The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-04 00:00:00

OCTOBEIt 4, tti3

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING CHRONICLE.
Hudson's Bay House, Oct. 2, 1851.
beg to, hand you for publication in your
withly-circulated journal a copy of a dispatch received
at the Iludson'3 Bay House, from Rear-Admiral Sir
John Ross, announcin
to g the safe return, and regret
add, the unsuccestful result, of the expedition under
his command.
The public are aware that Sir John Ross,on offered
re
his departure on his perilous voyage, not 13,
his gratuitous services in the cause of humanity, but
also bound himself—rather than that the proposed un-
dertaking should fail through want of funds--to de-
fray out of his private resources any expense that
should be incurred beyond the amount of the sub-
scription raised for the equipment of the expedition.
The total amount of the subscription is 3,0631.
14s. 2d., and the expenses amount to 4,3631. 193. 7d.,
leaving a balance of 1,3001. ss. sd. to be provided
for. To meet this there is only the schooner Felix,
and even should that vessel be sold to advantage,
there will still be considerable deficiency to
be made good by Sir John Ross. But I
feel confident that a British public, ever ready to ap-
preciate acts of daring intrepedity and generous devo-
tedness, will not allow a veteran officer who has acted
so noble a part in a sacred cause to add a pecuniary
sacrifice to his arduous personal services. In this
confidence, I beg to state that subscriptions will con-
tinue to be received at the different banking houses in
London, by the collectors of Customs throughout the
kingdom, and by the secretary of the Hudson's Bay
Company, until the end of the present month, by
which time it is hoped a sufficient sum will have been
received both to meet all claims and to present Sir
John Ross with some token of the public approbation.
Allow me to add that a statement of account and
a list of the subscribers, names will be published, a
copy of which will be sent to each subscriber.
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
J. li. TELLY.

"Felix Discovery Vessel, Stranraer, Sept. 25, 1851.
" Sir—ln reference to an extract of my dispatch of
the 29th July, 1851, sent by Captain Austin, I have
to acquaint you that, after leaving our winter quarters
at Cornwallis Island on the 12th August, we parted
company with the vessels under Capt. Austin, and
those in charge of Capt. Penny off the Wellington
Channel on the following day ; and, after having made
a further search at Beechey Island, we proceeded with-
out much obstruction to the eastward, and having made
the land in lat. 76 deg. N., we used every effort be-
tween the 15th and 25th of August to close with the
coast, but were prevented by impenetrable ice, ex-
tending from the east land to seaward, twenty
miles
between the lat. of 75 deg. and 77 N. It was evident,
that by getting round this immense body of ice, either
by the northward or southward, even if it were pos-
sible, we must be obliged to spend another winter in
order to make the proposed examination, and for
which we had not provisions, being originally vic-
tualled for only eighteen months. I was therefore
under the necessity of bearing up for Godhaven (Lie-
foly) in Disco, still in hopes of obtaining a supply of
provisions, from what the commander of the North
Star was directed by the Admiralty to land there, and
which would enable me probably to obtain a position
north of Wolstenholme Sound, from whence I should,
during the ensuing spring, have set the question at
rest. But here I regret to say I was disappointed ;
I arrived at Godhaven on the 30th of August, in
company with the Danish Government brig foal-
fisken, which I fell in with on the 29th, and to my
mortification I found that Mr. Saunders, the master-
commander of the North Star, had not, according to
his orders, been to Godhaven to land any provisions ;
and although the manager and magistrate at Godhaven in
the absence of the governor, most readily supplied us
with the refreshment so necessary for the health of
my craw, he could not spare us provisions for another
season ; and being obliged to deter my intention of
examining the coast between Whale Sound and Mel-
ville Bay, it only remained for me to obtain the depo-
sition on oath, touching the fate of the missing ships,
of my interpreter Adam Beck, who, on the Ist of
September, was carried before the magistrate, and
being warned that if it was found by a future expedi-
tion, which would probably be sent out, that he had
sworn to what was not true, he would incur a severe
punishment. Whereupon be voluntarily made the
enclosed deposition, which he signed and swore to iu
my presence, and in that of the magistrate. I regret
that there was no person at Godhaven who could
translate this document either into Danish or Eng-
lish, although it was perfectly understood by the ma-
gistrate's lady, who is the daughter of a former go-
vernor, was born and brought up in Greenland, but
could not translate into Danish. The substance of
this document was, however, that the two missing
ships were actually wrecked on the coast north of
Cape York; that some of the crews reached the land
in a state of destitution, and perished during the
winter of 1846-7, either by cold, hunger, or by the
treachery of a hostile tribe of natives; that articles
belonging to the ships could be shown which would
prove the truth of his assertions ; and that he would
accompany any future expedition that might be sen
to ascertain the truth.

