The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-30 00:00:00

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PRICE 4D. STAMPED, SD.

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION,

LETTE

FROM CAPTAIN MTLINTOCK.

The following letter from Capt. M'Cliatoek, R.N., com-
manding Lady Franklin's screw yacht the Fox, contains
some further interesting particulars of his voyage in Baffin's
Bay :

Arctic Yacht For, Holsteinborg,
April -28 to May 6, 1858.

" My dear Barraw.—Never was there a more beggarly
account of empty boxes. Our proceedings-,-are a blank. It
is not our faults you will readily believe, Out ice is as capri-
cious as it is stubborn, and so we have found it. Melville
Bay appeared to ine to be prceiselyin,the same state that we
found it in 1848, at the same date (15th Almost). But last
year the southerly winds blew so constantly that the ice be-
came more and more close as the season advanced. But one
opportunity offered, and, of course, I availed myself of it
by attempting to reach the north water. We thought we
were safe ; the water sky ahead was not far distant, but our
enemy astern—the south-east wind—came on too rapidly,
closed up the ice, and left us helplessly beset on the 18th of
August ! For nearly a month hope and fear alternated as
we drifted slowly across Melville Bay, as the Norib Star did
before us; but a severe September gummed us up and left
us, chafing with disappointment, a legacy to the pack. From
the near neighbourhood of Cape York, which was last seen
bearing north-east in October, we drifted down past Dett-
aver', and finally made our exit from the pack in let. 63 deg.
35 min. N., and long. 58 deg. 25 min. W.
" What :a happy release, you will say ; and truly so it was.
Thank God, we have suffered neater sickness nor hardship;
no ice movement disturbed us during the winter, although
often near enonegh to excite feelings of gratitude for our pre-
servation. We have lost one valuable man by an accident.
He fell down iti hatchway and died of the injuries received.
We have not had a single case of Moms on board mere
serious than a cold or headache since leaving England. My
crew are all that I could desire ; their zeal and cheerfulness
are beyond all praise. 1 have sent for Lady Franklin a brie
statement of our proceedings; how sincerAy I sympathise
with her is more than I can expreis. HoWever, lam not
without hope that the loss of a year is the work feature in
the case. If it pleases God to permit us a moderate share of
success we shall turn out an efficient corps of, travellers
this autumn. We are now up to all the dodge* we can
build our snow huts quite as quickly as even Rae's 'people,
basing frequently done so during the winter in less than
half-an-hour! Our provisions are excellent, and ample for
another winter, and should we be forced to spend an addi-
tional one (that is, a third winter), we have enough of most
things of our own, and shall take care to provide ourselves
at Beechy Island with what we may require. My plans are
unaltered, except that I shall probably have more time, and
will endeavour to get at the bottom of all the Pond's Bay
reports. Peterson' is admirable; most faithful, intelligent,
and experienced. I hope to obtain through him most valu-
able information.

" I desire no change in any of my companions, nor do I
think any change could be for the better. For myself, I
feel no regret at this failure which can at all be named with
that which I feel for poor Lady Franklin and all our kind
friends at home, including yourself, my dear friend. The
disappointment is too g reat for such minor consideration.
Next to the painful suspense of another year, I dread the
unavoidable expense of wages the provisions, clothing,
&c., have already been paid for—but I dare not allude to
this to Lady Franklin. My hope is that we may finally be
rewarded with such a measure of success that the Govern-
ment will relieve her of the cost.

" I wish you could have seen, from a balloon, our escape
from the grip of the ice ; I never saw a finer sight ! Closely
packed heavy ice tossed about by a tremendous sea. Our
bow is an acute ironshod wedge, and impelled by steam we
slowly advanced, in spite of the most fearful buffetings. Not
wishing to pile up the agony,' I have said as little as I
could about it; but in all my experience I have never wit-
nessed anything approaching to it. In a day or two I shall
start for Lievely, the coal mine, and the further north. 1
have asked Lady F. to write to me to Lievely next spring,
as I hope to touch there on my return in September, 1839.
Perhaps you will kindly write also. Excuse the brevity of
this scribble, but between writing to the Admiralty and to
many friends my time is occupied and wits jumble up into a
conglomeration.—Ever most sincerely_ yours,

"F. L. 11ITLINTocK."
' Mr. Peterson was iceranster with Capt. Penny and with Dr.
Kane.

TILE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.

