, by land through
Russia in the first case, and over the territories of the
Hudson's Bay Company in the other; and by sea, by way
of Behring,'s Straits, and subsequently through Barrow's
Straits. In coming to any determination with respect to
the course of future operations, it was worthy of remark
that in the one case navigators would have the current with
them, and against them in the other. He deeply regretted
that Lieutenant Pim had been refused permission by the
Emperor of Russia to continue his researches by way of
Kamschatka, and though that refusal was alleged to be
from a desire to avoid risk, there was reason to believe
that it had arisen from political motives solely. In speaking
of the Behring's Straits expedition he could not eulogise
too highly the names of Sir R. M'Clure, Dr. Armstrong,
Dr. M'Cormick, Sir E. Belcher, and Captain Sherard
Osborn. The next expedition, namely, that of Sir John C.
Ross, in conjunction with a land journey by Sir J. Rich-
ardson, was conducted upon an excellent principle, but it
failed in consequence of the expeditions being too distant
from each other. If the Great Fish River had been fol-
lowed instead of the Copper Mine River, the results would
have been certain, as has been proved by the subsequent
discovery of traces at the Fish River. But between the
discovery of the first wintering quarters of Sir J. Franklin
on Beechey Island and the discovery of the cache on the
banks of the Great Fish River, four years had elapsed, and
what had Franklin been doing during those four year?
He was either starved to death, or had been attacked by
the Esquimaux and carried into slavery with his compa-
nions. In either case some traces must have been left,
and ho firmly believed that by following up the Great Fish
River traces would be found. So convinced. of this were
both Lieutenant Pim and himself, that on the preceding
day they had forwarded a memorial to the Board of Ad-
miralty offering to organise a new expedition, which he
felt satisfied would succeed in settling the question for
ever. The memorial to which he referred was as follows :
" 17, Saville-row, Dec. 8, 1856.
"My Lords,—That season of the year is rapidly ap-
proaching when the icy fetters of the Arctic regions are
loosened, and the Polar Sea is open to a further search for
the remains of the Franklin expedition. Gigantic exer-
tions have been already made, but in all these vast efforts
there has been a want of comprehensiveness, which has
since been proved could only result in utter failure. It is
needless to call your lordships' attention to facts in support
of this view of the case, inasmuch as they are indelibly
placed on record, and your lor. !ships are cognisant of them.
" But traces have been found—death traces, it is to he
deplored—of the gallant Sir J. Franklin and his noble
band—traces that point to the whereabouts of the missing
ships which sailed with so much glory to carry out the sci-
entific survey propounded by your lordships. Since these
traces have been found your lordships have taken no steps
towards a full and comprehensive search, and until your
lordships shall follow up these traces to the uttermost, we
venture respectfully to state our opinion that a stain is
stampeu on our national honour. We, therefore, implore
your lordships to take into your consideration a compre-
hensive plan, which we now lay before you, and which we
maintain contains within itself elements of success, such
as have not been before brought under your lordships' no-
tice. We propose to make a combined effort by sea and by
land—by sea, through Barrow's Strait and down Peel's
Sound ; by land, across the continent of America and
down Great Fish River—meeting at the magnetic pale.
Vpon the sea expedition it is proposed to use a sm ill
screw steamer, and upon the land journey bank canoes.
"In the first effort made for the recovery of Sir J.
Franklin your lordships adopted the principle we are now
advocating of a combined effort by sea and land, but the
scheme unappily failed in the details. The route selected
for the journey of the land party was far too distant from
that of the sea expedition for human effort to effect a
junction ; and the unhappy band of adventurers in search
of whom these expeditions were despatched, met their
death with succour on either aide of them. Our land party
on the contrary would in the Great Fish River be compa-
ratively near to the sea expedition, and more certain of
effecting a junction.
" We contend that it is essential that the plan of search
should embrace a ladd as well as a sea party, seeing that
previous land parties by themselves, and previous sea par-
ties by themselves, have invariably failed. The desirable-
ness of such a combination of search as we propose must at
once be apparent to your lordships, for it may be conveni-
ent for the land party to take passage home with the sea
party, and vice versa, and with this end we consider that
the two parties should comprise the fewest possible men.
We would merely allude, in support of our proposal, to
the successful surveys made by our forefathers—Davis,
Baffin, Behring, and Hudson.
" We are net surprised that the First Lord of the Trea-
sury should ignore the plan of search suggested by the
Royal Geographical Society. inasmuch as that plan merely
contemplates another search in precisely the same man-
ner as a host of sea searches have been already made, un-
supported by land journeys, and affords no better pros-
pect of success than was attained by the plans which im-
mediately preceded it, and which resulted in the total loss
of live of her Majesty's ships, one of which (the Resolute),
has since been recovered by a miracle, and is now upon its
return to this country.
" The precise time of starting upon the land journey will
be towards the end of February; that of the sea expedition
will be the end of June. By these means your lordships
will not be hurried; and it is for that reason we have thus
early addressed you. Most of the expeditions that have
been despatched have been hurried at the last moment,and
to this, we apprehend, is to be attributed in great measure
their failure.

