The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-27 00:00:00

ROYAL-GtEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

PLAN OF LIEUT. PIM, R.N., FOR A RENEWED SEARCH
FOE FEE SURVIVORS OF THE FRANKLIN EXPEDITION.
A meeting of the Royal Geographical Society was held
last night at No. 15, Whitehall-place, at which a con-
siderable number of ladies and gentlemen attended. Sir
Murchison presided, and the company included
Major-General Sir George Pollock, Lieut. Montagu
Cep Dr. Barth, the explorer of Africa, Dr. Rae,
C7.ptain Maguire, the Bishop of RuPert's-land, Dr.
!Sing, Dr. Fogel, Mr. Anderson, Dr. Armstrong, Lient.
Cheyne, Mr. Hayes, Major-General Fox, Mr. Cyrus
Field, &c., &c.
After some preliminary business was disposed of,
Lieutenant Pim, R.N., read the following paper :
I believe the sympathy of every member of this society
is with me on the subject which I am now about to in-
troduce, viz., the fate of Sir John Franklin and his
brave companions, I therefore hope I shall find it an
easy task to induce you to take a warm interest in a
further effort to elucidate the mystery of their disappear-
ance. A decisive clue has been obtained, and I think I
can show that it is not at all improbable some of the
unfortunates so long cut off from their home and friends
may still be alive and anxiously awaiting that succour
which will restore them once more in safety to their
country. The fate of Franklin remained as much in the
dark as ever, when, by the merest accident, a clue was
obtained, which once more encouraged the hope's that
some at least of the party might he' saved. The relics
now lodged in Greenwich Hospital afford the clue I
allude to. They were purchased from the E quimaux
by Dr. Rae during his survey of part of Boothia ; that
this discovery was unexpected is proved by his own
words—" I do not mention the lost navigators, as there
is not the slightest hope of finding any of them in the
quarter to which I am going." The clue having at
length been found, it was naturally supposed the mys-
tery would now be solved ; this important duty was in-
trusted to the Hudson's lay Company, but their at-
tempt to follow it up proved, from various causes, a
failure. By the time the scene of operation was reached,
it was necessary to return. There was no interpreter,
and in short all that was effected was the discovery of
additional relics of such a description as to lead any one,
versed in arctic affairs, to infer that the ships could not
be far distant. Not the smallest vestige of human re-
mains was found, and there is not a particle of evidence
to prove the death of even one man belonging to Frank-
lin's ships since they sailed from Beechy Island. The
case now stands thus : undoubted relics of the Franklin
expedition have been found, and from them an inference
is drawn which points to a certain locality as the posi-
tion of the missing ships ; that locality, I think every
one agrees, is Sing William Land. Thus research is li-
mited to a comparatively small extent of country, and as
the settlements of the Esquiniax must have been reached
by Franklin's men as evidenced by their possession of
the relics, it is more than probable some of the party
may yet be living domesticated among these tribes.
With such a certain indication to guide us, is it not
more than strange that our efforts in the search have
slackened, in fact, I grieve to say, ceased altogether ?
This naturally brings me to the plan of search I am
anxious to propose to this society. The scheme is a
comprehensive one, and cannot, I think, fail of success.
(Hear.) A small screw vessel, with a complement of
twenty men, to penetrate as far down Peel Sound as
possible, take up winter quarters, and, assisted by teams
of dogs purchased at Disco or Uppernaick, extend the
search doWn both shores of the Sound. Another vessel,
similarly equipped, to push through Behring Straits, and
winter at King William Land, whilst an overland party
descend the Great Fish River, with orders to make for
a certain rendezvous, previously arranged. Thus a com-
prehensive scheme of search would be organised, which
could hardly fail of success ; for it will at once be seen
that the very winds and currents which prove an ob-
stacle to the advance of one party will have precisely the
opposite effect upon the other, and thus insure that at
least one vessel will reach her destination. You will see
that I lay great stress upon the smallness of the ships
and the use of dogs for travelling purposes. My experi-
ence proves the superiority of small vessels, with limited
crews, over large ships and corresponding companies.
~
me
;w44Eill doubt, that had Sir John Franklin copinNalgi.
4Vs"Road f 00, L.- uavo penro
icy prison like Sir John Ross ? The smaller number
would enjoy abundance, while the larger were perishing
of hunger. As regards the use of dogs, their superiority
for sledging purposes over men has been abundantly
proved. If only one man is taken ill on a journey, the
increased ratio of labour on his comrades is such as seri-
ously to impede progress, it becoming necessary to place
him on the sledge. If two men are overtaken by illness
the object of the journey must be given up and a speedy
return to head quarters becomes imperative, whereas
with dogs, the failure of 1,2, or 3 does not in any
way entail additional labour on the others, as
the sick ones follow the sledge until recovered,
and if very ill and useless can be dispensed with
altogether ; moreover, frost is the most dreaded
enemy of the men, whilst dogs are exposed to the
severest inclemency of the winter with impunity.
