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

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

The following dispatches from Captain Sir John
Ross and Captains Penny and Ommanney have been
addressed to the Secretary of the Admiralty :
Extract of a letter from Captain Sir John Ross,
R.N., to Captain W. A. B. Hamilton, R.N., Secre-
tary of the Admiralty.
Felix discovery yacht, off Admiralty Inlet,
Lancaster Sound, August 22.
Sir,—l have to acquaint you for the information
of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that
the Felix discovery yacht, with her tender, the
Mary, after obtaining an Esquimaux interpreter at
Holsteiuburg, and calling at Whale-fish Islands, pro-
ceeded northward through the Wargatt Strait and
overtook her Majesty's discovery ships under the
command of Captain Austin on the 11th of August
and on the 12th the senior officer and the second in
command having cordially communicated with me on
the best mode of performing the service on which we
were mutually embarked, that arrangements were
made and concluded for a simultaneous examination
of every part of the eastern side of a north-west
passage in which it was probable that the missing
ships could be found, documents to that effect were
exchanged, and subsequently assented to by Captains
Forsyth and Penny.
On the 18th of August natives were discovered on
the ice near to Cape York, with whom it was deemed
advisable to communicate. Oa this service Lieut.
Cator, in the Intrepid, was detached on the part of
Captain Austin, and on my part Commander Phillips,
with our Esquimaux interweter, in the whale boat
of the Felix. It was found b"-Lieutenant Cator that
Captain Penny had left with the natives a note for
Captain Austin, but only relative to the state of the
navigation ; however, when Commander Phillips
arrived, the Esquimaux, seeing one apparently of their
own nation in the whale boat, came immediately to
him, when a long conversation took,place, the purport
of which could not be made known, as the interpreter
could not explain himself to any one either inl the
Intrepidlor the whale boat (as he understands only the
Danish besides his own language), until he was
brought on board the Prince Albert, where John
Smith, the captain's steward of that vessel, who had
been some years at the Hudson's Bay settlement of
Churchill,land understood a little of the language, was
able to give some explanation of Adam Beek's infor-
mation, which was deemed of such importance that
Captains Ommanney, Phillips, and Forsyth pro-
ceeded in the Intrepid to the Resolute, when it was
decided by Captain Austin to send for the Danish in-
terpreter of the Lady Franklin, which having been un-
successful in an attempt at getting throtigh the ice.to the
westward, was only a few miles distant. In the
meantime it was known that, in addition to the first
information, a ship (which could only be the North
Star) had wintered in Wolstenholme Sound, called by
the natives Ourinak, and had only left it a month ago.
This proved to be true, but the interpretation of the
Dane was totally at variance with the information
given by the other, who, although for obvious reasons
he did not dare to contradict the Dane, subsequently
maintained the truth of his statement, which induced
Captain Austin to dispatch the Intrepid with Captains
Ommanney and Phillips, taking with them both our
interpreters, Adam Beek and a young native who bad
been persuaded to come as one of the crew of the
Assistance and examine Wolstenholme Sound. In
the meantime it had been unanimously decided that
no alteration should be made in our previous arrange-
ment, it being obvious that while there remained a
chance of saving the lives of those of the missing ships
who may yet be alive, a further search for those who
had perished should be postponed, and accordingly
the Resolute, Pioneer, and Prince Albert parted
company on the 15th. It is here unnecessary to give
the official reports made to me by Commander Phil-
lips, which are of course transmitted by me to the
secretary of the Hudson's Bay Company, which,
with the information written in the Esquimaux lan-
guage by Adam Beek, will no doubt be sent to you
for their Lordship? information ; and it will be ma-
nifest by these reports that Commander Phillips has
performed his duty with sagacity, circumspection,
and address, which does him infinite credit, although
it is only such as I must have expected from so in-
telligent an officer, and I have much satisfaction in
adding that it has been mainly owing to his zeal and
activity that I was able, under disadvantageous cir-
cumstance-, to overtake her Majesty's ships, while
by his scientific acquirements and accuracy in sur-
veying he has been able to make many important cor-
rections and valuable additions to the charts of the
much frequented eastern course of Baffin's Bay,
which has been more closely observed and navigated
by us than by any former expedition, and much to
my satisfaction confirming the latitude and longitude
of every headland I had an opportunity of laying
down in the year 1818.
I have only to add, that I have much satisfaction
in co-operating with her Majesty's expedition. 'With
such support and with such vessels so particularly
'adapted for the service, no exertion shall be wanting
on my part. But I cannot conclude this letter with-
out acknowledging my obligations to Commodore
Austin and Captain Ommanney for the assistance
they have afforded me, and fur the cordiality and
courtesy with which I have been treated by these
distinguished officers and others of the ships
under their orders. Animated as we are with
an ardent and sincere desire to rescue our im-
perilled countrymen, I confidently trust that our
united exertions and humble endeavours may, under
a merciful Providence, be completely successful.
I am, with truth and regard, Sir, your faithful and
obedient servant,

JOHN Ross, Captain, R.N.