"It is true, indeed, that Petersen, the Dane, who
is interpreter on board the Lady Franklin, flatly
contradicted the report of Adam Beck ; but circum-
stances have transpired, and facts have come to light,
which have caused serious doubts on the veracity, if
not on the respectability of Petersen ; while they
have in a material degree corroborated the testimony,
of Adam Beck, and have also in a satisfactory man-
ner accounted for the boy now on board the Assis-
tance being on the side of Petersen. I am also
authorised by the resident and magistrate of Disco to
say that they firmly believe that what Adam Beck
has deposed is true, as he was born in Greenland,
was brought up a Christian, can both read and write,
is well informed in the nature of an oath and its con-
sequences, and that under such circumstances the
natives have never been known to swear falsely.
"And having myself taken everything into con-
sideration, I am clearly of opinion that the missing
ships under the command of Sir John Franklin,
having remained at their winter quarters, Beechey
Island, until September, 1846, and seeing there
could be no possibility of advancing further during
that season (after which they would only have one
year's provisions), that they had on their attempt to
return home round the north end of the pack, been
wrecked on the east coast of Baffin's Bay ; and in
short, that the report of Adam Beak is in every re-
spect true. _

" Adam Beck was discharged on the 30th o:
August, on our arrival at Godhaven.

"Inclosure No. 1 contains his deposition on oath,
written in the Esquimaux language. Inclosure No.
2 is his account current ; copies of his bills in liqui-
dation of his wages, and supplies to the ship.
" Truly thankful for the blessings of health and
strength, by which, through the blessings of Divine
Providence, we have been enabled to perform the
arduous duty we undertook, it is with feelings of un-
qualified satisfaction I have to inform you that the
Felix, not having met with the slightest damage, has
safely arrivedwheroeletherisewd:ya,swvithlloasut
inthyeseloifs,sionf,
perfect
health.
and with the h
health.

I have the honour to be, with truth and regard,
Sir, your most obedient humble servant,
(Signed) " JOHN Ross, Rear-Admiral.
" Archibald Barclay, Esq., Secretary to the
Hudson's Bay Company."

Extract of Admiral Sir John Ross's letter of the
29th July, 1851
It is my intention, ¶'f possible, to make a tho-
rough inquiry into the truth of Adam Beck's report
of the ship's having been wrecked in the space between
Whale Sound and Cape York. This, indeed, may
detain me another winter, and with 16 men I am not
very able to cope with a numerous tribe of hostile
savages, but I must and will try.
" I have, sir, to intreat you to offer my most grate-
ful remembrances and respectful compliments to the
governor and directors of the Hon. the Hudson's Bsy
Company, and I am with truth and regard,
" Your most obedient servant,
(Signed) JOHN Ross.
" To Archibald Barclay, Esq."

(From the Devonport Independent.)
Captain E. orn-
We have been favoured with a perusal of a letter
'rsiinsisjibpyAßssoisatdasn,cefst October, 1851,
mfroanmnehye,r
dlNalt:eijdestGy
from which we make the following extracts:—
" Captain Austin's dispatch sent by Captain Penny,
which has been published, must hue put y©u in pos-
session of our proceedings up to the period of our
leaving our winter quarters (11th of August) nor

'of September' I have the honour to state, for the
information of the Lords Commissioners of the Re-
solute, with her tender, the Pioneer, have arrived in
Yarmouth-roads, and that the Assistance with her
tender, the Intrepid, are in the Humber.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient
sex vast, " Holten° T. AUSTIN,
" Captain in charge of an Arctic Expedition.
`a To the Secretary of the Admiralty, London."

e have received for publication the following
letters, which we shall notice more fully at an early
opportunity.
In the meantime it is incumbent upon us to state,
that we are in possession of facts which throw entire
discredit upon the story which Sir John Ross has
u g.;T
nfortunately accepted, and is eued in circu-
lating. We regret that the Honourable Hud-
son's Bay Company, his natrons, should ever
eppoar to have lent the authority of their name
and countenance—we are sure unwittingly—to
the dissemination of a tale which we have reason
to believe is rejected at the Admiralty, and the re-
vival of which is calculated to bring anguish to
the hearts of many an humble individual, ignorant
of facts, and incapable of weighing conflicting evi-
dence :