Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-08-02

! I have the honor to be, your most ooeulent SCI
want, JAMEo Dnnoo
CAPT. FRANKLIN'S EXPEDITION.
From London Paper Of June
We are sure that the friends of Captain Frank
lin and his party, and the public at large, VIII
be grati6eG with the perusal OF the following
letter from that excellent officer:
9TH Sept. 1926, lat IS II N long. 12S IS w.
NV Dear Sir-I do most heartily congratu'
late YOU on the prospect we had from Garry,s
Island, of perfectly open sea, without partl'
Gle of ice, as il is another step gained IN con-
firmation of your much-contested hypothesis
We saw nothing to stop the ships, but, on the
contrary, every thing around US strengthened
my hope Of their effecting the passage The
Indians, indeed, have report, that between the
Mackenzie and Coppermine Rivers there is a
point that stretches far othe northward, which
is generally surrounded with ice. If this be
true, the ships may perhaps be checked IN their
PROGRESS for time, but think they will not be
altogether stopped, provided they have been en-,
abled to get at the main shore 10 the eastward
from Regents Inlet. NoIndlan, however, with
whom have spoken on my recent visit to this
sea, can speak Of this point. or OF the ohslruc-
ton, from his own observations; and the report
seems, like many others current among them TO
have passed from generation 10 generation,
which at the FIRST had but little ground to stand
upon. The Indians, in fact, know nothing oil
the coast, the knowledge of the sea shore being
entirely confined to the Esquimaux, with whom
we have no, as yet had any communication
They are employed during the summer in catch
inc whales, and in other marine pursuits, 10 the
eastward of the Mackenzie, to which believe,
thew return in the winter. Their neighbours,
the Quarellers Of Mac kenzie, or the Lancheose
OF the traders, resemble them very much IN APP
pearance, dress, and manner, and many OF The
Esquimaux words which Augustus understood
were in use among them; but, as is too often
the case with the neighbouring tribes OF these
Aborieines, they are almost always al war with
each other. Fortunately for US, however, terms
Of peace were settled last summer between them
and the EsQuimaux, which we shall, OF course,
endeavour to strengthen, if we meet them to-
gether The Quarellers were quite delighted
al seeing Augustus with US, and assured US
there would be no fear of the Esquimaux rer
ceiving us in hostile manner, as they had al
ready been apprized by them Of our intention
to visit their lands; and the reason for our do
ing so could be more fully explained by him
than they could do.
We saw many moose and rein deer, and large
hocks Of geese and swans at the mouth OF the
river, which, no doubt, are to be found on Its
low shores during the whole OF the warm sea-
son; and probably the animals retire to the
woods in the winter, which are not Far distant
from the coast. The long track Of alluvial
ground which is passed in the descent OF the
Mackenzie is well covered with pines, even as
high as 6Sa north, which would afford good
shelter for any animal.
The Rocky Mountain range is seen through
nearly the whole course of the river alter pass
ing the south branch Of Mackenzie, at no great
distance from its banks, running in about WIN
w. trae direction; but they do not appear so
high as had been led to expect till you reach
the sea, and then they attain an immense eleva-
ton, and seem TO form the sea coast to the
westward We shall probably pass very near
them next summer, and be able to give some &C
count Of them fla Judgment nigh; be formed
from a very distant view Of two or three Of the
very highest peaks, from their shape and APP
pearance, I should suppose these 10 be volcanic.
On Garry's Island we found plenty of coal and
bitumen, embodied in the black earth OF which
it is composed; bat find DR.. Richardson has
given YOU cursory outline Of the geology OF
the river and this lake; my imperfect intorma-
ton on this point may therefore be spared.
can assure YOU have more than once wished
the expedition could transport some OF the tine
limestone cliffs that bound the river TO the vi
cinity of the Thames; we might then soon be
enriched by contracting not only to supply the
material for the new London Bridge, but also
to satisfy the present rage for building, at very
cheap rate.
We are now in the very hustle Of finishing
our own buildings, which however are notoi
stone, as you may suppose, but Of wood he
house is situated close to the borders oil the
lake, for the convenience Of the fishery, which
is to be our main support, though we hope to
catch a few reindeer on their march to the south
next month My land friends, during my alb
sence, have named the house Fort Franklin,
which, at their solicitation, have permitted to
stand. l intended to have given it the name OF
Reliance.
have discharged all the Canadian voyageurs
that MIR. Dease could spare, in order to reduce
our establishment to as small number as pos
sible: we are now, therefore, nearly Brush
party. All the men have conducted themselves
extremely well, and they quite enjoy the service.
We must endeavor to keep them as merry and
active as we can during the winter