Her Majesty's ship Lady Franklin,
Lanca4ter Sound, Aug. 21.
Sir,—l beg to acquaint you, for the information of
the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the
vessels under my command got clear of Melville Bay
on Sunday, the 11th of August.
On the following day I landed at Cape York, and
bad communication with the Esquimaux.
On the 18th Captain Austin's expedition came up,
and next morning I was informed of a report said to
be got from the same Esquimaux I had on board for
several hours. It was to the effect that Sir John
IFranklin's ships had been lost 40 miles to the north
ward and the crews murdered. I immediately offered
my services, together with those of my interpreter,
and was happy to find that the sole foundation for the
tidings was that the North Star had wintered in the
situation referred to.
Immediately on the report being cleared up Captain
Austin left with S!rJohn Ross and Captain Forsyth'a
schooner in tow, and we were detained by calms and
bay ice, so that we did not reach Jonea' Sound till
midnight on the 18th. We were prevented from
approachitt within 25 miles of the sound by a chain
of immense floes, and were obliged to haul out N.N.
(per compass) to get clear of the ice. We entered
Lancaster Sound the following night,• in company
with the American schooners, having strong winds
from S.W. (per compass).
For the last 24 hours we have been dodging in the
neighbourhood of Admiralty Inlet, a 'heavy sea run-
ning, and very thick weather, my wish being to get
intelligence of places where provisions bad been
landed by the North Star. That vessel is now in
sight a-head.
I have prepared this dispatch for your Lordship,
to forward by Mr. Saunders, who will be able to in-
form you satisfactorily of the state of Lancaster
Sound.
From the information I have received from Mr.
Saunders it is at present my intention to put my ves-
sels into some bight on the north shore of the Sound,
allowing the ice to drive past them, and I shall then
use every endeavour to put to the westward and follow
out their Lordships' instructions in that quarter.
Before concluding, I would beg to allude to the
orders transmitted to Mr. Saunders relative to depo-
siting his provisions on the island of Disco. By such
a course being pursued an otherwise invaluable sup-
ply is rendered perfectly useless to all the expeditions
at present in this quarter, and we are deprived of
what we bad reckoned upon—viz., a deposit in the
Sound to fall back upon in case misfortune should
compel us to abandon our vessels.
The report received from the Esquimaux at Cape
York has proved correct to the letter, and I cannot
but refer to the service of my interpreter, Mr.
Paterson, has rendered on this occasion by exposing a
story of Sir John Ross's Esquimaux calculated to du
much mischief.
t I have the honour to remain, Sir, your most obe-
dient servant, W. PENNY.

Her Majesty's ship Assistance, off Lancaster
Sound, lat. 75 deg. 46 sec. north, long. 75
deg. 49 sec. west, August 17.
1. Sir,-1 have the honour to acquaint you, for the
information of the Lords Commissioners of the Ad-
DIiCOVERY OF ROMAN REMAINS.—Last week a miralty, that her Majesty's ship Assistance, and her
Roman tesselated pavement was discovered at a locality tender, her Majesty's steam vessel Intrepid, have this
called the Churchyard, Holcombe Farm, two miles from day succeeded in effecting a passage across to the west
Lyme, and a little distance front Musbury Castle, a cele- water, and are now proceeding to Lancaster Sound.
brated and very tine earthwork east of the valley of the Axe. Officers and crews all well, with fine clear weather
The villa at this spot must have been a Roman station. The
fact of this interesting discovery had hat-city become known and open water as far as can be seen.
to the neiAhbourhood when a determination to cover up the 2. Agreeably with instructions received from Cap-
pavement was resolved upon by the owner of the estate, taiu H. Austin, we parted company on the 15th inst.
which was done OR Saturday last. The Rev. George Tucker I at 1 A 11., off Cape Dudley Diggs, as the ice was then
made a drawing, as did two pupils of Mr. Roberts, of Lyme
Regis. Tne latter gentleman states that the tesseraa are of s:01, citntly open to anticipate no further obstruction
blue-white lias, and red tessera: of a substance and colour in afecting the north passage. He was anxious to
resembling brick. The area, so far as explored, equals that proceed to Pond's Bay, and thence take up the exa-
of a moderately large sized room ; but only a small part was urination along the south shores of Lancaster Sound,
cleared. The tiles or slates of the roof were composed of
leaving me to ascertain the truth of a report obtained
white lias ; they are found in considerable quantities.—Poole
Herald. from the Esquimaux at Cape York respecting some
ship or ships having been seen near Wolstenholnae
A DESPERATE LEAP.—On Saturday a half-intoxi- Island, after which to proceed to the north shores of
cated madman, named Willi tmson, threw himself from the
roadway of the High Level Bridge into the river Tvne, a Lancaster Sound and Wellington Channel.
height of 86 feet, and, strange to relate, he swam abjut ap- 3. On passing Cape York (the 14th inst.) natives
parently unhurt until picked up by a boat which put off to were seen. By the directions of Captain Austin I
his rescue. How he managed to undress, and unnoticed landed and communicated with them, when we were
accomplish the stupid feat, appears very singular, as the
bridge is generally thronged with foot passengers.—New- . informed that they had seen a ship in that neighbour-
cAlitle Chronicle, hood iu the spring, and that ehe was housed in.

