The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-14 00:00:00

THE LATE SIR JOAN FRANKLIN.

A very interesting licturo was delivered - last
evening in the St. James's School-room, White
'Terse-street, Stepney, on the fate of Sir John
Franklin and his companions.

The lectufer was Mr. W. Parker Snow, formerly
second in command of the 'discovery ship Prince
Albert, and author of a voyage in the Arctic Seerq,
and the proceeds were for the benefit of the British
Workmen's Emigration Society.
The chair was taken by the Rev. R. H. Ather-
ton, M.A., who introduced Mr. SnoWto the meeting.
The LECTURER commenced by alluding to the
melancholy death of his gallant chief, whose fate
-had for so many years been involved in the deepest
mystery. He left this country in -1845 to ascertain,
what was well known to them as the " North-west
passage," but had never been heard of until recently.
The discovery of that passage had been always a
subject of great interest in this ethintry; and from
an early period many attempts had been made, but
in
n wa
vain.
•s secilond incommandedeseribedhis own expedition, when-
he of the Prince Albert,
and how, at Cape Riley, ho discovered a num-
ber of articles, among which was a button belonging
a fly leaf of a Prayer
o
in
--
Bt osko,maen do onteh interesting esNt ianvy' grelics. On that occa-
sion the expedition went every way in their searbh.
but the right one, and when they came to Prince
Regent's Inlet it -was determined to proceed no
(Mr. Snow) poiat out
hidbehlioeved Sir John Franklin
did he offer to go in a boat to
explore part of the country; it was
tftaohret place
whereny
6, e
t'thooat„ hazardous, and so was given up.
thought
Had his advice been followed, the discovery now
made by the Fox would have been Effected at that
his great
responsibility, declined to do so; but ho
courageouSly, for when they
time. His commander, however, knowingfor the -winter, he procured
believed,
searching in every
l
direction,-but in vain. When he returned to the
aNhv dl'geer , obligedannodb Noyi. al aas
oduu Pt
79 days
ship, he was so fatigued that his life was despaired
of for many weeks. The lecturer then described
on a large chart the route taken by Captain.
M.Clintock in the Fox, and the discoveries made,
which left no doubt whatever of the unhappy fate
of the gallant Franklin and his hapless companions.
In one of the cairns they found a paper, and on it
written in fire different languages that whichleft
no •doubt Whatever of the fate of the expedition.
They all knew that the two ships under Franklin's
command -were., the Erebus and Terror, and that
•they left England on the 25th of May, 1845. They
bad heard of Dr. Rae's tale a few years ago, when
it was concluded the party had perished ; and then
the noble and affectionate Lady Franklin devoted
her fortune to see if possible and recover her hus-
band. After some unsuccessful attempts she pur-
chased the Fox, and gave the command to a gallant
seaman, Captain Welintock, of whose success there
Was now unfortunately no doubt whatever. The
ship left Aberdeen two years ago, and nothing was
heard of - the party until the latter part of the
Autumn of 1858, when it appeared the vessel was
caught in the midst of what was called "pack ice,"
And was tossed about in the most fearful Manner
until the following April. They did not, however,
give up the expedition, and finally triumphed.
He should observe that the expenses incurred from
tlae beginning by various Governments, in search of
Franklin and his party, cost no less than £830,000.
When he said the Fite of the expedition was known,
he did not mean to say that all had perished. Sir
John Franklin died in April, 1817, shortly after
which, one hundred and five men set out in the di-
rection of the Great Fish River; and he, for one,
believed that many of them were still alive, and
would be found residing among the natives of that
vast continent. They had instances of English-
men, and especially English sailors, often doing so;
and there were reasonable ;rounds, he believed, f
supposing that several of that ill-fated expedition
would be found yet alive. What became of the 105
Men no one knew. The skeletons found proved
that some had perished. But he hoped and believed
further searches would be made for them next
spring. For his own part he only wished he had
been a man of fortUne, and lie would follow the
noble course pursued by Lady Franklin.
They all
knew the fate of Sir John Franklin and of some of
his officers, but why should not some attempts be
made to discover what became of the greater por-
tion of the men wiio landed in April, 1818 ?
lie ss ould organise a people's expedition to discover
what became of them. :Co Lady Franklin every
credit wat due, and lie hoped her exertions, and
those of Captain M.Clintock and his officers, would
receive the gratitude of their country. May all
blessings attend that noble lady for her persever-
ance in so great and humane a cause. The lecturer
then concluded amid loud applause.
On the motion of Mr. Witxonn, a warm vote of
thanks was passed to Mr. Snow, after which the
meeting separated.