" The precise time when both the sea and land parties
will reach their respective wintering grounds, the precise
fittings which each service will require, and the precise sum
which each will cost, are well known to your lordships,
and therefore need not be repeated. For these services we
place ourselves at the disposal of your lordships. We are
tried servants intimately acquainted with the services we
undertake to conduct. We are friends bound together in
zeal and honesty of purpose ; and we are confident in each
other, and earnest in our endeavour to press forward in
all prudence to our rendezvous. In conclusion, we would
state to your lordships that we are convinced that, in order
to be successful, the united service, both by sea and by
land, should be under the conduct of government. It was
on a government errand, propounded by government, that
Sir John Franklin sailed ; and to the care of the Govern-
ment his honoured remains P,houlti be committed.—We
have the honour to be, my Lords, your lordship's most
faithful servants,

" RICIAARD KING, M.D.
" RADFORD PIM, Lieutenant, R.N."
Both Lieut. Pim and himself were anxious that every
facility should be afforded for au investigation of the plan
here laid down, not only by those who bad taken an active
part in previous searching expeditions, but by all Who,
either by aeientido or geographical knowledge, might be
supv.ised competent to form a correct judgment of the
F.obabilities of success. He was happy to say that in
consequence of the new light thrown upon the question,
the opinion was almost universal that by a land and sea
expedition they would at length succeed in discovering the
fate of the missing ships, and perhaps even of rescuing
some of the survivors. (Hear.) That such might be the
case was the opinion of Captain Austin, Captain Richards,
Captain Inglefield, Captain Sherard Osborn, Dr. Hooker,
and Dr. Armstrong, all Polar men ; and in farther confir-
mation of that opinion, he would read a letter from Admi-
ral Sir S. Bsau:ort to Lieut. Pim. It was as follows :
" The one great object which should override all other con-
siderations, and on which I shall take my stand, is the still
existing chance of rescuing from slavery the remnant of
those noble fellows, and the payment of that debt which
all civilised nations tacitly contract with those whom they
send forth on enterprises of danger. Now, it will not be
denied that a half of the whole force of the expedition is
yet to be accounted for, nor that it is probable when the
ships were abandoned that different parties took different
routes. Nor, again, if they threw themselves on different
parts of the long north shore of America, that the despatch
of a single Hudson's Bay messenger, to the mouth of the
Great Fish River, can by any perversion of language be
called an effective and adequate search for our missing
countrymen ; nor will it be denied that if their boats were
Wrecked, burned, or pillaged, their crews had no possible
means of further retreat, and must then have thrown them-
selves
es on the mercy of the natives, who, if they spared
ca .iinhli"B. would assuredly extort from them some work
,
return, and would as surely watch that they did not es-
p when w
e reflect on the charms of repose and
safety after shipwreck
and
boatwreck, and on the comfort
of a full stomac h
, after vainly sifting the sands for perri-
winkles, or
again; on thef,
strilktY with which sailors adapt themselves
in many of our voyagers, and especially in Kane's admirable
very incredulous person who doubts
that at this moment several
forgotten countrymen
areso:
lour abandoned and almost
huts, swallowing morsels of froez,,tocrig themselves in snow
and at the
same time chewing the bitter cudsoeafltohr walrus'
of gratitude, want of faith, and want
of
honour."
country's want
let-
ter was from a man of the highest possible nauuuthr.;Tt This
this subject. He (Dr. K.) had always guarded himiseylfufrPo°H
expressing any opinion upon the 'natter, but in his ownm
mind he thought it possible that there might be some an
virors. Sir F. Beaufort was peifectly right in thinkinc,
that the Esciaimaux would not let them escape. If the;
got hold of a doctor or a blacksmith, he (Mr. King) was
sure they would not, for they knew too well the value of
such men. If, therefore, they had fallen into. the hands of
the Esquimaux, and had convinced their captors thatihey
were of utility, there was not the slightest reason to de-
spair that they welt) still alive. (Hear, hear.) The object

