The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-02 00:00:00

SEARCH FOR SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.

INTELLIGENCE FROM CAPTAIN AUSTIN'S
EXPEDITION.

The public are indebted to the Admiralty for the
following intelligence of Captain Austin's and Captain
Penny's expeditions in search of Sir John Franklin and
his companions of the Erebus and Terror. Knowing the
great anxiety of all ranks and classes for the latest and
most correct information of the expeditions sent out to
the Arctic regions by the Admiralty, their Lordships,
immediately on the arrival of Lieut. Power, with the
Admiralty dispatches last evening, communicated the
following intelligence to the papers, and at once gave
directions for stamping and forwarding to the relatives
and friends of Captain Austin's expedition, to whom
they were addressed, between 300 and 400 letters that
had been sent with the Admiralty dispatches by the
officers and men of the Resolute, Assistance, Intrepid,
and Pioneer, forming the squadron under the orders of
Captain Austin, C.B.:—
" Admiralty, August 1, 6 r.sr.
"Lieut. Power, of the Emma Eugenia transport, has
just arrived from Captain Austin.

" Captain Austin left Whale Fish Islands on the 23d
of June—all well, perfect in every
equipment, the
steamers with six weeks' coal on board.

" The day after Captain Austin sailed, the American
expedition, consisting of two schooners, arrived at the
Whale Fish Islands, and sailed to the northward on the
29th—all well.

" Captain Penny passed Disco on the 4th of May—a:
well."

Their Lordships also directed copies of the following
official dispatch to be made and to be forwarded to the
press for the information of the public:—
" Her Majesty's ship Resolute, at the Whale Fish
Islands, June 23, 1850, One o'clock, P.M.
" Sir,—l have the honour to acquaint you, for the
information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admi-
ralty, of the arrival at these islands of the vessels of the
Arctic Expedition under my orders, they having left the
Orkneys (as reported in my letter of that day's date) on
the 15th ult.

" 2. Cape Farewell was sighted at noon on the 28th
ult., bearing N. 25 W., distant 63 miles; and in the
afternoon of the 30th, in hit. 59 N., long. 47 W., the
transport Emma Eugenia was fallen in with, and con-
tinued in company.
" 3. On the morning of the 10th inst., the wind h.sving
fallen to a calm, with every appearance of its continuing,
Whale Fish Islands being 280 miles distant, I deemed it
advisable to cause the Resolute to be taken in tow by the
Pioneer, and the transport by the Intrepid, leaving the
Assistance to make the best of her way. The four vessels
arrived here just before noon on the 14th instant ; and
early on the morning of the 15th the Intrepid was dis-
patched to attend the Assistance, which ship she met in
the offing, and returned with her in tow about noon.
" 4. Since the arrival of the vessels every exertion has
been used to clear the transport, which would have been
earlier accomplished but from the actual necessity of
placing ballast on board for her safety, as the last of the
coals came out.

" 5, Each ship is now complete, between her and her
tender, in provisions, stores,;.and warm clothing, to fully
three years, and the tenders have on board coals to the
amount of 310 tons each. -

"6. Although the ships are somewhat crowded, they
are at a comparatively light draught, the mean being. of
the Resolute, 14 feet 6 inches, and Assistance, 16 feat
6} inches, leaving them fully equal to a considerable in-
crease of weight when recollecting the statements con-
nected with their immersion as merchant vessels with
cargo on board.
"7. The tenders may be said to be deep, the mean
draught being, of the Pioneer, 12 feet 111 inches, and
Intrepid, 13 feet 1 inch. They leave this tully efficient
in their engines and boilers. B.lmo slight repairs and
adjustments have been made here.

"8. I hare to observe, with reference to the perform-
ance of these vessels, that, except in light winds, by
the wind' they have been able fairly to keep company,
the Pioneer having shown a superiority; her consump-
tion for that purpose during the passage was 81 tons,
and that of the Intrepid 411 tons.
" 9. In the operation of towing under the then exist-
ing circumstances of medium draught of water in a
calm with the sea perfectly smooth, their speed msy be
considered as approaching four knots; and against a
moderate royal breeze, with a more than proportionate
head swell, about two knots.