• We have been favoured with the following account
of the landing of the Telegraph Cable in Newfound-

land :

The American Governm:at having requested the Admi-
ralty to furnish another vessel to assist in laying down the
Atlantic Telegraph Cable, by sounding Trinity and Bull's
Arm'Bay, and to lock out for the Niagara on herapproaching
the land, to pilot her up the latter place, her Majesty's ship
Porcupine was selected for that purpose, and ordered to
leave the survey at the Hebrides on the 25th of May. She
replenished coals at Cork on the 6th of June, and proceeded
on her voyage across the Atlantic a week in advance of the

other ships.
She encountered for ten days, when nearly midway across,
the same gales which so seriously damaged the Agamemnon,
and it is a curious tact, illustrative of the rotatory character
of these summer gales, that another vessel 200 miles to the
N.E. of them had, on the same day and hour a gale of wind
from the opposite direction to the quarter they experienced

it from.
The vessel arrived at St. John's on the 88th of June, and
left the next day for Trinity, and commenced operations
with the surveying, taking the precaution to keep a look
out on the summit of Bull Island, whence they could obtain
a clear view of 40 miles to seaward for the vessels. Nearly
a month had elapsed, the survey was completed, and every
one was beginning to get anxious about them, when, on
August 4, at 3.30 p.m. the beacon fires of the lookouts gave
them warning of the approach of the long-looked-for
Niagara and Gorgon.
At 7 p.m. Captain Otter boarded the Niagara, and although
it was so late, expressed his willingness to conduct her to
the head of the bay, boats having previously been despatched
to show the position of the channel. The following was the
order in which the ships proceeded :—Porcupine, Niagara,
and Gorgon • each boat marking the channel burned a blue
light, and then hoisted a lantern, to show her position as
the vessels approached. This, with the vessels' lights, and
the fire-beacon on Bull Island having extended to some of
the trees (with which the place is entirely covered), gave to
the otherwise darkness of the night a partial illumination,
and threw the vessels out in bold relief, which, ha contrast
with the high and gloomy appearance of the chits, gave to
the whole a peculiarly grand and picturesque effect.
They arrived in the terminus-bay at 3 a.m., and soon the
rattling sound of the anchors letting go brought the clerks
and other officials, who had been long waiting anxiously for
the vessels, down on the beach to welcome their arrival.
Shortly afterwards the boats of the vessels were seen to
muster round the Niagara, with numbers of the officers on
board, and then, with the connecting link of the two con-
tinents in tow, they pulled with right good will towards the

_
shore.
On landing, the shore end was carried up through a road
only recently cut through the pritamval forest to the termi-
nus-house, a wooden building, about one-third of a mile
from the beach, which connects it with all the electric
telegraphs in North America. From this house the distance
by the telegraph line to New York is 1,080 miles, to St.

John's, 80. -
When this place was reached the great work, as far as
landing this end of the cable was concerned, may be said to
have been nearly complete, and when Mr. Field, amid the
stumps of faller trees, informed the assemblage that he was
communicating with the Agamemnon on the other side of
the Atlantic, this wonderful undertaking was consummated.
At this stage of the proceedings Captain Hudson, as
senior officer, assembled the people present, returning thanks
to the Almighty for granting such favourable weather, with-
out which it was evident to the most unreflecting that the
undertaking could not have been successful ; he then con-
cluded by thanking all the officers and
work .
men for their exer-
tions and assistance in carry out the
carrying
Friday, 6th, 11.30 a.m.—. Field conveyed the gratifying
intelligence that he was communicating direct with Valeu-
tia Bay, Ireland.
Monday, 9th.—The Niagara, the Porcupine, and the Gor-
gon went to St. John's. Great enthusiasm was shown by
the inhabitant... P
public illumination, a ball, and regatta,
were got up during the brief stay of the vessels, and all
classes on shore vied with each other in expressing their de-
light at the successful termination of this undertaking.
They left St. John's on the 11th of August, and have
carried a line of deep sea soundings across the Atlantic,
nearly on the parallel of 40.36, the deepest water, 2,621
fathoms, being found on the meridian of 17 deg. W., and it
continues nearly this depth until 13 deg. W., where it
shoals suddenly to 800 fathoms, and then decreases gradually
to 70 fathoms, in long. 10.0 W. The Porcupine arrived at
Plymouth August 27.
The cable is submerged at a depth varying from 150 to
100 fathoms (oft muddy bottom), through the centre of
Trinity Bay, and when it reaches
the commencement of
Bull's Arm Bay it decreases to 60, and continues this bot-
tom until within 21 miles of the landing-place, when it
gradually decreases, and the bottom is a mixture of mud and
sand.
The Bay of Bull's Arm, which has just been brought into
notoriety by the fact of its being selected for the terminus of
the Atlantic cable, is at the West end of Trinity Bay, and
separated from Placentia by a narrow isthmus of a mile and
a half in breadth, the distance round by sea being upwards
of 2uo.
It is ene of the many islets and sounds which abound in
Trinity Bay, and has been chosen owing to its situation
with regard to the prevailing winds, which prevent it from
being so frequently encumbered with the drifting icebergs
annually sent down by the current from the l'olar region_,.
It is situated 40 miles from the eastern promontory of the
bay (Break-heart Point), but up the bay, in the centre of
which the cable is laid, more encouraging names, and
prophetic of the success which has attended this undertaking.
are to be found, as " Heart's Desire," " Heart's Ease,"
" Heart's Content," and not far from the spot where the
cable is landed " Hope All Bay."
These places were named by some of the early naviga-
tors. Cabot, Sir Walter Raleigh, Hudson, and Sir Humphry
Gilbert, who was unfortunately lest, with all his crew, in
returning), all helped to explore this coast; and, more re-
cently, the celebrated circumnavigator Cook, who first com-
menced his distinguished career as a surveyor in Placentia
Bay.
Snug fishing villages, containing from 20 to 60 houses, are
now to be met with in most of these hArbours, the littlest of

