The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-29 00:00:00

ANOTHER ARCTIC VOYAGE.

. I
Lieut. Bedford Pim, R.N., in a communication to the,
Timm, says :
"In your columns of the 27th inst. I observe a lead.;
ing article severely animadverting upon my prcipoi3ition
at the Royal Geographical Society for a further search to,
ascertain the fate of the expedition under commandi of
Sir John Franklin. - -
" Although throughout that article a decided prejudice ,
against another effort is most apparent, it is to belioned
there is sufficient impartiality in the limes to al ow
space for a few words of an opposite tendency.
"In the first place, you say 'just the same kind pt
thing was said or written years ago.' I answer, Most
advisedly, that you are in error on that point.
"Secondly, you make the unqualified assertion that
'Franklin and his unfortunate companions are dead long
since.' I reply, prove this and it ends the question.
"Thirdly, and lastly, the results of ow efforts in the
Polar Sea have not terminated in complete disappoint-
ment. On the contrary, the problem of centuries is
solved, many thousand miles of coast delineated on our
charts, and a band of sailors brought forward unequalled
for mental as well as physical resources.
"Now, sir, I beg to state a few reasons why the search
ought to be continued.
Firstly, there is conclusive evidence of the precise
locality where the missing ships have been stopped.
Secondly, the most experienced officers stake their
reputation on the facility with which they can be
reached.

Thirdly, the space to be searched is so circumscribed
that the work can be accomplished in one season by a
comprehensive scheme of search intrusted to volunteers
from among those young but experienced commanders
already proved in the icy regions.
Fourthly, there is ground for hope that some still
survive.

Fifthly, it is not characteristic of Englishmen to leave
anything unfinished, especially when there is reason to
expect a successful issue ; and,
Lastly, can we allow our children to read in the his
tory of their country that two ships, with 13S public
servants, were lost in the Polar regions ; that for six
years the most untiring efforts were made to find them ;
that by the merest accident conclusive evidence of their
whereabout was at last obtained, and then, and not till
then, all further effort was abandoned ?
You may be "really sick" of the subject, and pro-
nounce " the scheme frantic," but by doing so you incur
heavy responsibility, inasmuch as you diminish the con-
fidence of future navigators in that humane considera-
tion and thoughtful care of their countrymen at home
which at present upholds them in moments of direst
peril.
As regards the latter part of your article, " If the
scientific gentlemen wish for another expedition, let them
man the ships in their own proper persons, and prove
that they do not shrink from the perils to which they
would expose others," I have merely to remark that no
lack of volunteers has ever been experienced, whether
scientific or otherwise, as evidenced especially in my
Siberian expedition, on which occasion, hazardous in the
extreme as it was pronounced to be, upwards of 100
private gentlemen, many of high sceintific attainments,
applied to share its perils, and I do not hesitate to say
that this country will produce, whenever called upon, a
host of volunteers anxious to devote themselves to so
noble a cause.