" O. The sailing of the two ships has been, under
their late trim, nearly equal, the Resolute having had a
little advantage in running, and the Assistance ' by the

" 11. In the passage up from Cape Farewell the
straits were found to be tolerably clear, the extrema of
the stream of
landice' having been met with about the
latitude of that place on the 30th ult.; and that of the
stream from the pack' in lat. 66 N.,le/rig. 56 W., on
the 11th instant. Bergs were not very numerous until
this date, from which, up to the time of our arrival,
they were found in considerable numbers. Being unable
to obtain at this place any information as to the state of
the ice further to the northward, Captain Ommaney
visited the Danish settlement at Lively, Isle of Disco,
and states, the season is considered fairly open.' No
records have been found or information obtained of the
missing vessels. Tae expedition under the charge of
Mr. Penny communicated with that place on the 2d
ult., all well, and that great civility and attention was
shown to him by the authority there, who promised
that any records met with, or information procured,
should be preserved and forwarded.
13. It is my present intention in proceeding to the
northward to communicate with Upernevick, for the
purpose of obtaining any information that may be there,
as well as a supply of Esquimaux boots, very desirable
forro
that of the six bullock brought
m
transport, five died during the
fa, travelling
nI g i regret
r etb o parties.tsay
eya
passage.
15.
The vessels composing the Expedition may be
considered in every way efficient; and it is with much
pleasure and satisfaction that I report, that excellent
health and spirits, good will and unanimity prevail
throughout.
' 15. We proceed onwards at two o'clock, p.m., this

day.

"I am, Sir, &c.,
"HonAmo T. AUSTIN,
"Captain in charge of the Expedition.
"J. Parker, Esq., M.P., Secretary of the Admiralty."
We subjoin our private correspendence from the
squadron:— _ _

on. All our squad-
" Her Majesty's Ship —`.! Whale Islands,
" Greenland, June 14, 1850.
' It
ot ihs
enaor t
hvoewrywoeftae
rne
atlhiagteyttoinug receive a letter from
Isiukcela an outlandish place as this, bat I suppose you will
ron are anchored, as well as the transport, which we
picked up off Cape Farewell. We have had rather a
long passage, but withal a pleasant one; the steamers
did us good service in the light winds, and the Pioneer
towed us upwards of four knots. We have not seen
much ice, but a good many bergs. The opinion here is
that it is not a very open season as yet, but there is no
saying what a month may do.
" Penny was at Leively (or Disco) a month ago, and
has proceeded northward.
" We are working night and day to clear the transport,
and start again, but it is a heavy business.
" The natives (Esquimaux) here are just as ugly and
dirty as ever.
" When we leave here we shall have our provisions
piled upon our decks, for there is a tremendous lot of
things for us. If we cad only got to Melville Island
this year we shall, I think, settle the question about Sir
J. Franklin. I suppose the other expeditions are all on
their way by this time. I hope we shall not have to look
after them.

"June 22.
" I wind up now. -- has been very busy taking
magnetic observations, but all is now done. Grub and
stores all on board. No further news on this coast.' Wo
sail on the 23d June, and hoping for good luck in the
ice, and to see you well in eighteen months or two
years, believe me, &c."

(FROM A NOTHER CO JRRESPONDENT.une 22.
Since we arrived here we have been as "busy as the
devil in a gale of wind," the ships getting provisions and
stores and the schooner's coals (to the amount of 150 tons
each) from the transport. There could not he a more
commodious harbour fur our purposes than tins formed
by the Whale Islands. Wild ducks, looms, and dovekies
aro to be bad in abundance, affording shooting amuse-
ment for the officers every night. We are not as yet far
enough advanced to the northward to enable us to judge
whether this season will be what is termed. an " open
one" or not. Neither have we had an opportunity of