Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-07
SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.

We have noted the fact of the passage in the u S.
Senate OF resolution authorizing the President OF the U.
States to accept and attach to the Navy two ves-
sells offered by Henry Grinnell ESQ.,, OF New York,
to be sent to the Arctic Seas in search of Sir John
Franklin and his companions. When the subject was
under discussion in that body the measure was op-
posed among others, by Mr. Foote
The resolution finally passed, yeas %, nays l6
1t only needs therefore, the signature ofthe President
become operative.
In connection with this subject we copy the follow
ing passages from Washington letter in the Newark
Daily Advertiser, which will be read with interest:
learn, through a source on which am wont to rely
for naval information that of these vessels, Uhe
Rescue, is to be commanded by Captain Griffin an Of
lcer OF great experience the other (the Lady Franklin
by Lieut. Edwin J. DeHaven, of the Navy Lieut..
Deflaven has been connected with the Observatory
which has been good preparatory school, But, be-
sides, he has been long in the Navy He entered it in
1922 so that he has been more than 20years IN the
vice. and 10 years of that period at sea- When YOU are
made of the fact reached by that startling "te-
tale, the Naval Register, that few naval officers
who entered the service before him. have not been at
more than two or three years. You will be better able
TO infer his peculiar qualifications
Lieutenant DeHaven will be well provided for this
perilous adventure. learn that Professor Maury has
prepared at the request of Mr. Grnne through Presi-
dent Taylor in anticipation of the certain departure OF
the expedition, assistance or no assistance from Con-
gress tensive photographic charts and explanations
of arctic navigation In these the various marine routes
sketched and arranged with indications as to the
whereabouts of Sir John Franklin, which will be uner-
ring, it his discovery be at all possible and they are
strictly followed by the expedition.
| In this labor Professor Maury has fully justified the
expectations OF his friends to his scientific acquire
mens, and passionate devotion to bis tavorte pursuit
Indeed, who that has examined his productions-espe-
ciay his letter the whaling merchants and command
ers OF New Bedford which is among the more popu-
aIized products OF his polite pen-could have doubled
for moment his peculiar fitness for the responsible per-
Torrance made requisite by the interesting movemen,
under notice!
| | remember, with pleasure, Professor Maury's first
essays They published in the Southern Literar,
Messenger, at least twelve years ago He has well re-
deemed the promises of genius then given and the Co.
vernmen has had the good sense to appreciate and os
ter his abors in the important sphere to which nature
| has assigned him.
AS 1t may be interesting to many, add list of the
vessels already engaged in the perious search after S
John Franklin and his adventurous comrades. Thel
names and destination as follow The North Star
| Darss Straits; the Herald, Plover, Enterprise ans
Investigator, Behring's Straits; the Sophia and Lady
Franklin, Jones Sound and Wellington Channel; the
Resolute Assistance, Pioneer Intrepid and Felix Cans
| Walker, Banks Land and MeluiUe Island-the last
five forming squadron under charge of that arctic We
eran, Sir John Ross, whose head has felt the blast
seventy winters and become almost as white as Arctic
| SHOWS.
All the foregoing are British vessels. When the Anne
rican Lady Franklin $50 appropriately bearing the
of that pattern of uxoral devotion and perseve-
rance the bereaved wife of the lost one) and the "Res-
cue added there will be in all fourteen yesSes un-
der sail Hopeful hearts and prospecting gales attend
them Their mission is as heroic romanc-as phi
lanhropic as honorable. The prayers of anxious mil
lions, two worlds will attend them on their perilous
adventures into reg ions where many brave hearts
have found icewalled graves