The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-16 00:00:00

L)NDON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 18b7.

Very nearly twelve years have elapsed since
the departure from this country, in 1845, of the
good ships " Erebus" and " Terror," under the
command of Sir JOT IN FRANIKLIN. On Sunday,
the 26th of July, 1857, it will be fully twelve
years since the date of the last tidings ob.
tained of that heroic and unfortunate expedition.
Yet, up to this time, no authentic account has
ever been received relative to the actual fate of
thoße long-lost Arctic navigators. We repeat it—
No authentic account whatever. No account that
can possibly be relied upon as positively conclu-
sive. And we say this with a vivid recollection
of Dr. RAE'S harrowing Report, addressed to the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and dated
from Repulse Bay, July 29, 1854. We say it
with a lively remembrance of the 10,000/.
awarded to that voyager by order of the Go-
vernment, in accordance with the terms of the
official announcement, published on the 7th
of March, 1850, to the effect that that sum would
be given " to any party, or parties, who should,
by his or their efforts, first succeed " in ascertain-
ing the fate of the missing navigators. We say
it, in fact, with a painfully accurate remem-
brance of the extraordinary and, we may even
venture to add, wholly unparalleled declaration
in the London Gatette, of January, 1854—a sort
of a preternatural proclamation, making known to
the world at large the astounding fact that if by
the 31st of March following, nothing further
should be heard of Sir JOHN FRANKLIN and his
137 companions, they were from that date no
longer to be in existence—by Order of the Go-
vernment l Nevertheless, remembering all this
remembering Dr. RAE'S veracious Report of the
29th July, 1854—rememboring the boon of
10,000/. awarded to him by virtue of the pro-
mise publicly given on the 7th of March,
1850—remembering the January Gw.etta of
'54, declaring the lost navigators to have
officially expired on the 31st of March, 1854
we most distinctly and explicitly assert that up
to the present day, January 16th, 1857, no
authentic intelligence has yet been received in
England, explanatory of the fate of the bravo Sir
JOHN FRANKLIN and his heroic companions.
Remember that Dr. Ittes Report to the Ad-
miralty, Dr. RAE'S appalling Report fixing upon
the gallant officers and crow who were missing in
the Arctic Seas the hideous charge of Cannibalism,
rested solely, rests to this day solely upon certain
roundabout rumours received "second-hand"
from a party of gabbling Esquimau'. Re-
member that Dr. RIB himself, who was
the means of bringing this frightful rumour
lunder the notice of the Admiralty, and who
received from the Admiralty, as we have
seen, in recompence for it, the magnificent
reward of 10,0001., was actually not more than a
day's journey from the spot where the bones of
the dead Cannibal-navigators Were (according to
his own Report) lying uninterred ; and thathe'
nevertheless, on the 27th of April, 1854, turned
away from that terrible scene of calamity, without,
on the contrary, hastening towards it, to the end
that he might test the accuracy of the revolting
narrative he was the means of communicating,
three months later, to her "MAJESTY'S Govern-

meat. Remember still further, and remember
this above all—that when, some time afterwards,
with a view to test the veracity of the account fur-
nished by Dr. RAE, an expeditionary party was sent
down the Groat Fish River at a cost of 3,0001. (ac-
cording to the terms of a contract entered into with
the Hudson's Bay Company)—although a few
straggling articles which had. belonged to the
missing vessels were certainly obtained, no bodies
were discovered on the spot indicated in Dr. RAE'S
Report. No graves were found—no traces what-
ever, in fact, could be seen either there or any-
where else in the neighbourhood justifying the
Tale of Death for which Dr. RAE (unsupported
by a particle of reliable corroborative evidence)
had received 10,0001. from the Queen's Govern-
ment.

