The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-05-04
From the National Intelligencer
Highly Interesting Correspondsnee.
Letter from The Lady of SIR John Franklin TO the Pres
dent Of the Unled States

BEDFORD PLACE. London, April 4. lsis
SIR address myself TO you the head OF a great
nation, whose power 10 help mo cannot doubt and IN
whose disposition to do so have confidence which |
trust you will not deem presumptuous.
The name OF my husband, Sir John franklin, is proba,
Oily not unknown to you 1t IS intimately connected ,s
American republic forms vast and conspicuous por-
lion When visited the United States three years ago.
amongst the many proofs received of respect and court
esy there was none which touched and even surprised
than the appreciation everywhere expressed to
of his former in geographical discovery and
the interest felt in the enterprise in which he was then
known to be engaged
The expedition fitted out by our government for the
discovery of the Northwest Passage Chat question which
for three hundred years has engaged the interest and baf
fled the energies OF the man OF science and the NAVIGATOR
sailed under my husbands command in May 1913. The
two ships "Erebus" and Terror" contained 80 men,
Officers and crews and vctualled for three years
They not expected home unless had early
rewarded their efforts casualty FASTENED their re-
turn, before the close OF 1877 any udings ex-
pected from them IN the interval But when the autumn
OF ls47 arrived without any intelligence OF the SHIPS the
attention OF her Maestys government was directed 10
them, OF their being imprisoned in wrecked,
and want of provisions and means OF transport For thus
purpose expedition, in three divisions, was fitted out
the early part of last year, directed 10 three different
quarters simultaneously, viz
First, that by which, in of success, the ships
would come out of the Polar to the westward, Cor
Behring's Slrait)
Second to that by which they entered on their
of discovery, the eastern side, Tor Davls's Strait
shore, approachable by land from the Hudson Bay Com
pany's settlements, which was supposed the crews,
If obliged TO abandon their ships, might be found
This last division OF the expedition was placed under
the command of my husbands faithful friend, the com
panon Of his former travels, Dr. SIR John Richardson
who landed at New York in April of last year, and
FASTENED to Join his men and boats, which were al
ready in advance towards the Arctic shore Oi ihis
portion OF the expedition may briefly say, that the abb
sence of any intelligence from Sir John Richardson, at
this proves he has been unsuccessful IN The object
of his search. The expedition intended for Behrng S
Strait has hitherto been complete failure IT consisted
of single ship the Pover which, owing to her setting
off late and to her bad sailing properties, did not even
approach her destination last year The remaining and
most important portion of the searching expedition
ssts of two ships under the command Of Sir James Ross
which sailed last May for Davis's Strait but did not sue
coed, owing the OF the ice, getting into Lancas-
Sound till the for operations had nearly closed
These ships are now wntering IN the ice and store
ship about to be dispatched from hence With provisions
and fuel TO enable them TO stay out another year but
of these vessels is in great degree, Withdrawn from
active search, by the necessity OF watching at the en-
trance of Lancaster Sound for the arrival of intelligence
: and instructions from Eng land by the whaers
have entered into these details with view OF proving
that, though the British government has not forgotten
i the duty il to the brave men whom II has sent on
perous service and has spent very large sum IN pro-
vdng the means for their rescue yet that owing to va
the actually In operation Tor tins pur
pose quite inadequate to meet the extreme eXlgence
of the case for II must be remembered that the missing
ships vicualled for three years only and thai
nearly four years have elapsed, that the survi
vors of so many winters in the be at the last
: extremity; and also it must be borne in mind that the
channels by which the ships may have attempted to
force passage 10 the westward which they may have
been compelled by adverse circumstances TO take are
Al very numerous and complicated, and that or two
7, ships cannot possibly in the course OF the next sho
g summer explore them all.
), The Board of Admiralty, under conviction of this
fact has been induced to otter reward of 100000 ster
e ing 10 any ship ships OF any country, or to any ex
8 poring party whatever, which shall render efficient
ssance TO the missing ships or their crews or to any
is portion of them. This announcement, which, even il
'r the had been doubled trebed, would have me
" with public approbaon comes, however, too late fO
y our whalers, which had unfortunately sailed before
n issued and which, even if the news should oyertakt
ii them their fishing grounds totally untitled for any
y prolonged adventure, having only few months pro
e visions on board and no additional clothing. To tn.
American whaers both in the Atlantic and Pacific,
ut look with hope competitors for the prize being
well OF their numbers and strength their thorough
equipment, and the bold spirit OF enterprise which an
,r mates their But venture 10 look even beyon'
re these. not without hope that you will deem il no
unworthy OF great and kindred nation to take up TN
l. cause Of humanity. which plead in national SPIRIT ant
re thus generously make 1t your own
must here gratitude adduce the example of the I'm
g pera Russian government, which, as am led to hop
r by his exceency the Russian ambassador IN London
who forwarded memorial on the sube will send GU
re exploring parties this from the Asiac side
ID Behring's Strait northwarIs in search OF the lost yes
ID sells 1t would be noble spectacle to the world thre
great nations possessed OF the widest empires on the fac
OF the globe, thus to unite their efforts IN the tru
Christian work OF saving their pershng fellow men iron
II destruction
II 1t is not for me to suggest the mode in which such be
u nevoen efforts might best be made. will only say
y however, that II the conceptions OF my own mind, t
y which do not venture to give utterance realized
ID aud that the noble competition which followed Ameri
can seamen had tina good fortune to wres from tn
e glory might be the of solving the problem OF tn
l. unbound passage the still greater glory of saving
adventurous navgaors from lingering fate which tn
mind sickens 10 dwell on, though should in either
u regret that not my brave countrymen III hos
seas whose devotion thus rewarded yet should re
loce that 1t to Americ0 owed restored happ
: ness and should be forever bound her by of aec
Q tlonate gratitude.
am not without some mlsgivngs while thus address
you. The intense anXIetes of vile and OF daughle
may have led me to press earnestly your notice IN
trial under which suffering yet not oly, bu
. hundreds of ohersD and to presume too much on tn
sympathy which assured is felt beyond the limit
d of our own land. Yet if you deem this TO be the case
you Will still nd am sure, even IN that personal lnten
of sy OF feeling for the eaT,essness with which
have thrown myself your generosity and will par
d don the homage thus pay to own high character
and to that OF the people whom you have the hg
distinction to preside.
}" have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, you
obeden servant, JANE FRANKLIN.
beg to annex some explanatory papers.
Notice Of the expeditions of discovery and search
the Arctic
In the year lS45 her Majesty's government a
expedition Tor the purpose of discovering northwest
sage between the Atlantic and Pacific along tn
northern coast OF America, between Davis's and Be