The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-28


stones placed if they had been used for keeping
the lower part of the tents down; also great
quantity of beef pork, and birds bones, piece of
rope, with the Woolwich naval mark in it, (yel-
low part of which have enclosed. Her ma jesty .
| ships assistance and Intrepid, when last seen by
| me. on the Goth August, whilst off Point lnnis APP
peared TO be well with Cape Hotham, carry
ing press of sail, with strong breeze from the
westward. Penny vessels were also in the en-
trance Of the Straits, and two American brigan-
tines, working over towards Cape Hotham.
"As an officer belonging to her majesty service
although not having been especial sent out by her
| majesty's government, deem il incumbent on me
to inform their ordships Of the part this vessel has
taken in the search.
"The Prince albert, under my command, left
Aberdeen on the 9th of June last. On the ID of
July, after experiencing succession of westerly
gales, we arrived OF Cape Farewell. On the 18TH
met some whalers off the Black Hook returning to
the southwark, not having been able 10 accomplish
the passage round Melville Bay. On the 18Th en-
tered the ice, and, the 2lst, came up with Sir
John Ross in labyrinth OF heavy icebcrgs On the
23d, met the remainder of the fleet of whalers
ing To the southwark.
son the Doth made out Captain Austn's and Mr.
Penny's vessels beset in the ice. about fifteen
twenty miles 20 the northward of us. From this
time to the 9th Of August generally bcset
occasionally experiencing some very heavy Shocks
when we succeeded In getting into lead, and
passed Captain Austin within a few miles still be-
set. On the 10th his ships, by the aid of steamers
got into open water, and were towed past us in a
CdlHl Il ne same evening they were again DcSet
On the 18th the steamers, assisted by blasting
forced passage through. 1t being calm Captain
Austin very kindly offered myself and Sir John
Ross tow clear Of the ice, which we most thank
fully and gladly availcd ourselves Of On the 18th
we communicated with the natives at Cape York,
who gave us TO understand that ship answering
the description of the North Star had wintered
somewhere about Wolsenhome Sound. The same
evening the assistance despatched 10 ascertain
the truth OF this report.
son the llth parted company with her macs-
tvs ships RfsOute and Pioneer, having previously
arranged with Captain Austin TO undertake the
| examination Of the south side of Lancaster Sound
and Barrow's Strait from Cape Liverpool 70 Port
Leopold, whilst he visited Possession and Ponds
Bays. On the 18th we made the land five miles to
the eastward of Cape Liverpool, closely inspecting
the coast, keeping within quarter of mile of the
shore, as far the Wolaston Islands. When off
Cape Hay il blowing gale to the eastward
we therefore found it impossible to land. to ascer-
tain II the fuel provisions had been touched since
they were deposited there last year by Mr. Parker
OF the Ifuel0pe From what we could see from our
deck, they did not appear to have been molestcd.
The flagstaff had been blown down. and was lying
on the top of the GOALS. On the outer western
Wollaston Island notice left recording our
visits and the disposition of her majesty ships &C.
"Thc gale having increased would not admit Of
our further examination OF the coast at this times
we We're obliged in consequence of its violence to
stand out in the strait, and heave the vessel to in
the midst of drift ice. On its moderating the next
day we found ourselves oil Cape York. AS il was
At three a m, on the 2lst arrived of the harbor
but found it closed with heavy ice. With much
difficulty our boat succeeded in getting in by being
hauled some distance over the ice. 1t appeared by
document left at the flagstaff that the North Star
had called here the 18th, but from the state of
the ice was unable TO land her provisions, and had
left this to attempt to land them at Port Power or
Mel; otherwise every thing appeared to have been
untouched since her majcstys ships Investigator
and Enterprise left last year. As it intended
by the parties who fitted this vessel out that she
should proceed to Brcntford Bay and commence
operations from that place, made the best of my
way up Prince Regents Inlet in order to effect that
object. As we drew up towards Fury Beach, the
land ice gradually extended off the shore, com
menclng little to the southwark OF Port Leopold
up 10 within ten or fifteen miles of Fury Point
when IL stretched directly across the inlet, appa-
rently in front of Port Bower Finding great
quantities of drift ice setting up the inlet, and like
iy TO close me in, with port to take refuge in,
stood out to northward with the intention Of pro-
ccedng down the western side of North Somerset
On reaching the north end of Leopold leland
found the pack extending from thence across Bar
rows Strait, towards the entrance Of Wellington
Channel. After having forced our way through
great quantities Of heavy drift ice, the vessel re-
ceiying many severe conclusions, we got in with
the land between Cnpes Herschel and Hurd, and
examined the coast as far as Point lunis, in the
w ellington Channel, without finding any further
traces OF tho missing parties, with the exception Of
those already mentioned at Cape Riley.