Considering all these facts, we are not at all
surprised, therefore, to observe even nowadays,
in the middle of the January of 1857
nearly twelve years from the date when
the " Erebus " and the " Terror " took their
departure from the shores of England—that
"An Earnest Appeal" has been addressed to
the British Parliament by a Gallant Officer of the
Royal Navy—an earnest and moving Appeal* to
the Country at Large on behalf of the Miss-
ing Arctic Expedition. Lieutenant BEDFORD
PIM, R,N., F.R.G.S., the author of the
very noteworthy pamphlet to which we are
solicitous thus particularly to direct the attention
of the general community, will, under any cir-
cumstances, derive from his efforts this satisfac-
tion —he will know that he at has raised
his voice in behalf of his brother-navigators
and his fellow-countrymen, in behalf, if not
of their lives, at any rate, of what many
of them would have prized still more, their
reputations. Lieutenant Plaf--wholly a stranger
to ourselves—deserves, for his humane argu-
ment, at least, we conceive, inquiry, at least
attention, at least consideration. Abandon it,
when examined into, if you will—that is to say,
if you must—as not in any way feasible. But
at any rate—examine it I In all human pro-
bability, Sir JOHN FRANKLIN and his 137 com-
panions are dead by this time. Still, even now,
for all we know to the contrary, they may yet be
in existence, although as many as twelve years
have elapsed from the time when they took their
departure. Upon the very title-page of the
pamphlet Lieutenant Pim quotes conspicuously as
Sir Jorr FRANKLIN'S ipsissima verba, " Where
Esquimaux do live out a fair period of life, it is
but reasonable to suppose that Europeans may
also subsist and survive for many years." But
apart altogether from the possibility of any of
those British Sailors being still alive in those
wild Arctic regions of Eternal Frost—is there
not cast upon their heroic memory the
horrible imputation of cannibalism ? An impu•
tation, we repeat, not supported by one tittle of
admissible evidence 1 And, ought there not at
least to be some effort to demonstrate beyond the
reach of doubt the truth or falsehood of state-
ments so frightfully involving the reputation of
these brave Englishmen ?

* An Earnest Appeal to the British Public on behalf of
the Missing Arctic Expedition. By Lieutenant Bedford
Pim, R.N., F.R.G.S. Pp. 32. Hurst and Blackett.

A cock-and-bull story has just been foisted
upon Europe by Le .Nord, about some nameless
pirates on the eastern coast of the Caspian de-
vastating the opposite or contiguous coasts of
Persia ; carrying off the peaceable inhabitants
(subjects of the SHAH) and selling them for slaves
at Shiva ; pillaging, marauding, and in general
terms playing the very devil—a party of blood-
thirsty Turcoman Buccaneers ! It is repressnted
by le Nord that the late obnoxious occupation of
certain islands in the south-eastern corner of the
Caspian is solely attributable to an amiable solici-
tude on the part of the Czan to assist more
effectually his dear cousin the SHAH against these
abominable corsairs of the tribes of the Turcoman.
Dont you believe it, say we As Sir ROBERT PEEL
might say—That Cock won't fight ! Or, as he might
add yet more pithily in two syllables—Walker !
It is merely another miserable canard this pre-
posterous nonsense about Russia occupying any
islands in that particular part of the Caspian in
order to help the SHAH in his Sir-PETER-LAT/RIAN
effort to " put down" a wretched little horde of
'Turn man Pirates. The two-headed Russian
eagle—trust our word for it—flies at higher
game than this on the southern coast of the Cas -
plan. Has not Herat been recently seized by the
SHAH at his good friend the CZAR'S instiga-
tion ? Waa not War declared by Ea gland
against Persia, in consequence, on the
Ist of last November at Calcutta ? Has not a
British Fleet, with a view to the prosecution of
that war, already entered the Persian Gulf ? Has
not a Sepoy army, under Brigadier CHAMBER.
LLTNE, already marched to the same end, westwards
through Affghanistan ? And—remembering these
facts—for Le Nord to talk coolly about the CZAR'S
endeavour to cope with the pirates of the coast of
the Turcoman l England, at least, can penetrate
at a glance through all this miserable Sham and
Mockery.

Justice has at last overtaken the perpetrators
of the great bullion robbery. BURGESS, PIERCE,
and TESTER have been convicted of the serious
offence with which they were charged. It is
needless to add the verdict of the jury has our
full concurrence. We cannot see how, without
violation of their oaths, they could have returned
any other. The testimony of au accomplice is at
all times, we admit, open to grave suspicion
more especially if he is a convict, with everything
to hope and nothing to risk. But the testimony
of AGAR bore such internal marks, and was sup-
ported by such a chain of corroborative evidence,
that no doubt could be entertained of its substan•
tial truthfulness. Nor should it be forgotten
that the motive of the man, though vindictive,
had its origin in natural affection. It was not
from cowardice—it was not from base envy—it
was not, we incline to believe, in the hope oven of
a mitigation of punishment AGAR " split " on his
confederates in crime. The woman he loved, and
along with her, her child, his "own flesh and
la blood,"r, were wronged by a fellow-criminal at
large, who owed his personal liberty and his
reputation, however little that might be, to his
forbearance, we had almost said to his magnani-
mity-. For such a man as AGAR, prompt in
resource, determined, unscrupulous, and of strong
passions, to know this was enough fully to
naccoot übnetenfoirll-wtrheaattefaollboywedp. FANNY
lERIIC:Cith eKveAryY
reason to believe they would all three have
escaped the legal penalty of this particular crime.
Their conviction, the; must be regarded as the
triumph of natural feeling, perverted feeling, if
you will, and not of justice, as represented by
the police. The latter, with perhaps one excep-
tion, come shabbily out of the affair. They whose
business it is to detect crime were utterly baffled
and practically useless, until set on the right track
by the convict, or rather till he pointed out his
fellow-offenders immediately to their notice.
Under such circumstances a glance at the general
features of the robbery must be interesting, and
can hardly fail to be instructive. We have first
AGAR, a successful robber and swindler, at large

