Litchfield enquirer., 1849-05-17

'N LA0U WIFI puuliC dppTODaClOn,
comes, however, too late for our whalers,
which had unfortunately sailed before it
was issued, and which, even if, the news
should overtake them at their fishing
grounds, are totally untitled for any pro-
longed adventure, having only a few
months provisions on board and no ad-
ditlonal clothing. TO the American wha-
lers, both in the Atlantic and Pacific, l
look with more hope as competitors for
the prize, being we'll aware of their num-
Der and strength, their thorough equip
ment and the bold spirit of enterprise
which animates their crews. But ven
ture to look even beyond these. 1 am
not without hope that you will deem it
not unworthy great and kindred nation
to take up the case of humanity, which I
plead In national spirit, and thus gen.
erQnsiy make it your ,own.-.us..~..~.a.ss'-s.ass.
must here in gratitude adduce the ex-
ample of the Imperial Russian Govern
ment. which as I am led to hope by his
excellency the Russian Ambassador in
London, who forwarded memorial on
the subject, will send out exploring par
ties this summer from the Asiatic side of
Behring's Strait, northward in search of
the lost vessels. It would be a noble
spectacle to the world if three great ma
tons, possessed Of the widest empires on
the face of the globe, were thus to unite
their efforts in the truly Christian work of
saving their perishirg fellow-m from
destruction.
1t is not for me to suggest the mode in
which such benevolent efforts might be
made. | will only say, however, that if
the conceptions of my own mind, to
which l do not venture to give utterance,
were realized, and that in the noble con-
ceptlon which followed American seamen
had the good fortune to wrest from us
the glory, as might be the case, of solv-
ing the problem of the unbound passage,
or the still greater glory of saving the ad-
venturous navigators from lingeri NC fate
which the mind sickens to dwell on,
though I should in either case regret that
it was not my own brave countrymen in
those seas whose devotion was thus re-
warded, yet should l rejoice that it was
to america we owed our restored happi-
ness, and should be forever bound to her
by tics of affectionate gratitude.
l am not without some misgiving while
l thus address you. The intense ankle
ties of wife and of daughter may
have led me to press too earnestly on your
notice the trial under which we are suf-
fering, (yet not '0e only, but hundreds of
others, and to presume too much on the
sympathy which we are assured is felt
beyond the limits of our own land. Yet,
if you deem this to be the case, you will
still find, l am sure, even in that intensi-
ty Of feeling, an excuse for the fearless
ness with which l have thrown myself on
your generosity, and will pardon the
homage l thus pay to your own high
character, and to that of the people over
whom you have the high distinction to
preside.
have the honor to be, sir, with great
respect your obi serv't.
JANE FRANKLIN.
To this letter Lady Franklin appends
an explanatory notice of the plan Of her
husbands expedition, and of the routes
taken by those who are in search Of him.
We have not space for it, to-day, but give
instead, Mr.. Clayton's answer to the ap-
plicatioh of Lady Franklin.
Department of State, Washington,
April 25th, lS40,
MAbAM:-Your letter to the Presi-
dent of the United States, dated April
4, 1s49, has been received by him, and
he has instructed me to make to you the
following reply:
The appeal made, in the letter with
which yon have honored him, is such as
would strongly enlist the sympathy of
the Rulers and the People of any por-
ton ofthe civilized world.
To the citizens of the United States,
who share largely in the emotiona which
agitate the public mind Of your own
country, the name of Sir John Franklin,
has been engaged by his heroic virtues
and by the sufferings and sacrifices
which he has encountered for the benefit
Of mankind. The appeal of his Wife and
daughter in their distress has been borne
across the waters asking the assistance of
kindred people to save the brave man
who embarked in his unfortunate expedi-
ton and the people Of the United States,
who have watched with the deepest in
terest that hazardous enterprise, will now
respond to that appeal by the expression
Of their united wishes that every proper
effort may be made by this Government
for the rescue Of your husband and his
companions. ..... ...a ....
To accomplish the object you have in
view, the attention Of American naviga-
tors. and especially of our whalers, will
be Immediately invoked. All the infor-
nation in possession of this Government,
to enable them to aid in discovering the
missing ships, relieving their crews, and
restoring them to their families, shall be
spread far and wide among our DeoDle