of the meeting was to invite discussion. He stuck him-
self up as a target to be fired at, and would be most happy
to hear any kind of opposition, though he should certainly
claim the privilege of replying to any objections which
might be raised. With respect to the Hudson Bay Com-
pany's expedition to the Great Fish River, nobody knew
better than Sir F. Beaufourt, who had been for half a
century the hydrographer of the Admiralty, whether that
could be called a search. He (Dr. King) denied that
there was any evidence whatever that Captain Hudson, of
the Hudson Bay Company, had ever reached the mouth of
the Great Fish River. There never was a greater traveller
than Thomas Simpson, but what did he discover at Mon-
treal Island ? He said, "On the 16th we directed our
course with flags flying to Montreal Island, at which place
we found a deposit among the rocks in a cache, which con-
tained two bags of pemmican, a quantity of chocolate, and
various other things." If these things had not been washed
away by the tide, nothing on earth would convince him
(Dr. King) that the bodies of the 40 men who were said to
have died near that spot could have been washed away
without any record remaining behind. He believed him-
self that Sir George Back had never reached the Polar Sea
1 by the great outlet of the Fish River, but that he had
gone to some other point, and had never visited the cache
discovered by Simpson. The question now to be con-
sidered was, whether the search, being confined to a
limited area, it ought not to be pursued, and all doubts
as to the fate of Sir .1. Franklin and of the crews of
the missing ships set al rest. He believed that the plan
submitted to the Admiralty by himself and Lieutenant
Pim contained elements of success such as no other plan had
ever combined. All that was wanted was confidence in
each other, and he solicited the co-operation of the meet-
ing, because ho believed that the expedition now projected
would set the question at rest for ever. (Hear, hear.)
Lieutenant Pim said he had attended the meeting with
feelings of sincere gratification, because he considered it a
step in the right direction. The motive was to encourage
inquiry, sift every particle of evidence, and, send every one
away with a truthful impression of the present state of
this painfully interesting national question. After the
clear and distinct manner in which Dr. King had opened
the subject, it was needless for him to enter into minute
details. He took his stand on the broad ground that 138
public servants were lost in the Polar region, that many
efforts had been made to find them, that by the merest
accident a clue to their whereabouts had been at last ob-
tained by them, and not till then all further efforts had
been abandoned. (Hear, hear.) Every one knew that
they had obtained traces of Franklin, for which they had
paid 10,0001. Those traces pointed to a circumscribed
space within which the ships themselves would probably
be found, for it must be borne in mind that a search had
been made in every other direction, and every Arctic ex-
plorer agreed that this spot could be easily approached by
several routes. Why, then, did they hesitate ? They hid
offered a reward for a trace of Franklin ; they had paid
10,0001. for that trace ; their experience in the Polar seas
attested that the trace could be followed to a successful
issue with less than the usual risk, and, strange to say,
they stopped short when the object was within their grasp.
(Hear, hear.) In his opinion they ought to settle all
doubt about the missing expedition. Surely national hon-
our called for it, independently of the extreme impoli4
of destroying the confidence of future navigators 'in
the beneficent care of their countrymen at home. His own
feelings in connection with this subject were these :
Being a sailor he knew the habits of sailors, and he did not
hesitate to say that he had always entertained a strong can-
viction that some of our unfortunate countrymen might, be
still alive, and in slavery to the Esquimau'. They knew
that Dr. Kane, the intrepid and distinguished American
traveller, had been on the point of throwing himself on the
mercy of the natives, when he providentially escaped from
his icy prison ; and they also knew that Lease and Simp-
son had orders in case of necessity to winter with these
people. His had been no common service in the arctic le-
gions. Ile had suffered the extremes of cold, hunger, and
thirst, and from experience he could ,place himself in
the position of our lost sailors. He felt that if their
fellow-countrymen would stretch out a helping hand,
some of them might yet be restored to their friends. His
opinion was not singular, but was participated in' by
many of the most eminent men in the country. (Hear.), He
entirely agreed with Dr. King that an unsupported expedi
tion, by way of Barrow's Straits, must fail; that an unsup-
ported expedition down the Great Fish River must fail ;
but that a combined effort by both those routes contained
within itself elements of success such as had not hitherto
been tried. Dr. King had read the memorial which they
had conjointly submitted to the Admiralty. He need pnly
repeat that he (Lieutenant Pim) had the utmost confi nce
that Dr. King would use every possible exertion to r ach
the magnetic pole, and he believed that Dr. King ha the

