Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-10-26
FROM THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

FROM THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION
Despatch received by the Macy Department from
Lieut.. E. ]. DE HAVEN, commanding the Er-
psdition in search Of Sr John Franklin.
UNITED SrArHs BRIe ADvAscE,
off Port Leopold, Aygrsss %, 1850.
SIR have the honor acquant you with tho proceed
ngs of the squadron under my command since leaving the
Whale Fish Islands, whence my last despatch dated
We sailed the zsth of june but owing to Gains and
very light Winds did reach the latitude Of Uppenavck
tl the 9th Of July Up to this place obstruction fomics
met with We found clear passage of from ten to
twenty miles in width between the land and the pack"
The latter sighted daily and had the appearance Of being
impenetrable.
To the norhwad Of Uppenavick many streams of foeice
werebund extending from the main pack cloe into the land
Throosh hese with fair wind, found little difficulty in
forcing way, til approached Bans Islands, in the
latitude of 74o Here the ice appeared close and contnu
along the land that progress in that direction
rested At the time clear and wide opening presented
itself leading to the wesa We had fah wind sDsr il
and W. directly ia m Lancaster Sound that
could MOI resist the temptation particularly the passage
looked to be almost hopeless by the usual northern route
through Melville Bay. @
For severIhou hope, Of speedy and direct passage
appeared to be confirmed, but after Of forty miles, leo
was made ahead and both sides in continuous line. We
had but entered adsep hight in the main pack.
To return To- the eastward whence came would, per-
hsps have cost days. with the uncertainty Of being able
get along them Besides Of the only three authentic
accounts Of attempts to make the passage through pack in
about this latitude two emineny successful The third
did not succeed sowsll.
In view of these facts houghsi advisable to enter the
theatre Of our researches
We accordingly did so, and for several days succeeded
making headwsy, until 1t last the ice became tight
and imovabIe that became impossible either 10 advance
retreat In this hopeless condition remained until the
29th Of July, when, BY sudden movement of the foes an
opening presented itself to the north southeast wind
spngng up at the tims svaled ourselves Of it,
and, with press of sa succeeded in forcing way into
clear water
On the following dag brought up again by hsice
having made run Of more than sixty miles. The wind by
this time had eshenet gale, which, together with thick
fog made position not little embarrassing The vessels
placed in position could be found;
which they in imminent danger from the
heavy of ice driven before the gale, which pressed
upon them. They wiAstood tine shock, though, bravely
The danger over~on the gale abating.
We were now in latitude 75o Longitude 6Oo in the usual
than the middle one rom whence we had just escaped
However, by keeping along the edge Of the land cs (Which
had appearance Of having moved this season. and
ed full thirty miles from the Shore enabled to avail
ourselves Of occasional openings which appeared with
the changes Of the wind that with the aid Of waps dur
ing calm weather. succeededn reaching Cape Yore on
the 18th instant.
Between Cape Yorke and Cape Dudley Diggs we had
open WATER bat delayed by cams We took advantage
Of the delay and hauled the vessels into the Shore at the
" Crimson Cliff of Beverly, where filled up our casks
from mountain stream These cliffs named from the
red snow on them, specimens Of which obtained.
few miles to the east Of Cape Yorke two Esquimaux
were met with The only thing could understand them
to say was that Of their people living far
distant.
On the 18th got fair wind and, passing Cape Dudley
Dgg shaped for the side Of Ban Bay
The "pack" met with, but it in streams and
very loose that little obstruction found from it, On
the morning of the 9th cleared entirely and decided
swell of the sea indicated that had reached the north
waters"
The day fell n with the squadron of vessels
under Capt. Penny They had been unsuccessful in their
efforts to enter Joness Sound They now bound in the
same direction ourselves.
On the evening Of the 18th entered the Sound, but
violent gale from the eastward accompanied with
thick fog and heavy sea- which compelled heave to.
During the gale we parted company from the Rescue
The following day the wind moderated but the weather
still continued thick and oggy We spent the Of it in
searching for conso without success when 10th to ose
so good wind, we bore up for the westward
On the morning of the 2ls the fog cleared off and
found ourselves off Cape Crawford the southern side Of
the Sound. At the time sail was seep which hoped
might be the Rescue, but proved be the schooner Felix
Captain Sir John Ross.
From him we learned that Commodore Austin was ut
Polds Bay with Of his vessels seeking for information
whilst the other had been dispatched examine tho
north shore of the Sound We also learned that the North
Star might be looked for at Port Leopold. AT that place
resolved touch, Gas well to gain information to send
dispatches home previous to repairing to Wellington S
the appointed place Of rendezvous with consort.
happy inform you that the officers and Of both
vessels perhaps better health than they leaving
New York; and they possessed with spirit which
think argues well for the success Of our enterprise.
Very respectfully, &c.
EDWIN J. DE HAVEN,
Lieut.. Commanding Arctic Expedition.
To the Hon. SECRETARY THE NAvr, Washington.
HATs-Among the minor matters to which the attention
of refomers need directing dress and costume Science