The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-15
No. 900.

the aid of the capstans. Com Smith has favored III
with his plan, but as il requires diagram, we are
prevented inserting it, Others have proposed melt
ing portion of the ice by steam, to allow of the
centre pieces being drawn back to make room for
the passage of the vessels; and there is a consid
cradle number of l4-fect ice-saws put on board tc
work, II required, on the old plan. Lieut.. Gale
and Mr.. Sheppard have followed up the suggcs-
tion in our Gazette of Sth December D. IT. Of the
use of balloon to reconnoitre for a far greater
distance than can be done from the mastheads OF
the vessels Some have suggested the simple flying
of kites during favorable weather, which might be
seen at long distance by the missing voyagers if
they are still alive. large kite could support
light in the night time, which would be easily dis
tnguished from star by its different degrees of
elevation as the kite assembled and descended, its
different position effected by the variation of the
wind. Light rockets might also be sent up, at
tached to the tail of kite, to be discharged by
slow match when run up to high elevation,
which, if successful, would give them double or
treble higher position at the time of explosion.
II is satisfactory to know that, although many of
the suggestions made only theoretical, the gal
gator have paid every attention to them, and will
avail themselves of all that has been stated, accord
ing to the means in their power, when any emer-
gency takes place.
Amongst the articles taken on board is cask la
belled Presents doubt for the Esquimaux,
and its contents stated the top to be $50 files,
800 avis, and 20 lbs. vermillion. large package
of letters is board in strong white leather ba o.
addressed to the officers and crews of her majesty
ships Erebus and Terror, Behring's Straits. There
is an excellent library on board, and every comfort
provided for the officers and crews during the long
winter of the northern regions.
An experiment took place Wednesday at the
principal entrance Of the dockyard in presence Of
Captain Superintendent Austin, C. B., Capt Wash
ington, Captain, Collinson, C.B., Com. Mcclure
Lieut.. Robertson, r. NJ, Capt. Stotherd, Royal En-
gineers, and number of naval and military Off
GERS, to exhibit plan, submitted by Mr.. Shep
hard, for sending dispatches to great extent
Al. =. AZ A.
plan consists in sending up small balloon, to
which is attached a slow match about foot in
length and round the slow match several hundred
pieces of colored paper attached by thread sur
rounding about one hundred Of the pieces Of paper
in each packet. The experiment commenced by
initiating the balloon at the end of the gas tube in
the window of the office of the inspector of police
but there was considerable time occupied in filling
the balloon, which was only about four feet high
owing to its being made of oiled paper, parts of
which were porous. twas at last inflated, but not
sufficiently full to carry up the four hundred pa
pers and slow match attached to it the result was
that three hundred were cut of by DR.. Anderson,
Of the Enterprise, and, on the slow match being
lighted, the balloon ascended admirably, proceed
ing at considerable altitude in the direction of
Woolwich common and Ethan at quick pace on
entering the upper current, there being scarcely
breath of air felt on the ground at the time. The
one hundred pieces OF paper sent up were each five
inches long by two inches broad, all of blue, red
yello ~ drab and various shades of brilliant colors
without any white amongst them, the latter color
would be comparatively useless on the SHOWS of the
northern regions.
Captain Collinson expressed earnest desire
that any person or persons who may find any of
the papers after they fall from the balloon, will
communicate the time and place where they were
found to the superintendent or at the dockyard II
is said that one hundred and fifty similar or
larger balloons will be supplied to each of the
sells of the searching expedition, with a supply Of
sulphurc acid and zinc TO generate gas for iniiat-
ing them. As it would take considerable time to
write on five seven hundred of these ericl de-
spacles and writing-ink ON such soft description
of paper might soon be obliterated, small hand
press, with moderate quantity Of legible type,
would be a very desirable addition TO each of the
vessels, and, with few of colored paper,
would not entail great additional expense to the
Lords of the Admiralty, who have so literally fitted
out the expedition with every description of stores
both for the searching expedition and the missing
expedition, should the latter be met with. Had the
balloon plan been thought of before the departure
of Sir John Frankn's expedition, some Of the pa
pers must have been met with, the high eeva-
ton to which they are carried before they de-
tached would carry them during a strong breeze
a vast extent Of country and if they fell
in the pieces of floating ice, it would be a
considerable time before they all destroyed
and many chances would occur of some of them
being found, if not by whalers, by the Esqumaux.
On Thursday the Enterprise, at o'clock a. m,
left Woolwich towed by the Monkey, steam vessel.
The band Of the Royal Dockyard Battalion struck
up " Britannia rules the Waves and afterwards
played "The Girl left behind me-" and Aud
Lang -syne," concluding with "God save the
Queen" when three hearty cheers and SO one cheer
more were given most enthusiastically by the nu-
merous spectators on the wharf, and the workmen
of the dockyard, who were allowed half an hour TO
witness the departure of the vessels At g. o'clock
Lieut.. Cresswell, formerly mate in Captain Sir
James Rosss expedition, having parted with Mr..
Justice Cresswell and with hsbrothers, off in
boat to the Investigator, and the vessel immedi-
ately left her moorings, towed by the Lightning,
steam vessel, Mast. Com. Pctey, the band playing
the same tunes as previously mentioned and the
cheering Enthusiastically given on the de-
parture Of the Investigator that Of the Enter
prise. The Enterprise brought up first at the
moorngs at Greonhihe, for Captain John on 10
adjust her compasses. The time Of the stay Of the
vessels at Grecnhithe will not permit the compasscs
can be adjusted during the morning tide, and the
vessels leave their moorings 10 proceed their
voyage ON Saturday morning.
The Lords Of the Admiralty having resolved to
visit the Enterprise and Investigator before they left
Grcenhithe, tie Right Hon. Sir r. Il. Barring, Rear
Admiral Dundas, Captain Lord John Hay, and the
Hon. w. Cowper, Lords Of the Admiralty; Captain
Sir b. Walker, Surveyor of the Navy; Mr. John
Parker, First Secretary TO the Admiralty; and Cap
tain Eden, Private Secretary TO the First Lord with
Lady Franklin and Lady Fame, arrived at Wool
wich shortly after twelve O'Clock and were received
by Captain Austin, G. b., and the heads of the va
rious departments Their lordships Immediately
embarked in their steam Yacht, the Black Eagle
Mast. Com. S. b. Cook, and proceeded TO Green
hithe. Their lordships first visited the Enterprise,
and were conducted over the vessel by Captain Col
lnson. Their lordshps then visited the fnvcstiga-
tor, over which they were conducted by Com.
Mcclure, and shortly before three O'Clock, again
embarked in the Black Eagle for Woolwich
From he Londoh Spectator.
France.
France consents 10 exhibit most unseemly com
bination Of arrogance and weakness, which Just