Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-08
THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
The following is the Letter of instructions re-
ceived by Lieut. De HAVEN from the Secretary Of
the Navy, previous to his sailing in search of Sir
JOHN FRANKLIN:
UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT,
Washington Wednesday, May Is, 1850.
Sin: Having been selected to command the Expedition in
search OF Sir John Franklin and his companions, you will
take charge Of the tao brigannes the advance and
Rescue, that have been fitted out for that service and
soon as you ready proceed with them to and make
the best of your way to Lancaster Sound
These vessels have been furnished to the Government for
this service by the munfcence Of private citizen, Mr. HEsRT
GRIENELL, Of New York. You will therefore be careful Of
hem that they may be returned to their owner in good con-
diton They have been provisioned for three years.
Passed Mdshipman g. p Griffin has been selected to COM
mand Of the vessels You will therefore consider him
second in command. Conor with him and treat him
accordingly. .
The chief object Of this expedition to search for and if
found afford relief TO Sir John Franklin, of the Royal Navy,
and his companions.
You will therefore all diligence and make every
ton to this end paying attention you go to subjects OF
scientific inquiry only far the may not interfere
with the main object Of the expedition.
Having passed Barrow Strait you will your attention
northwad to Wellington Channel, and westward to Cape
Walker and be governed by circumstances to the
you will then take.
seeing the condition of the ice, sea- and weather. whether
the vessels shall here separates for Cape Walker and
the other for Wellington Strait whether they shall both
proceed together for the one place or the other.
Should you find impossible account of the ice TO get
through Barrow Strait you will then turn your attention
Joness Sound and Smiths Sound Finding these closed or
impractcab, and failing of all traces Of the missing exped
on the will probably then be too far advanced for
any other attempts. If you will return to New York
Acquant Passed Midshipman Griffin, before sailing and
from time to time during the voyage, fully with all you. plans
and neDons and before you sail from New York appoint
place Of rendezvous change often circumstances
IL rlo. IS
rendezvous fixed upon that in the two vessels of the
expedition may any time become separated, each may
know where to look for the other.
Nearly the entire Arctic front of the continent has been
secured without finding any traces of the missing ships 1t is
useless for you go there, reexamne any other place
where search has already been made. You will therefore
confne your attention to the routes already indicated.
The point of maximum cold is said to be in the vicinity Of
Parry islands To the north and west Of these, there pro-
badly comparative open sea in SUMNER and therefore a
mlder climate.
This opinion be sustained by the fact that beasts
and fowls migrating the ice from the mouth of
These dumb probably led by their wise instincts
to seek genial climate in that direction, and upon the
borders OF the supposed more open sea.
There other facts, elected by Lieut.. Maury in the
Of bis Investigations touching the winds and currents
of the ocean, which go also to confirm the opinion that be-
yond the icy barrier that is generally met with in the Arctic
ocean, there is Polina, sea free from ice.
You have assisted in these investigations at the National
observatory QouOleSS aware OF the circumstances
which authorize this conclusion is therefore needless to
repeat them.
This supposed open and region to the north
and west of Parry Islands UNEMPLOYED. Should you
coed finding opening there, either after having cleared
Wellington Strait after having cleared Parry Islands by
norhwardy from Cape Walker far in your
judgment may be prudent enter and search every head
land promonoy and conspicuous point for signs and records
of the missing party Take particular care to avail yourself
of every opportunity for leaving you records and signs
to tell of your welfare, progress and intentions.
For this purpose you will erect flag stas make piles Of
stones other marks in conspicuous places with bottle
barrica buried at the base containing your letters.
Should the two vessels be separated you will direct Passed
Midshipman Griffin to do likeW ise
Avail yourself Of every opportunity, either by the Esqui-
otherwise, to let the Department hear from you and
in every communication, be full and particular to your u-
ture plans and intended route
If by any chance you should penetrate far beyond the icy
barrier make your Judgment more prudent to push
on than to turn back, you will do and put yourself in
with any of the United States naval forces or
officers of the Government serving in the waters OF the IA
cc in China, according your necessities and opportu
mites Those officers will be instructed to afford you every
facility possible enable you reach the Western Coast OF
the United States in safety.
In the event of your falling in with any Of the British
searching parties you will offer them any assistance OF
which they may stand m need and which it may be in your
power give Oer also, to make them acquainted with
your intended and pans and be ready to afford them
information Of which you may have become possessed
the object Of your search.
In case your country should be involved in during
your absence this service you will account commit
suffer any of the expedition to commit any the least
of hostility against the enemy, of whatever he may be-
Notwithstanding the directions in which you have been
to carry your examinations you may arriving
out upon the field Of operations find that by departing from
them your search would probably be more effectual
The Department has every confidence in your judgment,
and relies implicitly upon your discretion and should it ap
pear during the voyage that by directing attention to
points named in this letter. Of the absent expedition
would probably be found you will not fail to examine such
points, But you will account useessy hazard the safety
the vessels under your command unnecessarily to
danger the officers and committed your charge.
Unless circumstances should favor you, by enabling to
penetrate before the young ice begins to make in the fall far
the unexpored regions to discover recent traces of the
missing ships and their gallant crews unless you should
gain position from which you could commence operations in
of 1851 with decided advantage you will endeavor
not to be caught in the ice during the ensuing winter but
er having completed your examinations for the make
your escape, and return to New York in the fall.
You especially enoned spend, if can be avoid
d, than one winter in the Arctic regions.
Wishing you and your gallant companions all success in
your noble enterprise and with the in God that He will
AXE you and them in his holy keeping,
am very respectfully your obedent p servant
To EDWIN ]. De HAVEN, 1t commanding
the Am. Arc. Expedition, &c, New York.
We append list Of the officers and men of the expedition
The Adrdnce-E. j. De Haven, commander VIM. II.
Nurdaugh, first officer VIM 8. Lowell, second officer
elisha H. Kane, surgeon. Men-Wm. Norton JAS Smith,
Edward Boyd, John Bunnon Lewis Coster, Edward Viii.
ION Caru'her. Daniel Vaughan, VIM. Weast, Chas Berry,
md Edward c. Delano
The Rescue.-S p. Griffin, commander X. r. Carter,
irst officer; Henry Brooks second officer; Benjamin Vree