Upon this intelligence I shipped one of the natives,
who volunteered to join us as interpreter and guide.
4. Onparting with Captain Austin we proceeded
towards Woletenholme Island, where I left the ship
and proceeded in her Majesty's steam-vessel Intrepid
into Wolstenbolme Sound, and by the guidance of the
Esquimaux succeeded in finding a bay about 13 miles
further in, and sheltered by a prominent headland.
In the cairns erected here we found a document
stating that the North Star had wintered in the bay
—a copy of which I have the honour to transmit
their Lordships.
5. Previous to searching the spot where the North
Star wintered I examined the deserted Esquimaux
settlement. At this spot we found evident traces of
some ship having been in the neighbourhood, from
empty preserved meat canisters and some clothes left
near a pool of water marked with the name of a cor-
poral belonging to the North Star.
6. Having ascertained this satisfactory information
I returned to Wolstenholme Island, where a docu-
ment was deposited recording our proceedings. At
6 A.M. of the 16th inst. I rejoined the ship and pro-
ceeded in tow to the westward, and am happy to in-
form you that the passage across has been made
without obstruction, towing through loose and
straggling ice.
7. The expedition was beset in Melville Bay, sur-
rounded by heavy and extensive floes of ice from the
11th of July to the 9th of August, 1850, when, after
great exertion, a release was effected, and we suc-
ceeded in reaching Cape York by continuing along
the edge of the land ice, after which we have been
favoured with plenty
'of water.
8. Captain Penny s expedition was in company
during the most part of the time while in Melville
Bay, and up to the 14th inst., when we left him off
Cape Dudley Diggs—all well.
9. In crossing Melville Bay we fell in with Sir
John Ross and Captain Forsyth's expeditions. '"lbws
Captain Austin has assisted by towing them towards
their destinations. The latter proceeded with hire,
and the former has remained with us.

10. Having placed Sir John Ross in a fair way of
reaching Lancaster Sound, with a fair wind and open
water, his vessel has been cast off in this position.
.. __

I shall therefore proceed with all dispatch to the ex-
amination of the north shores of Lancaster Sound
and Wellington Channel, according to Captain Aus-
tin's directions.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient
humble servant, _ .

ERASMUS OMMANNET, Captain.

The following is a copy of the paper left by Mr. J.
Saunders commanding the North Star, and found by
Captain Ommanney, of her Majesty's ship Assistance,
August 17, 1850:
" This paper is placed here to certify that her Ma-
jesty's ship North Star was beset at the east side of
Melville Bay, on the 29th of July last year, and
gradually drifted from day to day until, on the 26th
of September, we found ourselves abreast of Wolsten-
holme Island, when, perceiving the ice a little more
loose and the Sound perfectly clear, we made all
plain sail and pressed her through it—anchoring in
the lower part of the Sound that evening and arrived
in this bay on the Ist of October, where she re-
mained throughout the winter. It is my intention to
leave as soon as the breaking up of the ice will
permit, and prosecute my voyage in search of the
Arctic ships.
" J. SAUNDERS, Master and Commander.
" North Star Bay, Wulstenholrne Sound,
lat. 76.34 north, long. 69.30 west.
" Deaths on board the North Star.—'William
Sharp, A. 8., November 1, 1849; William Busby,
R.M., January 30, 1850; Richard Baker, A 8.,
April 7, 1850 ; and George Deverell, A. 8., May 17,
1850."