N Elv S PAPER
. - •
2 C-^
which is at Tr nits, on the north sidOirtitigrtfar MO. AP
entrance. H re the magistrate and rtmVl•.,
contains a pop Teflon of 1,000 inhabi nktc: 450 re-or
engaged in fis lug.
, The people appear to be well off, aid 4re:principtgf tge
English or Iri h descent, the children still retaining=
accent of the ountries from which their folefathertorigp:
flatly etnigrat d.
Nature has so bountifully supplied the sea around then
with fish for t sir support, that they have neglected thesoll
for agricultural purposes, and are consequently dependent
on imports foci their supplies, -although it has been proved
that corn andl almost every kind of vegetable will grow
during the short-summer which they Julie juin, J.
September.
The population of the island is abOtit 90,000, nearly one.; aaT
half of whom are Roman Catbolici. There is a Roman Ca-u kot
tholic and a Protestant Bishop at St. John's and severareery ),
earnest missidnaries at the different stations on the island; •
but, as the peciple are so scattered, it is difficult with the ex-
Wing means for them all to receive spiritual instruction.
The scarcity of schools 'and schoolmasters is another great
evil. Few of 'the children, or even the grown-up people, in
the smaller villages can read or write.
, Nearer the sea coast the country is wooded, but it gets
clearer as you advance inland. Minerals are plentiful, but
not looked after, the people's attention being so entirely
taken up with fishing.
A most valuable lead mine, yielding 8G per cent. of ore,
lies recently been worked ..by an American on some land
'ceded to Vie Neufiundland Telegraph Company by the
Celenial Government. • It is about ten miles trom the
Atlantic terminus, and, extraordinary to relate, the exist-
ence of the ore had been known for some time, but from
want of capital and enterprise it remained entirely
neglected un,il its value was appreciated by its present pro-
prietor, who -will in a few years realise a molt handsome
revenue ftom it.

Nothing of the interior is known, except from Indian
report and the journey of Mr. Cormaek across the island
from Trinity to George's Bay in 1822, he being the only white
man who has penetrated the interior-. It presents, therefore,
a flue unexplored field for the naturalist or geologist.

THE NEW GRAVING DOCK AT LEITH.