"Thcre being no possibility of my penetrating
to the ). W.. as had intended, from the heavy ice
in that direction, ran back to Prince Repent's In
let The appearance of the ice being much the
same, with no port TO enter in the vicinity of nv
future operations, was most reluctantly obliged
TO give up the idea of remaining in these regions
more par ucuarly as the season was fast advancing
when the ice begins 10 form, and know from ex-
perence, II this vessel was once caught, there
would he no chance OF our getting out again. as she
has no power 10 bore through it therefore deter
mined, alter the most mature consideration, to re-
turn 20 England. On the 9th ran into Eardley
Bay, near Cape York, and landed n notice with
some provisions Before our men could get on
board gale commenced with heavy sea, which
nearly drove US on shore under the Cape. On the
29th examined the western side Of the entrance TO
Admiralty Inlet, thence across 20 Edwin Bay, keep
ing close along shore TO Possession Bay; OF which
place fell in with the North Star, which / found
had net with the came impeachment in Prince Re
gents Inlet as ourselves, and had, consequently,
not succeeded in entering either Ports Bowen or
Nut, but had landed her provisions inside the VOL
aston Islands. We found that the Resolute had
visited Possession Bay on the 18Th, Captain Austin
having left the night previous in the Piont TO visit
Ponds Bay. On the ID and Sd Of September ex
amined the shores Of Ponds Bay, but could discover
no traces Of Captain Austin's having been there.
Perhaps the North Star may have ben more fortu-
nate, a. ! saw her standing in on the evening Of
my departure. On the It'll lost sight Of Cape
Bowen near Ponds Bay, and on the lst instant ar
rived here; being the last and smallest vessel that
left England, and the first that arrived in Barrow
Straits.
al have, &c, CHARLES c. FORSYTH,
Commander, X. n.
"To the sEc'v TO THE ADHIaALrY, Whitehall"
True copy Of paper found at Cape Riley:
CHER MAJEsrY's ARCTIC sEARcHISo EXPEDITION.
"This is TO certify that Captain Ommanney, with
the officers Of her mnjcstys ships Assisanceand IN
rcpid, landed ut Cape Riley on the 23d Of August,
1850, where he found traces Of an encampmcnt, and
collected the remains Of materials which evidently
prove that some party belonging 10 her majesty's
ships have been detained this spot. Bccchy
Island was also examined, where traces were found
fthc same party.
This is alec 10 give notice that a supply Of pro.
visions and fuel is at Port Leopold Her majes.y's
ships AssisfaHce md fHtrefid were detached from
the squadron under Captain Austin, of Wolstcn-
hulmc, on the 18th instant since which they have
examined the north shores of Lancaster Sound and
Barrow's Straits, without meeting any other traces
Captain Ommanhey proceeds to Cape HOtham and
Cape Walker, in search for further traces Of Sir
John Frankn's expedition.
g Dated on board her maicsty's ship assistance,
of Cape Riley, August 23i, 1850.
" ERAHMUs OMMANNEY."
The vessels at the entrance Of the Wellington
Channel when the Prince dibvt left were The rs
siatance, Captain Ommanncy aud the IabSpid,
screw tender, Lieutenant Commander b. Gator (;