fullest confidence that he (Lieut. Pim) would meet him
there. He felt convinced that the search would b 4 at-

tended with success ; and if that' could restore onl3i one
of those poor fellows to his country, they would be amply
rewarded for every hardship and difficulty they would have
to encounter. (Cheers.)
Mr. FINDLEY wished to call the attention of the meeting
to a geographical question with reference to this subject.
By the position of the missing ships indicated on the map,

it would seem that they must have reached Victoria Land,
and it was alleged that they had gone throughPeePs Sound;
but Lieut. Brown had found that the Sound was filled with
ice to the very bottom, and had never been open at all
The coast of Parry Sound had been clearly defined by Idr.
Wynniat ; and if Sir J. Franklin's ships had really reached
the spot indicated, without going through Peel's Sound, he
was entitled to the merit of discovering the North-Went
Passage, as the precursor of Sir R. M'Clure.

• Mr. Al`Cortmicir having addressed the meeting,
Dr. SEAMAN, naturalist and historian of the voyage of
the Herald in search of the Franklin expedition to Beh-
ring's Strait, considered that it was highly desirable 'that
there should be another expedition and viewed with satis-
faction the present plan. Many of the public were pos-
sessed of sufficient Arctic knowledge to criticise the plan,
but others would inquire what were the antecedents of its
principal promoters. It was sufficient to say that both Dr.
King and Lieut Pim were experienced Arctio travellers.
Dr. King had accompanied Sir G. Back down to Great
Fish River in search of Sir John Ross's party, any in the
memorable expedition had collected such vast stores of in-
formation that he was entitled to the gratitude of the
whole scientific world. When anxiety was first felt with
respect to the fate of Franklin, Dr. King had suggested a
plan, which, had it been at once adopted, would probably
have ensured the safety of most, if not all, of the missing
expedition, as the search would have been conducted on
the very spot where it had been shown that part at least of
the expedition had perished. It was melancholy to think
that this plan had been rejected. It had bees urged upon
the Admiralty again and again in vain, until facts had
at length come to light which had completely borne out
his view. Lieutenant Pim and himself were shipmates
in the first search after Franklin, by Behring's Straits
during three seasons, under Captain Kellett ; he
had performed a most arduous journey from Kot-
zebue to Norton Sound and back; and when it was
considered that the northern shores of Asia should also be
searched, he was only prevented from carrying it out by
the refusal of the Russian Government, the alleged reason
for that refusal by the Emperor of Russia being the great
danger which he would have to incur. Subsequently, how-
ver, it transpired that the Emperor of Russia was influ-
enced by political motives, considering Mr. Pim as a spy
sent to investigate the mysteries of Siberia. When the last
Arctic expedition was fitted out Mr. Pim joined the Reso-
lute, and had the good fortune to find Capt. M'Clure's
party, thus becoming the link which connected the eastern
with the western discoveries. Such were the men who now
presented a plan for a renewed search for traces of the fate
of Sir J. Franklin and his party. Therefore, if there were
no other means of judging the merits of that plan than
from their antecedents, it woul i still be entitled to re-
spectful consideration.
Lieut. BROWN thought that the great error in all the
searching expeditions arose from not paying a due regard
to Franklin's instructions. By those instructions they
would find that he was positively directed to proceed to
Lancaster Sound, and then to the south-west. At that time
the whole of Barrow's Strait was left as it was in 1819, and
Victoria Land itself was supposed to be sea. Franklin en-
deavoured to carry out his instructions, and consequently
had reached Beechey Island. He probably next endeavoured
to make Cape Walker, andit was upon that point that the
great diversity of opinion had arisen. It was supposed that
because he could not make Cape Walker, he would go up
Wellington Channel. He would never have left Beechey
Island without leaving some record of where he was bound.
He (Mr. Brown) did not think that Sir John ever went to
the north of Barrow's Strait, but that, being unable to reach
Cape Walker, he had endeavoured to get to the west of it by
taking the line of the ice, had got entangled in it, and had
been unable to retrace his steps. He thought that Frank
lin, having abandoned his ships, went across the ice to
King William and Montreal Islands ; and there never was
a greater fallacy than to suppose that he went to Welling-
ton Channel, though it was not impossible that some of
his men might have gone there. It was quite possible, in
his opinion, that some of them might still be living among
the Esquimaux. An expedition going through Lancaster
Sound, which was open to the whalers five seasons out of
ten, would probably clear up the whole question.
Dr. KING observed, in reply to a question, that there was
not the slightest fear of the safety of a land party sledging.
There were ample means of forming caches, and the lakes
afforded so abundant a supply of fish that two fishermen
would be quite able to lay in a store for 150 men ; and as
the fish froze almost immediately they came out of the
water, they would keep for years. Then, again, a couple
of Indian hunters would supply all the game they required.
It was his opinion, therefore, that as little incumbrance
should be taken as possible, which was also the idea of the
late ,Sir J. Ross.
Mr. • M'Colimrcii said he only wanted to show the advan-
tage o f having a ship to fall back upon.
Dr. KING then proceeded to notice the various points
raised .in the discussion in detail, observing that he had
very falint hopes of finding any of the survivors of the ill-
fated ex pedition ; but there could be little doubt that such
records `would be obtained as would set the question at rest
for ever, 'collie, if there was the remotest chance of rescuing
any of our co untrymen, it was our bounden duty to do as.
Some further discussion ensued, and a resolution approv
in of the projected expedition was agreed to.
A vote of thanks was then passed to the chairman, and
the proNcedingetepuirosted. •