in 1854. He is joined by PIERCE, a discharged
railway servant, who evidently knew his man,
and had great faith in his abilities. PIERCE sug-
gests the robbery. AGAR declares it impractica-
ble. PIERCE believes he can obtain impressions
of the two locks by which the iron safes are
secured. This settles the matter--the only in-
superable difficulty, in AGAR'S opinion, is removed.
The robbery is decided on—now for the execution.
In May, the same year, the suspicions cf the
superintendent of police at Folkestone are excited
by two bathing visitors, who manifest an extra-
ordinary interest in the movement of the trains.
These visitors are AGAR and PIERCE, who speedily
decamp, but not, it appears, before having ascer-
tained among other information where one of the
'keys of the safes was kept. How are the keys to
be got at ? PIERCE knows a clerk in the traffic
department, TESTER—he can get the keys for them.
In August the locks have new keys, and by means
of TESTER an impression of one of them is taken.
An impression of the other is still wanting. An
ingenious device, remarkable, however, chiefly for
what it reveals of the pecuniary resources of AGAR,
is resorted to. Out of a sum of 3,0001. in his
possession, AGAR contrives to have a box of bul-
lion, valuedespatched by rail and delivered
to h him under
a 2001.,
false name. During the latter
process he succeeds in discovering where the
second key is kept. Then, in October, AGAR and
PIERCE take a trip to Dover, walk over to
Folkestone, and arrive there just as the train is
coming up. In the confusion PIERCE takes ad-
vantage of the momentary absence of the officials,
goes to the cupboard, takes the key and hands it
to AGAR, who instantly takes an impression of it,
and it is straightway restored to its place. The
great difficulty is overcome—what remains is to
have keys made from the impressions. To the five
months spent in obtaining the impressions are
added two months' labour in filing. The next
thing is to try the keys in the locks. This is done
by AGAR, with the connivance of BURGESS, the rail-
way guard. The keys are made to fit ; and now
for an opportunity. After such toil and perse-
verance no common plunder will suffice.
In the third week of May, 1355, the commer-
cial world receives a great shock. A daring rob-
bery has been committed. 12,0001. worth of
bullion have been abstracted from the van of a rail-
way carriage between London and Folkestone
and shot substituted in its place. Criminal
daring and ingenuity of a high order have
achieved a great feat. The police are "on the
alert," detectives are "on the scent." Months
roll on and nothing is discovered. No prospect of
a discovery exists. In October, 1855, AGAR
somehow gets convicted of uttering forged
cheques, and is transported for life. FANNY
KAY, AGAR'S mistress, has shortly a story
$o tell of being fraudulently dealt with by
PIERCE, the trustee whom AGAR had appointed to
administer his effects for her and his child's benefit.
The particulars of the robbery are revealed by
AGA; his confederates pointed out, arrested, put
on their trial, and finally condemned, nineteen
months after the perpetration of the robbery.
The robbery, it will be seen, was the upshot of
a well-organised knavish conspiracy, headed by a
clever, daring, and experienced thief. It has all
the interest of a Victoria drama, while, to give it
a greater air of reality, the police are nowhere.
Some will be alarmed at the liotion of such men
as AoAR being permitted to pursue their career
so long unmolested. The fact may be-regretted,
but need excite no great surprise. He is a man
of superior wit, and to put'down such men what
is wanted is a quicker witted police. There is
more cause for alarm, when the careers of Roe.
eoN and REDPATIL are remembered, in the
readiness with which individuals, supposed to be
respectable, and certainly in positions of trust,
gather round such a man. How far and how
deep does the moral canker we have here
indicated to us extend ? Is any large portion of
society affected by it ? Or is it confined to
officials employed by public companies, whose
shares have been the shuttlecocks of the maniacs
of speculation ? If the latter, we would fain hope
the moral taint will speedily be stopped or more
slowly die out, and our respective Public Companies
will ere long have as reliable servants as their im-
portant trusts and the public interests demand.
In speaking of the Police, we must not be under-
stood to mean they are of no service. This were
as ridiculous as false. They have, unquestionably,
narrowed the area of crime, but having stimulated,
by necessity, the invention of the dangerous class,
they voluntarily or involuntarily have suffered
themselves to be left in the lurch. How many
police officers in London are equal in professional
skill and daring to AGAR I There must be new
importations of talent into the force, for as wealth
accumulates, and in few hands, the temptations
to a career like AGAR'S, to men of his stamp, will
be proportionally great.

THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK AND THE
"LUNCHEON SYSTEM."

Among the extraordinary disbursements of the
managers of the Royal British Bank, there appears
an item for a considerable sum described as " lun-
cheons to directors." It now appears that, from the
commencement of the bank in 1849, the directors
and principal officers, with one or two exceptions,
were in the habit of eating and drinking daily at
the bank at the expense of the establishment. The
system was commenced on an extravagant scale.
Rare wines and brandies, Scotch whiskies, Edin-
burgh ale, and Prestonpans beer, were ordered for
the regaling of those gentlemen after they got
through their usual official duties. And, as it was
thought that it might conduce to the interests of
the establishment, each director was allowed to
introduce a friend. Although described as "lun-
cheons," those repasts were in reality substantial
and sumptuous dinners, the fumes of which from
the lower departments of the bank filled the nos:
trils of customers and of famished clerks during at
least two hours every day. The expense of these
entertainments ultimately became so large as to
excite alarm in the mind of a nervous director,
who remonstrated against so much extravagan, co,
and insisted on some regard to economy. The
" luncheons" subsequently were not marked by
the same reckless profusion, and the privilege of
inviting friends was abolished. It was very com-
mon, however, with 801110 of the directors, on
days when their attendance was not required at"
the bank "to dro " about the "luncheon '
hour, and partakep "good
things."
their share of the
things."
/
At the end of every half-year the late genera
manager uniformly gave a grand party, at which
he personally appeared iu a romantic costume, and
in the most exuberant spirits, described the
un-
paralleled prosperity of the institution, of which lie
was the practical chief.—A di:eraser.

REPRESENTATION OP SALFORD. A meeting of the
electors of Salford was to be held last uizlit, to take steps
for presenting a requisition to Mr. Alderman Lang-
worthy, to put himself in nomination for the represen•
tation of the borough. The requisition had received up
to yesterday
constituency of 4,000 electors, and as the signatures
noon about 1,400 signatures , out of a
include the names of men of all shades of politics, there
is no probability of an opposition, and no whisper of
anything of the kind has been heard of. The meeting
would appoint a deputation to present the requisition,
it was expected, and there was no doubt that Mr. Larig•
worthy would accept it. Mr. Lang worthy is of literal
politics, but stands birth in the estimation of all classes
of people. The Speaker's warrant will probably issue on
the 27th or 28th inst., so that thu nomination and
election may he expected to be fixed for about the 3d
and 4th of February.
Daramou'ru PACKET STATION.—The new lighthouse
at the entrance of Dartmouth harbour, built more espe-
cially for the accommodation of the mail packets, is com-
pleted. From the prominence of its position, indicating
as it does the safe and easy approach to the harbour,
the light will prove of reat value to the shipping
interest generally, as all ships making the Start light
can easily find their way, if necessary, by the aid of the
Dartmouth lighthouse,
g
apaclous harbour, into the waters of its cafe and

LATEST N E WS.

VIENNA, JAN. 12.

The Osservatore Triestino confirms the news of
the TriesttZeitung relative to the occupation of the
islands on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea.
Some years since Russia " borrowed" the island of
Dagada from Persia, as a station against the
Turcoman pirates. The pirates were long ago
annihilated, but the island in question, which is
at the mouth of the Oxus, is still in the hands Of
Russia.

CONSTANTINOPLE, JAN. 9.
The Shah of Persia is said to insist on the con-
tinuation of the war with England.
General Chesney has received a concession for
the construction of the Euphrates Valley Railroad.