Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-12
NATIONAL .INTELLIGENCER:
THE PRINCE ALBERT Axp THE "ADyANCE'' =
IN THE ARCTIC SEAS. .#

FOrsVths
ed in the summer months of 1850. will be handed down to
y as one OF most remarkable, If not The most re-
mark able that has been accomplished in the Arctic
as."-Engish paper. -- Haa
On the 2sth Of March, 1850, letter written from this
city and jealous personal friend of Lady FRANK
LIZ n England calling his atentonto the fact that in the
several proposed for the renewed search for SIR John
Franklin an important point for examination was overlooked
None OF the plans before the public provided for the eIam
nation of Prince Regents Inlet The letter was written Tor
the purpose Of calling attention 10 that point
ed FIRST that Sir John, after passing Barrows Strait might
have been able pass to the sou'h or southwest or
west or north-he directions named in his instructions Sc
condy that meeting with distractions from ths Ice TO Inc
ives, OF Baows Strait be would probably take the course
he had himself Indicated and try for passage through Re-
gents Inlet and thirdly, that without thorough e1am
nation Of the Inlet the search for Franklin could not be con-
sidered complete, It proposed to omit examination
in any other direction, but include this general system
of search.
II was aerward. determined in England to send out
vessel for on exploration in part Of that Inlet but not upon
the plan nor for the reasons suggested in the letter before
referred to- The "reasons offered nducement
for exploration Of the Inlet appear have been based on
the late generally fact that Franklin did not enter
Prince Regents Inlet at all and the searching expedition
instead Of endeavong to reach the bottom OF the Inlet was
merely proceed far Brenford Bay, and there
mence explorations toward the apocpha west coast Of North
Somerset. r.. ft t.4as#. ..at.
In the London Nautical Standard of May A., 1850, the
new branch of search is thus noticed # eH
We have lately discussed the various degrees of pro-
baby which belong to the several routes proposed for the
search Of Sir John Franklin in the Arctic regions, that
ther word upon that subject might now useless How
ever proposition, emana,ng fom friends Of Sir John
franklin proposing for its object expedition by the way Of
Prince Regents Inlet having within the last week been
envey ventilated, may be permitted, without espass
ing upon the patience fobearance Of readers add
few words upon the subject" a +. 4.
1t is added that "he reason. which are offered as an in
ducemen this additional of eIerton may be thus
shortly stated: s.n@ .5.t Fl
ssFs, having regard 10 the instructions Of Sir John
franklin and seeing that these instructions direct straight
Melville Island without stopping examine either
10 the northward southwark in that strait but to continue
to the westward without loss of time, until he should reach
Cape Walker it is assumed that Sir John Franklin may
have abandoned his vessels the southwest Of Cape
Walker 1 ..,& ~
All this might be clear and plain sailing the readers
of the Nautical Standard There others whom may
not be clear. The Standard errs, however, in saying
Frankns instructions " direct straight Melville
Island"f He not directed go to Melville Island,
because bis instructions say, loss Of time would be in
Cured in renewing the attempt in that direction Nor does
appear very plain how, by keeping " straight
Melville Island and then, by continuing the westward he
could reach Gaze Walker whereabouts be would get
the southwest of that Cape 5.r tss-ss----~
The Standard then proceeds to give length and in
ode the probabilities OF successful result Of the projected
enterprise Several of the suggestions presented those from
Capt Beerhy particularly somewhat curious The whole
is summed up thus: 4 H a as nla s&&"E H
The lastly projected expedition then proposes to provide
the of acting upon the probability OF the expedition
Fankn having been intercepted shortly after passing to the
souhward of Cape Walker" . ....g
Now let it be observed that, up to the 25h of August
1885, the date Of the last from that region (and
the latest which any the remarks herein
made appy) nothing is TO be found in the journals
observations of navigator 10 make appear all probable
that any vessel has passed. that 1t possible any
sell by The way Of Baros Strait, pass to the south
ward of Cape Walker" The southern shore Of Parrys
Polar Sea- has whenever has been seem presented in all
icebound Parry, who discovered and named
Cape Walker and made approach it in bis first
voyage than any other navigator found between him and the
coast there and from cape cape fixed ice OF many
miles in extent solid and impenetable by ship the firm
land itself. 4aa "a X t5r.4.& aFfga@@ a 4am 81
Capt. Sir James Ross it true, talks Of travesns the
wes Of North Somerset in the Of Is49 and
has given deneaon Of such coast which now found
the Admiralty charts but be water there II is
possible there may be of North Somerset where
Sir James Ross has marked it, but there no recorded
dence Of the existence Of open water Of any current drift
Of the water such should be found between Cape
Bunny and Cape Walker these capes separated by
strait between the ssPolar Sea- Of Capt Parry and King
Williams Sea" Of Cspt. Ross, or any other sea.
Capt Ross, earlier day, placed record his opinion
To reach Behring's Strait through Bans Bay sup
posed be necessary for Franklin to pass to the southwest
ward from Cape Walker 1t this necessity only that
opened the passage in that direction In his remarks on
Dr. Kings plan of search, The 2sh of February ls4s
be says: .N't is S'ts.t
It is far more probable, however, that Sir John Frank
lin, 10 obedience his Instructions would endeavor to push
his ships the south and they passed Cape
Wslker and the consequences Of such measure, owing
the known prevalence Of westerly Winds and the drift Of
the main body of the ice would be 10 my opinion their in
eyable embarrassment and he persevered in that dec
ton which be probably would do have hesitation in
stating my conviction be would be able to excae his
ships. and would be ultimately obliged to abandon them It
is therefore in latitude 73 n and longitude 1852 W. that we
may expect find them involved 10 the ice, or shut up in
some harbor." .s IN u,t
These the opinions Of Capt Ross while preparations
going for his last Arctic expedition, which he
sailed the 18th Of May ls4s. 1t is curious and instruc
tive to follow him, for the purpose Of ascertanng from his
the value he placed his opinion, deliber
aey formed and submitted to the Admiralty.
Did he, in ls4s, attempt reach the point (73o N. 1852
W. where, in ls4s, be "expeced" to find Franklin in
vVived in the ice, shut up in some harbos By no