Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-05-16
course Of discovery, the eastern SIDE Cor Davis

course OF discovery, on The eastern sde Cor Davis
Suat.)
tic shore, spproachable by land from the Hudson
Bay Company's settlements, on which it was sup
posed the crews if obliged to abandon their ships,
might DO found.
This last division OF the expedition was under
the command my husbands's faithful friend, the
companion Of his former travels, DIR. Sir John Rich
ardson, who landed at New York in April of last
year, and fastened To join his men and b6a,s which
were already in advance towards the Arctic shoe.
Or this portion Of the expedition may briefly say.
that the absence of any Intelligence from Sir John
Richardson at this season, proves that he has been
unsuccessful in the object of his search. The en-
petition intended for Behring's Straits has hitherto
been complete failure. 1t consisted ola single
ship, the Plover, which, owing her setting of too
late. and TO her bad sailing properties, did not
approach her destination last y, ar. The remain
ng and most important portion Of the searching eX-
petition consists oftwo ships, under the command
of Sir James Ross, which sailed last May for Da-
Wis., Strait, but did not succeed owing 10 the state
Of the lce in getting into Lancaster Sound till the
season for operations had nearly closed. These
ships winteIing in the ice, and store ship
is about 10 be despatched from hence with provis-
ions and fuel To enable them TO stay out another
year. but one OF these vessels is, in great degree,
withdrawn from active search, by the necessity of
watching at the entrance of Lancaster Sound for
thearriva ofintelligenCe and instructions from Eng
land by the whalers.
have entered into these details with 4 view Of
proving that, though the British Government has
not forgotten the duty itowesto the brave whom
1t has sent OF perilous service and has spent
very large sum IN providing the means for their
rescue, yet that owing to various causes, the means
actually in operation for this purpose quite in
adequate TO meet the extreme eNigcnce of the case;
Tor II must be remembered thai the missing ships
Nlctu1llpI Gr yGaT and hot
nearly four years have now elapsed, so that the
survivors of So many winters in the ice must he a,
the last extremity; and also it must be borne in
mind that the channels BY which the ships may
have attempted TO force passage to the westward ,
or which they may have been compelled by adverse
circumstances To take, are very numerous and com
plica,ed, and that one or two ships cannot posi-
bly, in the Of the next short summer explore
them all
The Board of Admiralty, under conviction of
this fact, has been induced to oilera reward of C20-
OOO sterling to any ship or ships of any country,
to any exploring party whatever, which shall rem
der efficient assistance TO the missing ships or 10
their crews, or any portion ofthem. This announce
ment which, even if the sum had been doubled or
trebed, would have met with public appreciation,
comes, however, too late for whalerS, which
had unfortunately sailed before it issued, and
which, even if The news should overtake them at
their fishing grounds, totally untitled for any pro-
vision on board and no additional clothing. To the
American whalers both in the Atlantic and Pacific,
look with more hope as competitors for the prize,
being well aware Of their numbers and strength,
their thorough eQu pmcn, and the bold spirit of en-
'erprlse which aninaes their crews. But / ven
ture to look even beyond these. | am not without
hope that you will deem it not unworthy ola great
and kindred nation TO take up the OF humanity
winch plead in 4 national spirit, and thus yener-
ouSly make ii Your own.
must here in gratitude adduce the example Of
the Imperial Russian Government, which, as | am
led 10 hope by his eXcelIency The Russian Ambassa-
dor In London, who forwarded memorial on the
subject will send out exploring parties this summer
from the Asl&t!c side of Behring's Strait, norhwards
in search % the lost vessels. Ii would be noble
spectacle 10 the world II three great na,ons posses
sed of the widest empires The face Of the globe,
were thus 10 unite their efforts in the truly chris
tan work Of saving their pershing fellowmen from
destruction.
1t is not for me 10 suggest the mode in which
such benevolent efforts might best be made, | will
only say, however, that if the conce pons, of my
own mind, TO which do not venture to give utter
ance, were realized, and that in the noble compile
ton which followed, American seamen had the good
fortune 10 wres from the glory, as might be the
case, Of solving the problem of the unbound pas
sage, or the still greater glory of saving adven
turous navgators from lingering fate which the
mind sckens to dwell on, though should in either
case regret that ii was not my own brave country
men in those seas whose devotion was thus steward
ed, yet should rejoice tina. it was to America we
owed our restored happiness, and should forever BE
bound to her by tears Of a1Iectiona,e gratitude.
] am not without some misgivings while thus
address you. The intense anXieties of a wife and
Of daughter, may have led me press too earnest
ly on your notice the trial under which we are suf
ferlng, (yet not we only, but hundreds of others
and TO presume too much on the sympathy which
we assured is felt beyond the limits of their own
land. Yet if you deem this 10 be the case, You will
still find, am sure, even in that personal intensity
Of feeling an excuse for the fearessness with which
have thrown myself on your generosity, and will
pardon the homage thus pay TO your own high char
acter, and TO that of the people over whom you have
the high distinction TO preside. ,,ny
have the honor TO be, Sir. 5<zZs-)
With great respecs,1Z2L3
Your obedient servant,
JANE FRANKLIN.