Sir John Ross forwarded the following dis-
patches by the same opportunity to the Governor of
the Hudson's Bay Company :
" Felix disc.very yacht, August 22,
Off Admiralty Inlet.
Sir,—My dispatch No. 2, would acquaint you that
we overtook her Majesty's ships under Captain Austin
on the 11th of August ; that on the 12th Captains
Austin and Ommanney, in a cordial communication
with me, concluded an arrangement by which a si-
multaneous examination of every portion of this re-
gion in which it was probable the missing shipe could
be found should take place ; and that documents to
that effect were exchanged and subsequently assented
to by Captains Forsyth and Penny.
On the evening of the 131 some Esquimau' were
discovered on the ice near to Cape York (lat. 76
deg. N., long. 66 deg. W.), with whom it was desir-
able to communicate, and on this service the Intrepid
was detached, with Captain Ommanney on the part
of Captain Austin, and on my part Commander
Phillips, with Adam Beck, an Esquimaux interpreter,
in the Felix's whale boat. The Intrepid arriving
first, Captain Ommanney found that a memorandum
had been left on the day previous with the natives
for Captain Austin merely to inform him of the state
of the ice, but which gave no further information.
When Captain Phillips arrived, however, the natives,
seeing in the whale boat one of their own country-
men, came immediately to him, when a long and
earnest conversation took place, the purport of which,
however, Adam, who understands only Danish and
his own language, could not make known until
brought on board the Prince Albert, where the
steward John Smith, who had served some years at
Churchill, and knew a little of the Esquimaux lan-
guage, was enabled to make known the intelligence
contained in the inclosure No. 1, which was deemed
of such importance as to cause Captain Austin to
send the Intrepid for the Danish interpreter of the
Lady Franklin, which was then near us, having
lost ground by making an unsuccessful attempt to
cross the middle ice to the westward. In the mean-
time additional information had been obtained by me
from Adam, that a ship (which could be no other
than the North Star) had wintered in Wolstenholme
Sound (called by the natives Ominak), and had only
left it about a month ago. The Intrepid, with Cap-
tains Ommanney, Phillips, and Forsyth, and the two
interpreters, proceeded to the natives, one of whoa'
volunteered for the Assistance, as be said his father,
mother, and brother, had been murdered. The
Danish interpreter, Peterson, confirmed the statement
about the one ship wintering in 1849 50, but with
rerp.ct to the other statement he was totally at va-
riance with that given by Adam Beek, who, though
he did not dare to contradict the Dane, because he
was called a liar and intimidated by him, has subse-
quently maintained its truth, and wrote in his own
language what I have transmitted to you in the in-
closures Nos. 3 and 4. However, as there was no
object in remaining to search for those who were
said to have perished, while there was a chance of
saving the lives a those who might yet be found
alive if the search was not longer delayed, it was
unanimously decided that no alteration should take
place in our previous arrangement, which might de-
lay our proceedings until too late. Accordingly the
Resolute, Pioneer, Prince Albert, Sophie, and Lady
Franklin parted company, with three cheers, fur
their respective destinations, leaving the A,sistance,
Intrepid, and Felix to examine Wolstenholme Sound,
the result of which will appear on the official report
of Captain Phillips (No. 2), who performed this ser-
vice with that sagacity, circumspection, and address
which reflect on him infinite credit, though only what
I must have expected from E 0 intelligent an officer,
and which I trust will be duly appreciated by the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to whom you
will no doubt communicate this information. As the
case now stands, I am here on my way to execute the
part I have undertaken—viz., to examine the head-
lands between the Wellington Channel and the west
end of Melville Island, and the intelligence I find, if
any, will of course guide my ulterior proceedings ;
but in the event of no intelligence being found by
any of the ships I shall feel it my duty to return to
Cape York, and to make further inquiry into Adam
Beek's statement, and then proceed to England if pos-
sible this season, and if not early in the next. After
parting company with the Assistance on the 12th, we
were overtaken by a storm with thick weather,
which obliged us to lie to on the 19th
and 20th at the entrance of Lancaster Sound,
but neither vessel received any damage ; and this,
with our detention at Wolstenholme, has given
the two American vessels, which bad been hitherto
far behind, time to reach us near Leopold Harbour,
whence I am writing this dispatch. I have only to
add that, with the able support I have from my
officers and crew, and the efficiency of my two ves-
sels, I have every hope that my strenuous exertions
will be successful ; but I cannot conclude this letter
without acknowledging the cordiality and readiness
with which Captains Austin and Ominanney entered
into my views, and the courtesy with which I have
been treated by these distinguished officers and all
others of her Majesty's ships. Animated as we all
are with an unfeigned desire to rescue our unfortu-
nate countrymen, I most confidently hope that, with
a kind Providence, our united and humble endeavours
will be crowned with success.
I am, with truth and regard, Sir, y our fliaNitbitfuolssa.nd
obedient servant,
Mr. Archibald Barclay.
The North Star has appeared, and I am obliged to
send this off without personal communication.