The rapid extension of the dock and pier accommodation
of the harboun of Leith during the last ten years has beet:
accompanied by a steady and progressive increase in the
trade of the port, *bleb has been felt not only to justify
the construction of the works already formed, but to render
further additions and improvements absolutely necessary.
The principal recent improvements consist of a considerable
extension of the old or eastern pier, the construction of the
western pier or low-water landing slip, and of the spacious
Victoria Dock, with an entrance GO feet wide, and the
deepening of the entrance channel to the harbour and docks.
The Victoria floating dock, which was flniehed in thel*On-
ning of 1851, gives excellent accommodation to the larger . •
class of vessels, to which the chief trade of the port has for
a number of years been gradually changing; but the five
dry or graving docks already existing, though well -enough
adapted for repairing second or third class vessels, are quite
unsuitable for laying up large steamers or first-class mer-
chantmen ; while the want of a commodious building slip
for large ships has also been felt for some years. In
March, 1854, tile. Leith Dock Commissioners addressed a
memorial to the Treasiiry; explaining the state of the works
under their elnirge; and pointed out the great importance
of having a graving-dock and building-yard constructed
without delay. The memorial was accompanied by plans
of the new works—proposed to be placed at the west side
of the Victoria Dock—by Mr. Rendel, the engineer ap-
pointed by the Treasury, in which the estimated cost was
put down at £30,000. These plans were sanctioned by the
Treasury; but having, pefore operations were commenced,
been exhibited in Edinburgh and Leith, a great many
alterations and improvements were suggested, to carry out
which it was found necessary to construct new plans for a
dock upon a larger scale and on a different site. The new
plans, which include a building-yard and two patent slips,
were also drawn up by Mr. Rendel, and after being ap-
proved by the Commhsioners, were submitted to the Lords
of the Treasury in May, 1856. After a good deal of corres-
pondence, and the receipt of a favourable report from two
commissioners appointed by the Treasury to inquire into the
general condition and prospects of the port, &c., the plans
were finally sanctioned by their lordships on the Bth of
March last. According to these plans, the new graving dock
will be situated on the east sands, at the outer side of the
old pier, end will have its entrance immediately from the
harbour, adjacent to the old or first lighthouse on the pier.
The length of its floor, which will run nearly in a north and
south direction, will be 300 feet; its extreme width at the
top or coping level will be 80 feet, and the top width at the
entrance 72 feet. The level of the floor will be eight feet
below the erdinary low water of spring tides, and the en-
trance sill will be five feet below the same level. These
dimensions will enable the dock to take in at one time,
with the utmost convenience, two of the largest steamers
that come to Leith, or to accommoda'e any of her Majesty's
war frigates requiring repairs. In order to avoid the risk
a:tending the dry docking of vessels in a tideway, from the
tide falling faster than they could be shored, the entrance
is to be stopped by an iron " caisson" or lock, by which
the tide may he retained or excluded at pleasure, and by
means of which the dock may also be made available as a
fitting basin. The caisson will also form a bridge over the
entrance to the dock. The building-yard, which is to lie
on the south of the new dock, will have a frontage to the
harbour channel of 350 feet, and a length east and west of
about 600 feet, affording sufficient frontage for a large and
small building slip, and ample room for timber depots,
The estimated expense of completing the whole works, al;
given in by Mr. Rendel, was £44,000. The contract has
been entrusted to Mr. Wilson, of Granton, at a figure some-
what less than the above estimate, and he has undertaken
to have the works completed by the close of 1859-18 months
from this time. Operations were commenced by Mr.
Wilson a few days ago. The area of the new dock has been
staked out, and a beginning has been made in opening the
south portion of the old pier, where the entrance will be
situated. A massive bulwark, to keep back the water during
the progress of the work, will be immediately extended
from the old lighthouse to- the present timber slip. An-
pther work of some importance to the trade of the
port hair-a-so been commenced by Mr. Wilson, =ltaly-, the
erection of a 20-ton steam-crane, on the centre of the west
quay of the Victoria Dock. This crane is intended chiefly
to facilitate the shipment of coals, for which there was for-
merly no accommodation at all, the shipping being effected
in a very primitive manner by means of baskets or sculls.
The crane, with the necessary machinery and erections, will
cost aboue£2,ooo. It has been manufactured by Messrs.
Glen and Ross, engineers, Glasgow; and is expected to be
fitted up, and ready for working in a month. The funds
for carrying out these operations, it may be as well
to state, are wholly supplied by the Leith Dock Com-
missioners—the Treasury merely sanctioning the works and
approving the plans. Eight years ago the Commissioners
expended about £75,000 on the construction of the Victoria
Basin and West Pier, which sum they were authorised by
Act of Parliament to borrow from the Edinburgh banks.
Besides paying the interest on this money, and meeting all
other demands, out of their ordinary revenue, the commis-
sioners have in bank at the present time about £30,000;
and as their surplus revenue averages upwards of £lO,OOO
a-year, ft is anticipated that on the completion of the new
works, at the end of eighteen months, this sum will be raised
to £45,000, by which the whole expense of these operations
will be at once met, while a new and decided impetus can-
not fail to be given to the trade of the port of Leith.—Edin-
burgh Courant.

