The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-01 00:00:00

Opernowick, as they will of course have left the
Whale Fish Islands before we can possibly get there.
I sent a duplicate of the first sheet with some ad-
ditions by the Danish packet, which I am now glad I
did, as a heavy gale, after leaving Holsteinburg on the
30th, prevented her reaching the cod fishermen, and
we were so unfortunate as to arrive at Whale Fish

Island two days after the Transport had left, when
my hope of being able to send this and all other
letters by her were at an end ; but I still expect to
fall in with the North Star. The squadron under
Captain Austin are only 14 days and the two Ameri-
can schooners ouly four days before us, and we have
no doubt of getting up with them at Opernowick.
We got the coals that have been left for us by the
whaler, completed our water, and sailed in 20 hours.
From the appearance of wind and weather I was
tempted to risk the Weigatt Straits, by which I
could gain some leagues on the other vessels, and I
happily succeeded, but I would not on any account
run such a risk again, the navigation being both
dangerous and intricate, and I am sure Captain Aus-
tin's vessels could not have accomplished it.
July B—We have since had light winds, and are
within 400 miles of Lancaster Sound, where I shall
lay down my pen till an opportunity offers. All well.
July 23—1 forgot to mention that neither Captain
Austin nor the Americans obtained an interpreter, and
I am, therefore, the less sorry that I lost so much
time at Holsteinburg, but I believe that Capt. Penny
got on to Opernowick. We have since fallen in with
the remaining whalers, wbich I know, from the heavy
state of the ice, would fail in getting round to the west
land until the fishing season was over.
July 17, lat. 73.36 north ; off Cape Shakleston—On
the morning we suddenly fell in with five of the
whalers, who, seeing it improbable that they could get
round the north end of the ice, were running to the
south to try the passage to the west land in lat. 71.
They reported that in the gale of the 12th the Ame-
rican vessels were beset off the Devil's Thumb, where
they still remained, about 30 miles north of us, where
we could see them, but that Captains Penny and
Austin's squadron were in lat. 74.40, and bare up in
the storm, and will probably reach Melville Bay,
where we would find them ; that all of us would no
doubt get round the middle ice, but it would pro-
bably be late. We found little field-ice, which was
very favourable for the steamers, but a great many
icebergs. I gave a short note to Captain Leucbar, of
the True Love, but I suppose you will receive this
first. The south-west storm of the 12th was very se-
vere, and damaged the bulwarks of the Mary, but that
was of no consequence, as we had to take them away
and have now converted her into a row• galley as well
as a sailing-vessel. She will row 10 oars, and I think
will do the work better than any that has navigated
the Arctic Seas.
On the 19th of July we spoke five more whalers,
all standing to the southward ; and in the evening
communicated with the Prince Albert, which followed
us closely, occasionally assisting each other tbrough
the intricate passages among the ice, with which we
were now constantly surrounded.
On the 23d of July we communicated with seven
more of the whalers, which were running south,
having given up as hopeless the idea of making
the north passage in time to reach the fishing ground
on the west land this season.
On the 25th of July we discovered her Majesty's
ships, commanded by Captain Austin, and also the
two vessels commanded by Captain Penny. We were
now in lat. 75 deg. 11 min. 10 sec. nortb, and long.
59 deg. 38 min. west of Brown's Islands ; and having
gained the land ice, were in hopes of overtaking her
Majesty's ships, which were then beset.
To accomplish this we continued our labours in
cutting, forcing, and tracking, and daily gaining on
them ; but Captain Penny gained also, and at last got
out of sight.
It was not until Saturday evening, the 11th of
August, that we overtook them, and on Sunday Cap-
tain Austin came onboard the Felix, as also Captain
Ommanney and Lieutenant Cator.
Our communication (as became officers of the
Royal Navy) was unreserved. I gave Captain Austin
a written statement of my intentions and views con-
sequent on the late and unfavourable season; our co-
operation was deitermined on, and I was in return
furnished with a copy of his orders to those under his
commacd ; and, after discussion, in order that the
whole field of ice should be simultaneously explored,
as the best mode of discovering the position of the
missing ships, it was agreed that the Resolute and
Pioneer, beginning at Pond's Bay, should examine
the whole south coast of Lancaster Sound, Barrow's
Strait, and, if possible, Cape Walker ; that the As-
sistance and Intrepid, beginning at Cape Warren-
der, should examine the north coast of Lancaster
Sound and Barrow's Strait, as far as Wellington
channel, which they were directed to enter, and, if
possible, communicate with Captain Penny, whose
orders directed his attention to Jones' Sound ; that
the Felix and Mary, beginning at Cape Hotham,
were to examine that and the different headlands to
Melville Island, and, if possible, to Bank's Land. My
plans of communicating with each other were ap•
proved of, and Captain Forsyth, in the Prince
Albert, was to proceed to Brentfurd Bay and endea-
vour to cross the Isthmus and survey the west side of
Buethia Felix.
We nuw proceeded in company, and the weather
being cairn and peculiarly favourable for the steamers,
the Felix was occasionally towed by the Pioneer Ind
Resolute, while the Prince Albert was also towed by
the Intrepid and Assistance. In the meantime Cap-
tain Penny, who had in vain attempted to cross the
middle ice, was overtaken, and on the 13th of Au•
gust the whole nine vessels were congregated in
Melville Bay, off Cape York, where I shall conclude
.his dispatch.