lac i'n.frothm Sir Juhn
Moss
srte N
to
the.
seuirnaDarisypautfcbtiNieoi t
Ray Company, August 15.
Felix discovery vessel, off Cape Dudley
Diggs, August 14.
Sir,—In obedience to your directions to communicate
with the natives seen on the ice close to Cape York,
yesterday folenoon, 1 proceeded in the whale-boat,
accompanied by the E•quimaux Adam, your inter-
pret,r; and on nearing the ice Observed three natives
(males) in communication with the people of her Ma-
jesty's ship Intrepid and boat's crew .f the Prince
Albert, both fast to the ice.
As von to the LEquipama domed oue of their

own race in our boat they ran to meet us, throwing
up their hats and expressing signs of satisfaction ;
they also got into our boat without hesitation.
Our interpreter appeared to understand and to be
understood by them, and a long and earnest conver-
sation took place, in which the gold laced cap of
some of the officers were alluded to, but no Euro-
pean present being able to understand our interpre-
ter, we quitted the ice after about half an hour's
stay. Captain Ommanney, who was on board the
Intrepid, having seen a memorandum left by Mr.
Penny, a day previously, with the persons we had
communicated with and which was merely a memo-
rial of his visit.
I was now anxious to rejoin you, as the only per-
son in the Felix who could understand whatever in-
telligence the interpreter had picked up, and we ac-
cordingly proceeded in tow of the Intrepid to rejoin
the Resolute and Felix now far a-head and pushing
on for Cape Dudley Diggs.
During the afternoon Adam showed to our boat's
crew some signs of a wish to impart something, and
about 8 P.m. I dropped on board the Prince Albert,
also in tow of the Intrepid, and he immediately
sought out the steward of Captain Forsyth, who seems
to possess a good knowledge of the language of these
regions, and through him we received the following
communication :

That in the winter of 1846, when the snow was
falling, two ships were broken by the ice a good way,
off, in the direction of Cape Dudley Diggi, and after-
wards burned by a fierce and numerous tribe of
natives.
He asserted that the ships were not whalers—and
that epaulettes were worn by some of the white men.
That a part of the crews were drowned ; that the
remainder were some time in huts or tents, apart
from the natives; that they had guns, but no balls;
were in a weak and exhausted condition, and were
subsequently killed by the natives with darts or
arrows.
No time was lost in imparting this intelligence to
the Assistance, and Captain Ommanney and myself,
with Commander Forsyth, instantly proceeded in the
Intrepid to communicate these particulars to yourself
and to Captain Austin.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
C. GERVANS PHILLIPS, Commander, R.N.
Captain Sir John Ross, R N., C. 8., &c.

Inclosure No. 2, in dispatch No. 3, from Sir John
Ross to the Secretary of the Hon. Hudson's Bay
Company, 16th of August.
Felix discovery vessel, off Wolstenholme Island,
16th of August.
Sir,—ln compliance with your directions that I
should accompany Captain Ommanney, of her Ma-
jeaty's ship Assistance, and make further inquiry into
the truth of the reports referred to in my letter of the
14th inst., as well as to those about a ship having
passed the last winter in Wolstenholme Sound,
I have to state that about 9 A.M. yesterday I ac-
companied Captain Ommanney and some of his officers
on board her Majesty's ship Intrepid, having with us
the Esquimaux interpreter of the vessel, and one be-
longing to the Assistance, who had given the original
information to ours.
We proceeded in the s'eamer sixteen miles up
Wolstenholme Sound in a north-east direction until
we had shoaled the water t) two fathoms L.W.
Here three cairns were discovered and examined ;
within each of them we found a paper signed by Mr.
Saunders, the commander of her Majesty's ship
North Star. The latest in date (31 of July, 1850)
was close to the graves of four seamen, and its con-
Unta were to the following Effect :
" That the cairn was erected by the crew of her
Majesty's ship North Star, to mark the burial places
of—William Sharpe, I A. 8., of her Majesty's ship
North Star, deceased November 1, 1849; William
Briley (boat's mate), ditto, January 30, 1850 ;
Richard Baker, A 8., ditto, April 2, 1850 ; John
Deveril, A. 8., ditto, May 17, 1850."
It further stated that the North Star was beset on
the east side of Melville Bay on the 29th of July,
1849, and gradually drifted day by day until the
26th of September, when they found themselves
abreast of Wolstenholme Sound, and the ice becoming
slack, and the Sound being perfectly clear, all plain
sail was made, and the ship passed through, anchor-
ing in the lower part of the Sound the same evening,
and secured for the winter on the Ist of October.
It further stated that she had remained there all
the winter, and was to proceed in search of the Arctic
ships as soon as the ice broke up.
This document was dated in North Star Bay, lat.
76 34 N., long. 69 30 W., July 3, 1850, and signed
••
J. Saunders.'