LIFE INSURANCE CONVERSAZIONE.—OR the invi-
tation of Mr. Coatsworth, of Savile-street, lately appointed
agent fir the National Alliance Assurance Company, a
number of the members and several gentlemen interested in
the business of life assurance assembled at the Royal Sta-
tion Hotel, on Monday evening, the .2(1 inst., to meet Mr.
Robertson, the author of " Indisputability as applied to Life
Policies," and who, as Manager of the National Alliance
Company, had introduced the plan of giving unlimited
leave of travel and residence, or whole world licence, as It
is called, so as to render a life assurance policy a complete
and negotiable security, altogether uncliallengeable, and
not to he defeated by anything-which either the office or tie
insured life could do to invalidate it. The meeting was partly
of a conversational kind, and in answer to several questions
Mr. Robertson satisfactorily explained the present state and
ehaer
ng;
sesatt
pointedsuccess
op
fr ots
hp
ee c teso, an tpnal
company
.e s t
Heo ptehreant! nwg
gusree
by analysing the clauses of an or-
dinarysa to fc
clearness,
out the difference between an ordinary and an indisputable
wand showing the effect of the conditions
hole world olicy,
policy, p, and
and exceptions they contain,. he. proved to the satisfaction
of his bearers that until a claim had arisen and been ad-
mitted by the company who granted an ordinary policy, no
one, not even the company who granted the policy, could
affirm with confidence whether the policy was good or
worthless. Supposing life companies, like individuals, to
be governed in some degree by the powerful principle of self-
interest, they would be a little careful in their investigations
before issuing the policy, because, while receiving the
premiums, they know that the more correct the in-
formation given by the insured, his referees, and the
medical adviser, the more easily could they resist payment
of the claim when it arose. An ordinary policy is by its
terms utterly worthless, if there has been any error or mis-
statement male; whether innocently or fraudulently, either
by the insured or his referees. Whereas, in graatiag an in-
disputable policy the company take upon. themselves
both the burden and the risk of all inquiries, and
prohibit themselves from ever after questioning any state-
ment that may have been made. Mr. Robertson then showed
that unless whole world leave was granted, the holder of si
policy might find his supposed security totally defeated by
the insured life choosing to go beyond the prescribed limits.
In answer to a question by one of the members, whether it
was possible to ascertain the number of disputed claims, and
if they were very numerous, Mr. Robertson said it was quite
impossible to say ; because the very terms of the. ordinary
policy were such as prevented a claimant from going into a
court of law, although there had been no fraud, with any
chance of success, if any mistakes bad occurred. Such cases
were arranged out of court. His belief, however, was, that
the cases were few indeed in whleh life companies refused
to pay without having some suspicion of unfairness having
been practised on them, but it was obviously unfair to re-
tain in their own hands the power of refusal to pay, without
a sufficient cause. Since he had come into the room he had
taken up the Times paper of that morning, and there he
found a case reported where a life company defended them-
selves on two pleas—the one on the ground of fraud, and
the other because there had been some incorrect statement
involving no fraud, and the result of the trial was a verdict.
in favour of the company on the second plea. The judge
and jury were bound by the terms of the policy to
decide against the claimant, although the attempt to prove
fraud had con,pletely failed. It is only a bold and reckless
person who will resort to law, on the faith of an ordinary
policy, and therefore the number of cases occurring in courts
is no criterion of the number of disallowed and compromised
1 claims. The representative of a London office put
.thefol-
lowing ease:- •Supposing a policy to➢have been obtainedl. by
undoubted fraud, ought the company to pay e ?
Mr. Robertson said most certainly, and fer the fo lowing
reasons :—By the practice of life assurance the company
employ their own agents, medical examiners, andt
trend
necessarily forms and appliances of inquiry, and a successful
necessarily implies fraud or gross ekrelessneas on the part of
the agent or other persons employed by thee company._ Life
policies are granted not only to the assured t his as-
signs, and are intended to be, and are
.held outs by the
granters as negotiable instruments,asseeuriies. ow, sup-
posing a fraud to have been committed, and the insured
life, of course, dead, whether is it more just that the loss
should fall on the bona fide holder of the policy or on the
office? Clearly on the company, who, by the fraud or care-
lessness of persons in their employment, have been the
cause of such a policy having been granted. Where a com-
pany binds itself to pay such assurances, it will take the
proper and sufficient means to prevent themselves from
being imposed
Sundry other matters relating to the
principles and. p
practice of assurance having been discussed,
the meeting expressed their thanks to Mr. Robertson for
the information they had received, and their determination
to advocate tl:e principles of indisputability and whole world
Packet.