CITY OF LONDON GENERAL
PENSION SOCIETY.

The annual general meeting of subscribers of this
society was held yesterday at the London Tavern ;
Luke James Hansard, Esq., treasurer, in the chair.
The Secretary (Hr. George Mence) read the re-
port, which detailed the results of the management
during the past year. Two elections have taken
place, at which eight new pensioners have been added
to the list. There are fifty-eight aged persons re-
ceiving relief from this charity—thirty-three men
and twenty-five women. Seven pensioners died
during the past year, and one, a poor man, aged 69,
having unhappily become insane, has been removed by
his parish to the county asylum at Hanwell, his pen-
sion ceasing on his becoming a pauper.
The men are receiving 275. and the women 18s.
per month. The directors, in their report, lament
that the permanent income of the charity is much
below the amount required to meet the payments of
the pensioners. It appears that during the past year
8201. 7s. has been distributed to the pensioners, being
the largest amount devoted to the special purposes of
the charity for a period of seventeen years. The di-
rectors feelingly express their determination not to
reduce (as was done in former years) the payments
to the pensioners. But by rene Ned exertions and by
earnest appeals to the liberality of the public, they
hope, whilst economising the expenditure, to aug-
ment the funds to a sufficient amount.

During the past year the directors, with the assist-
ance of Mr. Benjamin Bond Cabbell, one of the vice-
presidents, and the society's principal trustee, have
succeeded in placing the whole of the society's per-
manent stock, which through death and other casual-
ties had lapsed into various separate investments and
appeared in separate accounts in the books of the
Bank of England, into one fund, under the care of
four trustees. The permanent fund of the society
now amounts to 6 700/, Three-and-a. Quarter per
Cent. Annuities. The late William Drake Broad-
bent, Esq., of Lawrence-lane, Cheapside, merchant,
deceased, has granted to the charity a sum of 501.
Three per Cent. Consols, separately invested under
the terms of a deed of settlement ; making a special
permanent fund of 531. 10s. 61. n addition to this
there is a sum of 4021.65. stock, Three• and-a-Quarter
per Cent. Annuities, standing in the names of the di-
rectors, available for the current expenses of the
charity. The total amount of stock possessed by the
charity is 7,1551. 16s. 6d.

Thew death of the Queen Dowager, who was a mu-
nificent annual contributor to the funds of this cha-
rity, and that of the Duke of Cambridge, who on
two occasions presided at the anniversary festivals,
are noticed in the report. The total working ex-
penses, including printing, stationery, advertisements,
rent, salaries, and miscellaneous, have been 2471. 2s.
71., being 52/. less than last year, leaving a balance
in the Bank of England of 257/. 12s. 2d. Since the
charity was established in 1818, 878 pensioners have
been on the funds, and the rim of 56,214/. 13s. has
been distributed in monthly pensions.
The report and accounts having been approved and
adopted, the election of officers for the ensuing year
was proceeded with, and thanks having been voted to
the directors and the chairman of the day, the meeting
separated.

LIGHT AND DARKNESS ; OR, MYSTERIES OF LIFE.
By Mils. CATHERINE CROWE, Author of " The Night Side of
Nature," " Lilly Dawson," &c. The above work is published
this day by Mr. Conlburn, and may now be had at all the
Libraries. Also now ready :2. Singleton Fontenoy, a Naval
Story, by James Hannay, Esq. 3. The Luttrells ; or, the
Two Marriages, by Folkstone 11 illiams, Esq. 4. Claude, by
Miss Molesworth. 5. Petticoat Government, by Mrs. Trol-
lope. 6. Our County, by John Mills, Esq. 7. Adelaide
Lindsay, edited by the author of " Emilia Wyndham." 8.
A Second Edition of Reginald Hastings, by Eliot Warburton,
Esq. 9. The Travellers; or Morning• at Matlock, by R.
Shelton Mackenzie, D.C. L. 10. La Vendee, an historical
Romance, by A. Trollope, Esq. it. Story of a Man of
Fashion ; or, Sin and Sorrow.

THE SUBLIME AND THE RIDICULOUS.—We have
seen many absurdities on tombstones, but the following re-
markable combination of the sublime with the ridiculous
beats all that we have yet stumbled upon

Weep not for him ; in his spring time he flew
To that land where the wings of the soul are unfurld;
And now like a star, beyond evening's cold dew,
Looks radiantly down on the tears of this world."
The meaning seems to but no: we've read it again;
and the gleam of light is gone.—Lincolnshire Chronicle.