The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-15 00:00:00

SIR JOHN FRANKLIN AND ) HIS
COMPANIONS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SU. V.

Suz,—l enclose herewith the copy of a letter I
have received from Captain Sir John Ross, 'offering
to take the command of an expedition int, n ded to
proceed via Barrow's Straits in search of k iil John
Franklin and his companions, provided the n 3essary
funds can be raised for its outfit; and I tru lam
not asking too much in requesting that you si ill, for
the sake of the object, give it publicity i n your
widely-circulated journal.
Feeling, in common with the country at large,
that nothing should be left untried that hold a out the
most distant prospect of relieving the missi ; expe-
dition, or even of ascertaining its fate, and k vowing
the eminent qualifications of Sir Juhn Ross for the
task which be so generously volunteers to u n dertake,
I have greabpleasure in recommending his :proposal
to public attention, and am ready to receive subscrip-
tions, at the Hudson Bay House, for carryil q; it into
effect.

The outfit is limited to the amount of 3,( lOU, any
sum received beyond that amount to be hel. 1 for dis-
tribution to himself and crew on their returi
I beg to add, that the Hudson's Bay CJMi ny have
voted 5001. towards the equipment of the exi dition.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient, humble sery u nt,
J. H. 1.1 !ILLY.
Hudson's Bay House, 4, Fenchurch-street, Feb. 14.
267, Strand, February 12, 1850.
Dear Sir Henry,—ln the grateful rem s tabrance
of the kind and humane interest that you e e id other
members of the Honourable the Hudson's B 4 ty Com-
pany took in my rescue, at a time when, 'with my
devoted companions, I appeared doomed ti end a
miserable existence in the frozen regions, and well
knowing that your sympathy extends also, towards
my gallant friend Si▪ r John Franklin and hit, crews
of 138 brave men, who are in a position :it ill more
distressing and peri▪ lous than mine, while .the en-
deavours which have hitherto been made - fi it their
relief have been singularly unsuccessful, I venture
now to lay before you my statements, whi ch have
been delayed to this late period principally by the
sudden and untimely death of my truly pateti )tic and
ever-to-be-lamented friend, the late Sir Feli a Booth,
on whose further munificence I had on this n2,casion
depended to enable me to perform the sacred p romise
I made to Sir John Franklin on his de-
parture, namely, that if he was sti 1.1 mis-
sing in February, 1847, I would volun leer and
do all in my power for his relief. That I consci-
entiously did offer my services to Government then,
and in each subsequent year, is sufficiently zi. Aorious,
but although they were declined, I can im .pute no
blame to my Lords Commissioners of the Ad zniralty,
who were unfortunately misled by the n emerous
opinions adverse to mine, both as to sendir ig early
relief, and more particularly as to the size and de-
scription of the vessels to be employed on t bat im-
portant service. It is now but too evident the it unless
success crowns the endeavours that shall 1)e made
during this season for the relief of the imperi Iled na-
vigators, any further attempt will be utterly l iopeless.
Impressed with this conviction, I hold it to, be the
duty of all who can in any way respond to im-
perative call on their humanity to lend their inplered
aid; and it is with this feeling I now come ;forward
to offer my humble services, which I tender 'without
fee or reward, either by additional pay or otl ierwise ;
and having fully ascertained that the whole expense
of the expedition I propose will not exceed 3,0001. (of
which a detailed estimate is enclosed), I tri Let that
that will not be found extravagant.
I have now the honour to state that I have t lot made
this application without having consulted the First
Lord of the Admiralty, and also that lam on terms
of intimacy with the gallant officer whodzo is n ppointed
to command the Government expedition, wi th whom
it will be my earnest desire to act in the common
cause with cordiality and friendship, although we act
independently of each other.
The object of the expedition I propose bei solely
to search for and relieve Sir John Frankli, 1 and his
brave companions, my proceedings must be guided by
circumstances ; among which I may mention the in-
formation I expect to obtain at the various headlands
in Barrow's Straits. I have therefore only- to men-
tion some of the advantages I possess over na,abt of the
officers of the royal and merchant navy.
1. An excellent constitution, well adapted, and ac-
customed to a cold climate, and a perfect k nowledge
of every precaution necessary in an arctic voyage.
2. A perfect knowledge of the Danish l.ss' nguage,
by means of which, and by procuring a, Dane at
Greenland who understands the Esquimaux language,
I could, through him as an interpreter, obtain valu-
able information.

3. Dr. John Lee has offered me his excellent set of
astronomical instruments, formerly lent to. Colonel
Chesney, which saves that expense.
4. I have engaged an ice-master, and an excellent
crew of fourteen men, brought up in the NY bale fish-
ery. and now ready to join.
From having been six years consul in S eden, I
am well acquainted with sledging with dogy , which
can be procured in Greenland.
It is indeed true that I have not youth on my side,
but, besides excellent health, I have that e xperience
which I maintain to be paramount to every other
consideration in the navigation of icy see a, where
cases of difficulty and danger suddenly and continu-
ally occur, requiring that prompt decision w hick ex-
perience alone can teach.
I have only to add that if the public will, aid me
with 3,0001., no exertion shall be wanting on any part
to accomplish the great object which is in vierw, and
I shall be for ever grateful for your compliance with
my humble but earnest request.
I have the honour to be, with truth and respect,
Dear Sir Henry,
Your most obedient and very bumble 'errant,
(Signed) JouN Ross, Capt. Royal Nary.
Sir John Henry Pelly, Bart., Governor of
the Hudson's Bay Company.