Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-08-14

myself to pass the attempt Captain Ross has 10 do
justice to in his syle-by giving my explanations
with his arguments would have been better and liberal
II he had printed them separately To satisfy his argument
did not mention Bellanys land in my Narrative or put
on my chart, because had it neither did take
any particular notice of the French English discoveries but
If had or do construct general polar chart will afford me
the greatest pleasure to exhibit them in their full length and
breadth upon it. and not to state, Captain Ross has done
for not inserting the American discoveries, ha feel myself
quite unable to determine satisfactory how much
land was seen by him (Wkes) with degree of certainty
that gives lndisputable authority discovery y yet in fol-
lowing paragraph he that most conclusive testimony
to its existence is given in my Narrative and the evidence
of the courts OF inquiry after the of the expedition.
In respect to Lieut. Com. Rnggod Capt Ross must have
known that the tracing sent him did not embrace any of the OBJ
seratons explorations made by either the Peacock or Por
pose the absence OF their tracks from evidence enough
The whole was hastily prepared and my letter shows the feel
ngs under which acted had supposed any errors might
have contained TO have been taken advantage Of in any
way to the prejudice OF the expedition myself certainly
would not have been sent But relied upon the character
and standing of British officer; if have been mistaken and
have suffered by the prosecutions it has me- can take
pleasure in the consciousness that led to the act by
feeling which hope may be alive in my breast as
well as in that OF my countrymen
II is the power of neither Capt Ross myself to affect
the final estimation in which the lahors of the two expeditions
will be held When the results fully before the world
make no doubt proper judgment will be passed upon Them
and have to doubt but that shall then receive
the reward exerions and labors merit Captain Ross
and myself different Governments the one has il in it's
power confer titles and decorations, while the other de-
pendant upon the final decision of public opinion. have
great confidence in the latter, although may act slowly yet
upon its final judgment am willing to rely, assured that it
will not only be just but generous.
On page &C. vol p of Captain Ross Narrative is the fol-
lowing passage
Commander Crozer and returned the visit Of Captain
Auick and prevailed him of his officers to spend
the following day board the Erebus and in examining the
instruments at the Observatory which he very
see IL was on this occasion, when hearing from him that he
he
of Lieutenant Wilkes, and likely, short time to meet
that officer again being also personal friend of his consd
cred II be the most delicate mode acquanng Lieutenant
Wilkes with the circumstance of having passed over
large in clear water where he had placed
land on the chart he sent As have given full
OF this transaction in the first volume my narrative need
not make further auson to here except express my
regret that owing Captain Aulck having sailed from Oahu
few days before Lieut. Wilkes arrived there he had no op
portunity OF making my communication to Lieut. Wilkes be-
lore that officer heard Of the circumstance through newspa
pers, which gave very distorted view of the question: and
not only occasioned him much uneanes but left very
neous impression the minds of all who regarded
nation derived from that conclusive against any
all having been discovered by the American squadron And
this impression was greatly strengthened by the publicly de-
effect whilst Sydney but whether this assertion arose
from malicious motives not the conclusive refutaon
given the narrative oft voyage and in the evidence
elected at the several OF inquiry which followed the
turn OF the expedition to America"
In the above there gross mssatemens lst Captain
Auick could not have said that he had only recently parted
from the squadron under the command Of Lieut. Wilkes for
aush cOulu ne nave represented himself
as personal friend of Lieut. Wilkes, such not being the
case neither believe he would have charged himself
with the delivery of any message Lieut. Wilkes, from the
fact that all intercourse between them had been broken of
before the sailing of the Exploring Expedition the Uni
ted States cannot credit that he would have deceived Capt
Ross in this way Besides is stated in Capt Aulcks let
ter to the editor of the Spectator which will be found page
1853, VOL of Rosss Narrative that Ross statement was
published in the Sydney Herald of the 10Th August eight
days before he Capt Auck) met Capt Ross from which
paper copied into the Madsonian the government pa
per at Washington of the 18th March, 1912. To this Of
course Capt Ross assene and yet says he endeavored
to communicate in what he considers the delicate man.
ner to Capt. Wilkes
The unfounded statements foot by Capt Ross were
foseed and promulgated by the enemies of the expeditions
and caused my arrangement, my return, before
martial charges from the Government which, after most
sctinizng and aborous investigation Of six weeks en-
trey acquitted of and resulted establishing under the oahs
OF the officers all the discoveries had reported and placed
them beyond cavil.
All these proceedings, beg leave Capt. Ross
never caused me much uneasness" felt satisfied that
should be acquitted and that truth would finally prevail Il
is true thought rather ungacious for the ou
BILE and responsibility had taken upon myself afford him
information, but for this act blamed by my Govern
ment and, far from regetng the circumstance and at
tendant difficulties am confident, if again placed in
similar position, should not hesitate afford rival exped-
on then did, all the aid my power believing that it
would be impossible again 10 meet with like return
CHARLES WILKES.