EAST INDIA COMPANY'S MILITARY COLLEGE,

A. DDISCOMBE.

Yesterday the half-yearly examination of the gentlemen
cadets of the East India Company took place at the college
at Addiscombe, near Croydon, and the attendance of visi-
tors was unusually numerous for this season of the year.
The chairman (Col. Sykes, F.R.S.), the deputy chairman
(R. D. Mangles, Esq., M.P.), and a large body of directors,
arrived at the college shortly before eleven.
The chairman took his seat at eleven o'clock, supported
by the members of the deputation; when the cadets were
examined by Sir Fred. Smith, the public examiner, as to
their proficiency in their various studies of mathematics,
fortification, &c., and their answers to difficult questions
elicited great approbation. The examinations as to Hin-
dustani, drawing, French, and Latin had taken place pre-
viously by the public examiners, in the presence of the
different professors, and the prizes awarded.
There were 36 cadets brought forward. Of this number
three were reported by the public examiner (Major-Gen.
Sir F. Smith, K.H.) to be qualified for the engineers, viz.:
--J. Herschel, R. C. Daubuz, and H. Macaween. Eleven
were reserved for further examination for the Engineers,
viz. :—I. P. Westmorland, A. C. Padday, T. F. Dowden,
0. B. C. St. John, A. Le Messurier, D. H. Trail, A. H.
Bagge, W. Coningham, W. Merriman, F. Robertson, and
J. Moxon aegrotat. Thirteen were reported qualified for
the Artillery, viz. T. Hume, T. H. Moore, 3. N.
Martin, T. Ryan, A. Wynch, G. M. W. Sotheby, J. H.
Knox, F. W. Burney, W. O'Brien, A. Walker, H. Girar-
dot, W. J. Cottam, and A. D. Butter.• Nine for the In-
fantry, viz. :—H. A. &taw, H. L. Marsh, C. F. James,
G. Dukinfield, A. Younghusband, A. Shaw, E. W. Shaw,
H. B. Edwards, E. Raikes, and David Graham.
After the report of the public examiner and inspector of
studies had been read by Mr. G. Cochrane, of the cadet
department, the following distribution of prizes took
place :