The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-09 00:00:00

ARCTIC SEARCHING EXPEDITION.

Tae following letter from Captain Parker, of the
Truelove whale ship, giving an account of Captain
Austin's expedition up to the 13th of September, 1850,
has been brought by Captain Ord, of the Tyne, of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, which ship arrived at that
port on the 6th inst., from Davis Straits.
From this letter it would appear that the searching
expeditions were about to enter into winter quarters
on the southern shore of Cornwallis Island, in Barrow
Straits, and Captain Parker, of the Truelove, trans-
mits a letter from Mr. Kane, surgeon of the United
States expedition, which will be read with the deepest
interest by all concerned in Sir John Franklin's ex-
pedition.
The traces of Sir John Franklin's expedition,
which had been already reported by Captain For-
syth as having been discovered by Captain Omman-
ney and Lieutenant Bertie Cator, has been further
followed up by Captain Ommanney, Captain Penny,
and Captain De Haven, of the United States ex-
pedition, placing beyond a doubt the safety of Sir
John Franklin's ships up to this point, which was
their first winter quarters, and during their sojourn
at which there is not the slightest ground for sup-
posing that any disaster of any description had oc-
curred beyond the ordinary casualties of life among
such a number, three men having died of the two
ships' companies up to April, 1846, about which
period they would be preparing to push for ward on
the main object of the expedition.
N.B. The persons whose graves are here reported
formed part of the expedition.
Mr. M'Donald is Assistant-Surgeon of the Terror.
" Davis Strait., July 24, 1851. I

"My Lords,—May it please your L)rdships to re-
ceive at my hands the enclosed testimony, received
on the 12th of July, of the American searching ves-
sels' of the account of their voynge in search of Sir
John Franklin.

"On the 13th of September, 1850, they left all
the searching vessels at Cape Martyrs, Cornwallis Is-
land, they not being enabled to pursue any further
westward direction from that date.

" A harbour called the Assistant Harbour, dis-
covered by Captain Ommanney, three miles south of
Cape Martyrs, was the place in selection by them to
winter in. The bay ice was forming very strong at
the time, yet the Advance and Rescue were deter-
mined to proceed homewards; but unfortunately,
however, a gale sprung up and drove them up Wel-
lington Channel, 50 miles, and afterwards they were
frozen in.

" I have not yet been enabled to get farther north-
wards than the Devil's Thumb; and the time being
limited for my sojourn in that quarter, I cannot
give you any more particulars excepting that the two
American vessels and the Prince Albert were left by
us near the Duck Islands, the wind being south-
west, and blowing strong at the time.
" The American schooners have left some dis-
patches for the Admiralty at Sievely, which in due
time I hope will be received.
"At this date lam off Stolstinberg. The ice in
my voyage northwards seemed to be very light, but
I could not get through it in time. The American
captain, De Haven, told me that the winter was very
mild, and that he can give no farther particulars re-
specting Sir John Franklin than the enclosed account.
He said he was determined to go to the seat of search
again, after having wintered ; and all the documents
received from the Admiralty. and others 1 gave to him.
" I remain, my Lords,
" Your Lordships' most obedient servant,
"JOHN PARKER, Master.
" P.S. Truelove, five whales-
-75 imperial tons.
intend proceeding westward from this date."

MemOrandum from Captain Parker, of the Truelove.]

(1.)

" On the 26th of August, 1850, traces were found
to northward of Port Innis, Wellington Channel, con-
firming those previously found at Cape Riley by
Captain Ommanney. These consisted of fragments
of clothing, preserved meat tins, and scraps of papers,
one of these bearing the name of M'Donald, medical
officer of the expedition."
(2)
" On the 27th Captain-Penny's parties reported
graves. These were at once visited by Captain De
Haven, Mr. Penny, and Dr. Kane. They bore re-
spectively the names of W. Braine, R. 111., and John
Hartnell, of the Erebus, and John Torrington, of the
Terror, the date of the latest death being the 3d of
April, 1846.
"Added to these sad but unmistakable evidences
were the remains of the observatory, carpenters'
shop, and armourers' forge. Upon the hill side and
beach were fragments of wood, metal, and
clothing, with stacks of empty meat tins.
Everything indicated permanency and organization.
There can be no doubt that the cave between Cape
Riley and Beechy Island, facing Lancaster Sound,
was the first winter station of the missing vessels.
On the Ist of September the impervious ice of the
Wellington Channel underwent a complete disrup-
tion, and by the 6:h several vessels penetrated to the
Cornwallis side. Such, however, was the impenetrable
character of the pack in Lancaster Sound, that by the
10th of September the entire searching squadron
were again concentrated about eight miles south of
Griffiths Island.

" This was the furthest westing attained by the
American expedition. The latest dates from Corn.
modore Austin are of the 13th of September. They
were then in momentary expectation of making winter
quarters, and it is probable that a small harbour dis-
covered by Captain Ommanney about three miles east
of Cape Martyrs will ba the haven selected.

" Thence the American vessels, while proceeding
homeward, were frozen in opposite Wellington
Channel, drifting during the ensuing winter from a
latitude of 7525 throughout the channel a2d sound
into Baffin's Bay. Their liberation, after much ex-
posure and trial, took place on the 10th of Jane, 1851,
a point south of Cape "Walsingham 6530—a linear
drift exceeding 1,050 miles.
" The commotion of the ice with its attendant un-
certainty was their chief source of trial. Every
officer and man had marked scorbutic disease, but no
deaths have occurred. The crews are now refreshed,
and the expedition is endeavouring to regain the seat
of search.—l have, &c.,
" E. K. KANE, Surgeon to the Expedition."

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.
Gross traffic receipts for passengers
and goods, week ending Sept. 6,
1831 £20,697 4 4
Ditto, Sept. 7, 1850 ... ... 17,196 10 9

Increase in 1851 ... ... £3,500 13 7
London Terminus, Sept. 8, 1851.

EARL DE GREY.—We understand that this re-
spected nobleman has given notice to his numerous tenants
at Harrold, Carlton, &c., with a view to the entire re-adjust-
ment of rent, adapted to present circumstance.
Town still remains without the principal members
of the Government—the sole representatives of the Ministry
in the vicinity of the metropolis being Lord Palmerston and
the Lord ChancOlor. Lord John Russell is at Drumoor with
Mr. Fox Maule ; the Marquis of Lansdowne at Malvern ;
Earl Grey at Howick Hall; Sir George Grey on a cruise to
the coast of Norway; Mr. Labouch. ere in Spam; the Mar-
quis of Clanricarde in Germany;l Sir Francis Baring also in
(Germany; Lord Broughton i . n
Charles Wood at Hickleton
Hall, Doncaster. The greater number of the minor mem-
bers of the Government are also away, Admiral Dundas being
at Coblentz ; Lord Seymour in Devonshire; Mr. Hawes at
Torquay; Lord Stanley of Alderley, in Cheshire.
We understand that the Earl of Clare has been
appointed to the Lieutenancy of Limerick, Tacant by the
death of the late Earl.