The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-03 00:00:00

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

. Captain Austin, C. 8., reetived his sailing orders yes-
terday, and, as we have seated, will take his final depar-
_ture from the river to-morrow morning. The valiant
captain, with his four ships, Resolute; Asistaiice, Intre-
pid, and Pioneer, is to make the best of his way to Davis'
Straits, for the express purpose ,of prosecuting a most
vigorous seirch= lye the nais-sing Ships.
withsi
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i tegsdeh
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it
s pniosiFfailibidii
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having
En(' gel eibtheeederne.h
his ships may have been damagel in the ice, in the
neighbouring sea, and that with his crews, he may have
abandoned them, and made his eacePe-to that taland,
Captain Austin will give every proper weight to these
possibilities.
A main object of the expedition is to use every ex-
ertion to reach Melville Island, detaching a portion of
his ships to search the shores of Wellington Channel
and the coast about Cape Walker, to which point
Sir tiolan Franklin was ordered to proceed. It
is hoped that a diligent examination of these
several places will afford the gallant captain
some certain trace or record of the missing expedition,
which will enable him to form an opinion of the best
course to adopt for their rescue. As his course of ac-
tion must clearly depend on such information, it-s,ie not
deemed necessary to give hem any &finite or specific in-
struction, and inexpedient to biid him down to any cer-
tain line of proceeding, but the Admiralty confide in,
Captain. Austin's knowledge and experience Of the-havi-
gallon of the Polar Ssas, and place just reliance, en his
energetic character and zeal. He is left entirely' inlet-
tered to do what may seem to him best for attaining the
great object of the expedition entrusted to his charge,
ahecountry feeling assured that he,- as well as all those
under him, will use their utmost exertions ti)afford'relief
to our Unfortunate countrimeti,-and t‘i justify the re-
liance the Admiralty have placed in him. '
No vessel is to be allowed to prosecute the search
alone, and it is for this reason that to the gallant' com-
modore's and to Captain Ornmaney's ship. ati .auxiliary
screw-vessel has been attached. '

The ships have been fully equipped and provisioned

for a .period of three years, to meet any emergency
which may arise from falling in with Sir John Frank-
lin's party. In addition to these supplies the re are stores
and. provisions, &c., left by Sir James Ross at Port
Leopold, and a further store was sent out in the 'North
Star in the summer of last year. These,, will be avail.
iib'e for Captain. Austin in case of necessity, but they
must not be considered as part Of tteie.nvin stock, but
es a reserve for the aid-or tii3y'of'Sir"Jolt'n 'Franklin's
party who may reach that sputrcsr.asaclepoeon.which any
party
,may fell back should they unfortunately be se-
parated from their ships. - _
In the prosecution of his 'search 'Cat;Pilri Athltin will
use his utmost efforts during this alithtcet, taking esre
not to lose any eppottinity.w.hichlmay beeopen Jo. him
of getting ta the westward, and of securi' g his ships in
some sate harbour hetore this'isinter.sets in,from whence
be will dispatch such 'overland' parfies-ii-tfre"ineans
placed at his disposal willlpermitJs On too return of the
open season of 1851 he will ()pin ;et!”O'lies,.liOstrch; but
Captain Austih's'expedition' willl3e.oqore.d.'ifo:' founts
to England in the autumn of that year (1851), unless
some truce should be feutid of this •thiasing, expedition,
which may lead him to belieye that a delay may contri-
bute to their iescue, andewhich,may justify a daviation
from-his orders.
As Captain Penny's expedition, has been dispatched
with the same object, and 'has already sa4ed<fnr Davis'
Straits, provisioned for a perk, of,thaaye4earg„:Psptain
Austin will, of course, render Mr. Penny „any aid and
assistance in his power, as well tat tartiai- aftterexcedi-
don, either fain- thie.couttry, the United States of
Americs, or from any other nation, so far as.he may be
able to do so without risk of crippling the resoarees of
the vessels under his own command.
C tptain Austin will take the utmost care in leaving
memorials of his track in the usual manner, and in every
promieent place. and enjoin the same precaution upon
all the ships and land parties detached from him.
As soon as the expedition resches_the:Whele Fish
Islands, to which rendezvous the Emma Eugenia, trees-
port, -has already beau dispatched, and the supplies have
been distribut=ed for ate use of tne expedition, the trans-
port will be sent to England, and Captain Austin will
also give orders to the Master of the North Star, should
he fall in with teat vessel, to return hutne.
It may be added that the several vessels thus placed
under Captain Austin's command have been fitted out
under his own immediate superintendence, and with
every attention to the wants and reqeirements of the
great enterprise.he has volunteered to un&rtlie.' The
officers in the command of the vessels composing it, and
who are animated with the same ardour as himself, have
been selected by him with the full conc;tirence of the Ad-
miralty, as to their fitness for this particular service. All
I nal, could be effected by the generous sympathies of our
Queeii and country has been done; and it only remains
tor us to conclude with an earnest prayer 'that Success
mny : ttend Captain Austin's exertions, and that'a good
P:tov dance may guide his councils, and be his constant
defeice.—Herald.