The papers found in the other two cairns were
dated April 3, 1850, and to the same effect, except
that they did not contain the names of the deceased
seamen.
A considerable space of the adjoining country was
traversed in extended order and carefully examined
by Captain Ommaney and myself and a party of the
officers and men of her Majesty's ships Assistance and
Intrepid.
Several Esquirnaux huts were searched, but no
living natives seen. Two of the huts covered the un-
buried remains of three or four natives.
A couple of shirts (one marked " Corporal J.
Callamore '), other fragments of slop clothing, of
broken bottles and crockery, iron hoops, nails, painted
wood, a washirg-tub, and the footsteps of Europeans,
as weal as several preserved meat-tins, amply denoted
the recent presence of a Queen'a ship in the neigh-
bourhood.
Although your Esquitnaux interpreter still adheres
to the statement he received at Cape York relative to
the loss of two ships in 1846 and the murder of their
crews, we were unable to discover any circumstance
in corroboration ; and from the silence of Mr. Saun-
ders on the subject, and his expressed determination
to prosecute his voyage in quest of the Arctic ships, I
am induced to hope such a lamentable occurrence has
not taken place. I should, however, recommend that
the statement of the Esquimaux received on board the
Assistance at Cape York should be taken down in
writing by our interpreter, who is, as you know,
fully competent to the task.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
C. GERYINS PHILLIPS, Commander, R.N.

Inclosure in Dispatch No. 3, from Sir John Ross to
the Hon. the Hudson's Bay Company, Aug. 22 :
Omamnami innaissovit ammillagallivarkirsot ab-
barni amillarsorsossot Narsarrummi am amirlagallo-
garkirsot Kikirtarsovil lo igagnak innagannik Sevar-
miollo O;►rrassotsngtalliglo Siattal liglo
obbinnivigsogarlo Xlittagkotlo Sagokkoldo Kajjarra•
g, iirkotlo agottigkar L igkotl) Kottigkig'ogkotlo
Karsogkollo inuvij usuvit ommanrrammut Kattirsor
Kirsot amallortukkullo Tartirri..k Tollirlagoarkollo
agkommalligorankullo Erkurkullo Sitsogkollo Tau-
vagkollo Kojarkit togkolto inuttarkartot nagtilli-
voglo.
26 innuvit ammirllarsossit Tarsa ommannam

AGLAGTOK ADAM BAER.
Joss Ross, witness to the above, being written
in my presence by Adam Beek, on board her
Majesty's ship Assistance, on the 17th of
August, 1850.
ERASMUS OMMANNET, Captain, her Majesty's
ship, witnessed the above, being written in my
presence by Main Beek on board her Ma-
jesty's ship Assistance, on this 17th day of
August, 1850.

Adam Beek's Depositions respecting the Murder of
the crews of two English ships, in 1846, at Mel-
ville Bay. Inclosure No. 3, in Dispatch No. 3,
from Sir John Ross to the Hon. the Hudson's Bay
Company, August 22 :
Innuvit Takkurkarback, Agus 13, 1850, Kessean
nili Killissejaragkit onmiarssarnik Tagkog innasso-
gallugit okarbot ommiarsuilt Tagkugittik Nunnam-
minni ogkimmatta Sarkinnirrok Semmrnarrattillunni
Tarrit tarbok Talmattummik aglagbagka okiot 1846
Sikko Kubirriarmat allarbut omannammut Pillugtik
Tarrsanni Sekkur soarmit allarmitt ajollirlugtik
okibut innuvit Tarsanni ammil!arkigagmik Takko
Dmijarsuvit Malluvit innivi Nogorbuigog Tagkunniga.
AGLAGTOK ADAM BEEK.
JOHN Ross, witness to the above, on board
the Felix discovery vessel, this lath day
of August, 1850.

