The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-31
Z H L r EPU BLIC.
The Arctic Expedi,ien.

The Arctic Expedition.
Report Of The proceedings Of her majestys ships En-
terprise and Investigator, beticee the 18th Of July,
ls4s, and their a'rioal IN England on the Sd Of No
uember, lSi9
The following communication will be perused
with profound interest being full report of the pro-
ceedngs of her majesty's ships Enterprise and In
vestigator, under the command of Captain Sir James
Ross, between the date of his last despatch to the
Secretary of the Admiralty, from Upernayik, in
July, 1913, and the arrival of the expedition off
Scarborough on the Sd of this present November:
''In accordance with the intentions expressed to
the Secretary of the Admiralty, in my letter of the
18th of July, s4S, her majesty's ships Enterprise
and Investigator sailed that day from the Danish
settlement of Upernavk.
"By running through an intricate archipelago Of
islands, which lies off the main land, and seems to
keep of the pressure of the main pack we succeeded
in passing the position in which the whale ships had
been SO long detained, and made every day adj
vance to the northward until the 10th, when
made fast to berg aground off Cape Shackleton.
.Here were joined by the Lord Gambler (of
Hull,) Mr. X. Hill, master, who informed me that,
having to the southwark with all the rest Of the
whaling ships, and having carefully examined the
pack edge for nyopening that might lead them to
the westward, he had come to the conclusion there
was not the smallest chance, from the close, COM
pact, and heavy nature of the ice, for any ship
crossing to the west coast of Bafn bay this
He had, therefore, returned to the north, and ex-
tfldt all tne Ottler Snlp5 would lOllOW
him, and endeavored to round the north end Of the
packs he spoke very confidently of being able to
complish this by the first week of August, and prom
ised at any rate to remain in company with until
the Sd of August. We cast off from the berg early
the next morning, towing the ships through loose
streams of ice towards some lanes of water, which
had opened out during the calm which prevailed all
night
'Our progress was, however, very slow during
this and the next few days. and our situation often
difficult and embarrassing.
son the morning of the 26th, when off the Three
Islands of Baffin, III lat IA deg. NJ, we
prised, on the fog clearing off, to see the Lord Gam
bier, about eight miles distant standing under all
sail to the southwark, thus disappointing of the
only remaining means of forwarding information
of our proceedings to their lordships; and this
the more annoying, as we had only the evening be-
fore passed within quarter of mile of her, when,
upon any signal of her intention of going to the
southwark, we would have placed on board Of her
all our letters and dispatches. Her enterprising
commander deserves the highest praise for perse-
vering alone far beyond all his fellows, and, had
it depended him. believe he would not have left
us until we had got through the great difficulty of
Melville bay.
varying circumstances of perplexity and success
for although could not but feel assured that
should eventually get through the Melville bay
barrier, yet Gains and light winds greatly inn
peded any movement in the pack, that day after
day passed away until the season had SO far adj
vanced as to preclude every hope of accomplishing
much, if any thing before the setting in of winter
No exertions, however, were spared to take adj
vantage Of every opportunity OF pushing the ships
forward, until on the Doth of August, during
heavy breeze from the northeast, the ships, under
all the sail they could carry, bored through pack
OF ice OF but moderate hckness, but having amongst
it heavy masses mingled with the lighter ice that
covered the larger surface, through which il
necessary to drive ships at all hazards. The shocks
they sustained during this severe trial great,
but fortunately without serious damage TO them.
nndt Tho Nl..aF Tho
Goth August, in lat. 75 deg. N, and lon. 65 deg W.,
and steered direct for Ponds bay, where felt
sured of meeting with the whale Ships. il any sheuld
have crossed To the west land, and might learn from
them if the Erebus and Terror, or their party in
boats, had passed along that shore, and also with
view TO communicate with the Esquimaux, who
nually visit the coast, and from whom we might
have derived information of our absent friends.
son the 23d we made the land, about ten miles to
the southwark Of Ponds bay, and could trace the
line OF the main pack close in against the land, at
distance OF three or four miles TO the southwark,
so closely pressed home 10 leave no room for
ships or boats pass between il and the shore We
next stood into Ponds bay and hove to, within half
a mile of tLose points upon which the Esquimaux
are known To place their summer residences firing
guns every half hour, and with our glasses closely
examining every part of the shore, without being
able 10 discern any human being.
"From Ponds bay we commenced rigid ex-
animation OF the coast TO the northward, Keeping
the ships close in along the land, so that neither
people nor boats could have passed without our
seeing them. Opposed by strong current, al
though going before the wind between two and
three knots through the water, we found by the
suit Of all observations as well as by unerring
marks on the land, that were sometimes carried
astern against the wind.
"On the Goth we arrived of Possession bay, and
party was sent on shore TO search for any traces
of Sir John Franklin expedition having touched
at this general point of rendezvous. Nothing was
found but the paper left there recording the visit of
Sir Edward Parry in 1919. The paper was very
much damaged but by careful washing and fitting
together, nearly every word was clearly deciphered
Qt Is preserved.)
''From this point we continued the examination
Of the coast with equal care for we fully expected
every hour to those of whom were in search,
and the most vigiant lookout kept aloft and
from the deck.
"On the lst of September arrived of Cape
York, and party was sent un shore to seek for
friends, and to fix a conspicuous mark at this
mar kable point, in which was placed a paper for
the guidance of any party that might fall in with
il. This service was performed by Lieutenant Nc
Clintock with much skill, under very difficult cir
cumstances
every day we were in the practice of throwing
overheard cask from each ship, containing papers
with information of all our proceedings guns were
fired during ioggy weather, and blue lights and
rockets during the hours of darkness, the ships
beng kept under such easy sail, that any boat
seeing the signals might have reached them
"The general tenor of the information thus dis
ributed along the coast, was TO acquaint Sir John
Franklin, or any Of his party, that the whale
ships have not been able 10 10 the west land Of
Bafin bay, they could have hope of assistance from
them, and recommending them 10 make for Port
Leopold, where intended to form a depot of pro-
visions, and perhaps leave the Investigator TO win
ter there; they would, at any rate, with the provi
sions, find notice of the position in which the
nearest ship passing the winter.
"It, therefore, became necessary To push for Port
Leopold TO fulfil these promises, for had any of his
party met with one OF these notices, they would
suredly have gone TO that point.
We accordingly stood over from Cape York To-
wards NE. Cape, until came in with the edge
Of the pack too dense for TO penetrate lying be-
tween us and the Leopold island, about Ia miles
broad but as we could perceive that it still in
motion, we hoped that a few days might produce a
favorable change, and, in the mean time, stood
TO the north shore Of Barrow Strait TO seek
harbor further TO the westward and to examine the
numerous inlets of that shore. Maxwell bay and
several smaller indentations were thoroughly ex-
plored; and although got near the entrance Of
Wellington Channel the firm barrier of ice which
stretched across it, and which had not broken away
this season, convinced ms all was impractcabl in
that direction.
We stood TO the southwest, 10 seek for a
harbor near Cape Rennell, but found heavy body