In addition, I may remark, that the average daily jour-
ney with men is about ten miles, with dogs more than
double. I will now say a few words on the relative ad-
vantages of the eastern and western routes as, in the
event of the whole scheme not being adopted it may be
desirable to have some idea which of the two is the safest
best known, and above all most certain road by which
we can arrive at that most interesting locality, King
William Land. I must request your attention to the
map. King William Land is situated at the mouth of
Great Fish River, and I would particularly draw your
attention to its proximity to the magnetic pole as most
interesting and attractive to all arctic navigators : also,
to the fact that a number of Esquimaux inhabit its vi-
cinity, who, beyond a doubt, are the depositories of that
secret, to obtain possession of which 83 many gallant
efforts have been made, and so many hundreds ot thou-
sands of pounds have been expended. Having thus
pointed out the field of search, I will first describe the
eastern route to it, viz. that by way of Lanca,ter Sound.
The passage through Baffin's Bay is well known to be
most uncertain, and it is equally well known that the
season would be too far advanced by the arrival ot the
vessel at Peel Sound to leave time for the officers and
crew to do anything beyond putting their vessel into
winter quarters .Moreover, from a short distance within
the entrance of Peal Sound, the land is a terra incognita,
some geographers even asserting that it is a cul de sac ;
but be that as it may, all is uncertain after passing Lan-
caster Sound, and indeed it would be most disappointing
to the officer in charge of that branch of the service to
find himself compelled to winter at a great distance from
the scene of operations. His parties would be worn out
and his resources almost exhausted before even arriving
at the point where exploration would commence. Next,
as regards the Western route, viz., through Bhering
Straits, weare assured by every-navigator that, sooner or
later, each year, the northern shores of the American
continent can be coasted by ships. I understand that
by the untiring efforts of our late President, Sir R. Mur-
chison, and others, the Government has been induced to
take into consideration the despatcli of another expedi-
tion. I sincerely hope that it may be determined upon ;
but I am assured that even if this prove to be the case
the ship or ships will be sent only by the Eastern route,
namely, Barrow Straits. Having myself entered the
Polar Sea by both routes, I cannot be supposed to be
prejudiced in favour of either ; but as each expedition by
the latter route, Baffin's Bay, has invariably met with
serious obstacles to. an advance to the westward, we
cannot hope that this one will be more fortunate than
its predecessors; then, indeed, most bitter would be the
disappointment at the failure of this final Government
effort from causes so clearly foreseen. This society, the
leading one beyond doubt in,_a great maritime nation
like. England, has, from first to last; taken the deepest
interest in the fate of the Erebus and Terror, and it
would indeed be ajust recompense) if the glory of solving
the vexed question fell to its lot. With this end in view,
I now urge upon its Members, impressed as they must
be with the dire necessity of the case, to equip a small
vessel to push through Bhering Straits. In their hands
every despatch will be tised, and she would. leave Eng-
land in proper time, viz., before the end of January.
One word in conclusion. I need scarcely add that as soon
as a further effortis determined upon, plenty of volunteers
will be found anxious to devote themselves to so noble a
service. To those who cry out about the risk of life, I
would simply state that Captain Collinson's able and in-
teresting journals fully prove the northern coast of America
via Bhering Straits, to be far more healthy than insny
stations; say coast of Africa, Chins, Vest Incite-,
where our sailors are always serving. Time
presses now, but should I have a future opportunity
of entering fully into details, I shall bo happy to do so,
and illustrate practically to this society a scheme by
which I feel confident the willing guidance of the natives
may be secured. (Applause.)
The paper was received with applause, and an interest-
ing discussion ensued, and the Bishop of Rupert's-land
expressed a hope that, if the government would sanction
another expedition, they would endeavour to do some
g--iod to the Esquimaux in a religious point of view.
TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ENGLAND AND
AMERICA.
Mr. CYRUS FIELD, at the suggestion of the Chairman,
begged to present to the meeting the profile of the At-
lantic between Newfoundland and Valentia Bay, Ireland.
(A laugh.) He pointed out on a map the plateau at the
bottom of the ocean on which it is proposed to lay the
cable containing the electric wires. On the 4th July,
1776, the Americans had declared themselves indepen.
dent of Great Britain, and on the 4th July, 1857, he
hpped they would be united with her. (Laughter.)
The meeting acjourned to Monday, the Bth December,