(Dispatch No. 2.)
Extract of a dispatch from Captain Sir J. Ross to
the Governor and Committee of the Hudson's Bay
Company, dated Felix discovery vessel, Baffin's Bay,
August 13, lat. 76, long. 66, off Cape York :
With respect to the Felix, she is everything I could
desire. She sails well, is an excellent sea boat, and is
as strong as wood and iron can make her. We re-
ceived all the apparatus for balloons ; and, what I
place moat faith in, we have four well-trained carrier
pigeons, which were presented to me by Miss Dun-
lope, a young lady at Ayr, who had trained them to
keep up a correspondence to two friends at a distance
—I hope they will be the bearers of good news. ‘rtre
have seen no vessel on our passage but a Danish Go-
vernment vessel (the Titus), which we overtook on
the 15th of June—out 31 days from Copenhagen.
She was in company two days, but parted in a fog.
We have had, as usual, a foul wind in Divis Strait, but
beat to windward half a degree of latitude per day,
which, considering we have the Mary in tow, was as
much as we could expect. We have seen a good deal
of ice near Cape Farewell, but very little since. I
am in hopes we shall have a very favourable season.
We arrived at Holsteinburg on the 231 of June
(lat. 67, long. 54), my object being to obtain an in-
terpreter, in which I am happy to say we succeeded
in the person of a native (Adam Beek) who speaks
the Danish language, and of course is understood by
me. He is also a good fiddler, and already a favourite
with the men. We were detained here by both calms
and storms, which succeeded each other for six days,
which has no doubt kept us behind the others, so that
I cannot expect to fall in with them till we get to

Opernowick, is 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
30;h, 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, which 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, let. 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 sp, where
we could see them, but that Captains Penny and
Austin's squadron were in lat. 74.40, and here 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 Leuebar, 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 fire 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 231 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
ship., commanded by Captain Austin, and also the
two vessels commanded by Captain Penny. We were
now in lat. 7.5 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 theia, and on Sunday Cap-
tain Austin came on board the Felix, as also Captain
Ommanney and Lieutenant Cator.
Oar 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 determined 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 B ay,' should examine
the whole south coast of Lancaster Sound, B arrow'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 B arrow'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 bland, and, if possible, to Bank's Land. My
plans of communicating with each other were ap-
proved of, and Captain Forsyth, in the Prince
Alberr, was to proceed to Brentfurd Bay and endea-
vour to cross the Isthmus and survey the west side of
Boothia Felix.
We now proceeded in company, and the weather
being calm and peculiarly favourable for the steamers,
the Felix was occasionally towed by the Pioneer acd
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, end on the lath of Au-
gust the whole nine vessels were congregated in
Melville Bay, off Cape York, where I shall conclude
this 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, Eq., treasurer, in.the chair.
The Secretary (11r. 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 tho 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 perm.tnent income of the charity is much
below the amount required to meet the payments of
the petitioners. It appears that during the past year
820/. 7s. has been distributed to the pensioners, being
the largest amount devoted to the special purposes of
the charity for a period of seventeen yearn. The di-
rectors feelingly expre:,s their determination not to
reduce (as was done in former years) the payments
to the pensioners. But by renewed 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 6,7001, 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 50/.
Three per Cent. Consols, separately invested under
the terms of a deed of settlement making a special
permanent fund of 531. 10s. 61, In 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 7,155/. 16s. Gd.
The 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-
panses, including printing, stationery, advertisements,
rent, salaries, and miscellaneous, have been 247/. 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 sum of 56,214/. 133. 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 MRS. CATHERINE Crown, Author of " The Night Side of
Nature," " Lilly Dawson," &c. The above work is published
this day by Mr. Coulburn, 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 Governme 4, by Mrs. Trol-
lope. 6. Our County, by John Mills, Esq. 7. Adelaide
Lindsay, edited by the author of " Emilia ‘Vyndham." 8.
A Secmnd 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. 11. 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 —; bud no we've read it again,
and the gleam of light is gone,—Lincolnshire Chronicle.

FRANCE.

