Washington telegraph., 1849-04-18
THE FRANKLIN EXPEDITION.

By single angry word
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THE FRANKLIN EXPEDITION.
The New York Journal of Commerce
gives us in condensed shape the history
of this expedition, in the fate of which
the most intense interest is felt:
The expedition of Sir John Franklin
for the discovery of northwest passage
to the Pacific, has now been absent about
nearly four years 1t left England it May.
of 1915, with directions to proceed at
once to Lancaster Sound, and to pene-
trate, with as little delay as possible, thro'
that and it's continuation, Barrow's Strait,
until it should reach the longitude OF
Cape Walker, about SO degrees west,
from which point every effort was to be
made to penetrate in a couse as direct as
possible towards Behring's Straits. Capt.
Franklin was left to. exercise his own
Judgment as to the propriety of persever-
ing in the object of his search, or of re-
turning to England, in case he should
meet with obstacles. The expedition un-
der his command consisted of two ships,
the Erebus and Terror, which had recent
ly returned from the Antarctic expedition
under Sir James Ross, and were admira-
bly, adapted for service in polar seas
They were manned by l33 men. The
last accounts received from them bear
the date of July 26th, following their de-
parture, when they were fallen in with in
Melville Bay. Since that time no au-
thentic tidings have been received from
them. nor trace of the expedition found'
which is regarded as somewhat remarka-
BILE, inasmuch as Capt. F. was instructed,
after passing latitude IS, to throw over
board, once every day, closely sealed
bottle or copper cylinder, containing pa
per stating date, position, &c. The ru-
mors recently circulated to the effect that
two boats filled with white men had been
seen by a party Of Esquinax Indians to
the east of Mackenzie's river, and gener-
ally discredited, being considered as orr
ginating only in the queries OF the Hud-
sons Bay traders, and the desire OF the
Indians to excite curiosity, with the hope
of gaining some pecuniary advantage.
Although the project of sending an ex-
nedition for the relief of Sir John Frank
lin and the party under his command was
agitated as early as September OF 1910, II
was not till the close of 1S47, that, as the
result of several conferences held with
some of the most experienced Arctic voy-
ayers, the British Government resolved
that three separate expeditions should be
equipped to penetrate the frozen ocean, IN
as many different directions, and make
search for the missing adventurers.-
The first consisted Of two ships, under the
command of Sir James Ross, was to toll
low the track of the Erebus and Terror,
by the way of Lancaster Sound. These
vessels were built expressly tor the pur-
pose, and provided with screw propellers,
launches and provisions for three years,
The second, also consisting of two ships,
under Commodore Moore, was to enter
the Northern ocean by the way OF Behr-
ing's Straits, and explore the shores as tar
to the eastward as the mouth OF Mac
kenzie's River, One of these vessels, the
Herald. arrived at Panama few weeks
since from the North, without having
made any discoveries. English papers
state that she will now be sent from
Mazatlan. in the Pacific, to- Behring's
Straits, to communicate with her consort
the Plover.l The third, consisting OF
boat party, under the command OF Slr
John Richardson, was to descend Mac
kenzies River in boats, and prosecute the
search as far and as throughly as posi-
be the eastward OF its mouth. These
boats, with their crews, left England IN
the summer of 1847, with the expectation
ofreaching the mouth of the Mackenzie
about the first of August. Sir John is
directed to explore the latter river, also
the Coppermine, and examine the shores
of Wollaston Land. If unsuccessful his
searchis to cease after the winter Of 049,
when he will take steps to- return to
England, at the earliest practicable mo-
ment.
In Frazier's Magazine, from which the
foregoing particulars have been gathered
it is stated that in the opinion OF Arctic
voyagers Franklin's expedition had pro-
visions enough to last them till the ap-
tumn of 1S49. There is possibility,
therefore, that the party still survive,