The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-11 00:00:00

SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.

AUTOGRAPH LETTER OF THE EMPRESS
EUGENIE.

M. de la Roquette, one of the distinguished men
whose exact, yet elegant, erudition throws such a charm
over the scientific literature of France, has forwarded to
us a paper which he has drawn up for insertion in the
proceedings of the Geographical Society of that country,
of which, as of many other learned bodies, he is a
member. This paper is a biographical notice of our
Arctic hero, the lamented Franklin. The author sketches
in clear and forcible language the circumstances of
Franklin's parentage, birth, and boyliciai—his love of
the sea,_ his deeds at Copenhagen and ,Trafalgar, and
the romantic narrative of his adventures in the frozen
seas. The biographer duly tells us of Sir John's gover-
norship of New Zealand, and then all that is known •f
his last voyage. Tne lithograph is brought into requi-
sition to give Arc similes of Franklin's letters ; ckarts of
his discoveries are appended, and, in a word, with ac-
counts of the searches that have been made for the lost
navigator, the tale is complete, and M. de la Roquette
has faithfully and ably discharged his mission.
As might be expected, the name of Lady Franklin
often appears in connection with the noble and energetic
attempts she made for the rescue of her husband. Not
the least intere-ting document in relation to these exer•
lions of Lady Franklin is a letter which the Empre!s
Eugdnie shortly after her marriage addressed to her, and
which is now published for the first time. Indeed, we
believe that this is the first private letter of the Empress
that has ever st en the light. The following is the passage
which M. de la Roquette has been permitted to quote
"It is, above all, as a woman and a wife, that I should
with pleasure see France associated with England in
those generous expeditions, the first object of which is
to rescue a man whose private virtues are surely equal ,1
to his talent, al d his courage, since he has inspired in 1
you such an adiairable devotion.

" Ultimately I hope that Heaven will grant you the
success that your conjugal affection merits ; and then,
Madam, there will per,on who will most sincerely
participate in the joy of the wife of Capt. Fraliklia_
the wife of the Emperor Napoleon." •
The amiable and womanly simplicity of these words
will prove very acceptable to all who admire the good-
ness of the Empress, and who cherish the memory of
Franklin. That, indeed, will be ever graven in the
hearts of his countrymen as long as naval daring, scien-

tific enterprise, ad love of duty are the honoured
virtues of the Britiidi sailor. Of our Arctic hero La-
martine has welt said—

" Dans la lutte d'un hornme avec un element,
L'ocean triompha, antis fut son monument."

THE LATE COLLMIONS ON TBE LONDOA
AND NORTH-WESTERN _RAIL WA Y.

GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION.

In consequence of the two recent fearful occurrences
on the London and North-Western Railway the Board
of Trade have issued an order for two official inquiries
to be held; that into the disaster at Wolverton, to be
conducted by Lieutenant-Colonel Tolland, R.E. ; and
that at King's Langley, by Lieutenant• Colonel Wynne,
R.E. The proceedings, it is expected, will be conducted
privately—even the representatives of the prerS being
shut out; for it seems that the Board of Trade have no
legal right to make any inquiry into railway accident?,
and the inspectors, therefore, merely perform their dutifs
under the sufferance of the company, who, no doubt—a.
in their own inquiries before the directors—will keep
the courts closed. Should such a proceeding be enforced,
the public will, of course, want to know the utility of
such inquiries, as the result can only be known to a few
interested individuals, and consequently no good corns
by them. The whole of the injured passengers in
the recent serious collision, incioding Lord and Lady
Byron, are progressing as favourably as could be ex-
pected.