The following is the article, for the publication of
which, in the Corsaire, prosecution of MM. Cour-
tois and Laurent has been ordered :

"A salary of 500,000 francs was abundantly suf-
ficient for the expenses of the First Consul, who com-
bined the greatest glory with the simplicity of the
manners of Washington. In our day millions are
not enough for a President. He has already been
obliged to extend his hand, which had narrowly
escaped being rejected, and soon the emptied box will
be presented again. We must do to certain persons
the justice to say that they drink healths and smoke
with the first corner—private soldier or General, it is
all the same to them. Napoleon felt disgust at swillers
and gluttons as well as at smokers. He was never seen
handing a cigar to a soldier, and during his reviews
there was no champagne nor grilled fowls. He was
not the flatterer of the soldiers, and he regaled them
only with glory. To his troop, when attenuated by
hunger, and who cried bread, bread,' the young
General of the army of Italy replied 'Bread before
eight days you shall have it and to spare.' This un-
comfortable consolation was sufficient. That bread,
so long waited fur, came. But, in the mean time, the
enemy appeared. As at Malplaquet the bread was
cast away, the soldiers rushed into fire, they beat the
Austrian;, and then returned gaily to eat a morsel of
barley bread moistened with spring water. Since
that time, when people were fed with glory, how
cookery has progressed! On the 18th Brumaire,
General Bonaparte, in answer to those who demanded
guarantees, cried, Grenadiers ! have I ever deceived
you when I promised you victory ?' In our day,
in similar circumstances, the reply would be,
Grenadiers, have I ever deceived you when I pro-
mised you good cheer ?' In the time of the Em-
peror, to obtain a decoration, it was necessary to have
deserved it—such little importance was set on the re-
cognition of services to come. In the baggage of
Napoleon there were no barrels of crosses by way of
provision, and no shovels to distribute them. Yet,
let us not be deceived, the era of the Caesars, predicted
by a guest of the Elysee, has commenced. It has
been already remarked that soup makes the soldier.
In our day, and with perfectly liberal views, cham-
pagne, truffled fowls, and Havannah cigars form the
materiel of reviews. But, is the gratitude of a full
stomach more lively or more lasting than that of
the heart ? In their decline the Roman soldiers
touched the stomachs of their officers, and flung away
the helmet and the cuirasse which had become too
heavy for their effeminacy. In our days disregard
for discipline, and forgetfulness of glory, would be
still worse, and, what is the saddest of all, the disorder
comes from a high quarter. A society of the 10th of
December would seem to the Emperor a strange
means of government. Disorder under the appellation
of beneficence! I repeat to you that, in our days, if
the sword of Austerlitz do not end in an old curiosity
shop, it will be turned into a spit, and that of the
Elysee into a larding-pin. The buckler of Francis I.
will become a turbot dish, and his cuirasse a frying-
pan. The glorious sword of Aumale and of Ivrey,
which already fell into the hands of a eheffonier of
July, will become a bacon knife, and the column of
July be made into pots."
A letter from Lorient of the 25th inst. gives the
following description of a lately-invented bullet of a
h most destructive nature :
" M. Lagrange, an apothecary, residing in this town,
'las been for the last fifteen years labouring at the
preparation of a bullet of the most destructive kind.
Although it appears that he had completed his labours
for some time, he did not communicate his discovery
to the Government until within the last few days.
An experiment as to the effect produced by those
outlets has been made under the inspection of
Admirals La Susse and La Guerre, Lieutenant-
General Laplace of the Artillery, and of a
commission appointed by Government. The success
of the experiment is said to have exceeded all expcc-
teflon. Each bullet on striking the object against
which it was directed, exploded with a detonation as
loud as that cf the gun from which it was fired, and
pro Weed a most destructive effect. It bursts in-
stantly on striking any object which opposes resist-
ance, whether it be earth, wood, or stone. At the
conclusion of the trial the members of the commission,
addressing the inventor, said, Sir, your name ought
to be inscribed amongst the members of the Peace
Congress, for after your invention it will beimpos-
sible to think of making war.' M. Lagrange asserts
that with a gun-boat, armed with four nieces of can-
non, he could sink a ship of 120 guns in twenty mi-
nutes. He is in treaty with the Government for the
sale of his secret."

DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES.
The German papers have telegraphic dispatches
from Hamburgh and Copenhagen of the 26th inst.
The Commander of the Danish troops has received
instructions to prohibit the navigation on the Eyder,
in case such a measure should be recommended by
military necessities.
The King of Denmark and the Prince Ferdinand
have lest Copenhagen for Flensburg, where they in-
tend to remain for a term of eight days.