Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-10-20

NV Dear Sir:--You ask me whether |
have changed the views / expressed to you
when we parted in May of las, year as to
the fate and actual position of Sir John
Frankln's party, and you remind Inc that
then thought the Northward passage. by
Wellington channel, as the one which they
had most probably taken.
I have seen nothing since to change this
opinion, but many things to confirm it,
Youknow that Sir Johns instructions gave
him the alternative Of this course, after
making decided effort to proceed to the
southward and westward from the neigh
borhood Of Cape Walker. and need not
renew to you the arguments that have de-
monstra,ed his purpose TO avail himself Of
this discretion.
Now our own observation, as well as all
the information which we have derived
from other sources, makes it seem an al
most uavarying fact, that the ice holds
much longer in those parts Of the Sound
which are to the west and south of Wei
Ipeton channel itself should think it
quite safe to say that, under ordinary CIR
cunstances, the navigation, though OBJ
structed and difficult, would be practical
Bile some weeks earlier bv the northern
than by the western route. IL seem to me.
too, nearly demonstrate from ascertaincd
facts that ill., earlier leads occur on the
eastern side Of Wellington channel. The
currents from the pole toward the equator
are modified, oil course, by therotary move
mcnt Of the earth, and our own expert
ence during our long dri!t down the west
cru shore Of Baliin's Bay confirmed the
representations ol all the whalers we met,
thai Ia the first months of the season nc
greater masses Of polar ice track their way
along the western coasts, leaving the cas-
tern comparatively free.
The position Of Franklin's party in the
Winter OF lS45--'G has now been definite
" ascerlaincd. 1t was in the core between
Cape Riley aud the so called Beechy Is
land, which, is, in fact, IA peninsula form
ing the southeastern cape of Wellington
channel. His encampmcnt occupied the
narrow strip OF low land between Lancas-
ter Sound and this channel, and command
cd full view Of the ice-clad water Of both
The traces of his parties continued NINTH
mcr.lly. We even discovered the unmls-
takeable marks Of sledges extending to-
wards the north. These We're, IN one
place, well defined on the Single lime
stone, aud further on, IN the hardened snow
of former years. There can be no doubt,
then, either, that Sir John did in fact pro-
coed north from his first winterng ground,
or that, at least, he made observ atoms in
that direction to a considerable, and we do
not know how great distance.
So much for deduction from the immc-
date results Of your expedition, jointly
with the Blush exploring parties;-l say
Jointly, for you are aware that all moved
together. and that the discoveries at and
near Cape Riley were made.at the same
time by gentlemen Of both nations.
Whether Sir j. Franklin had pene-
tratcd to the southwark and westward be-
fore making harbor at this point is a ques-
ton Of minor Importance: We know that
lie wintered near the great channel, and
from what all the world knows ofthe char
aGter OF Sir John, it is not in the slightest
degree probable that he would rest at
Beechy after the ice had opened along the
eastern shores Of Wellingtonin the let in the
mere hope of being able TO penetrate to
south and west at some later period. If
the ice did become detached he would "a
vail himself Of the earliest leads, even,
il he was resolved to return on his track
when the season should be more advanc-
cd, III order to then push his way toward
Cape Walker. He certainly did leave his
quarters early in 1Sl6, and there are some
marks which might support the idea that
he did 50 somewhat hastily, as if awaiting
himself of an unexpected pathway. Ii
there are no traces Of him III the direction
OF Cape Walker, us there are none Of later
date than 1856 in the neighborhood Of
Beechy, the Inference seems TO me irresis-
,ible that he passed northward by Wei
lngton channel, am, that he did not return.
lilo might DO able to do so without en-
coun'cring any fatal accident We were
ourselves, as. you know, caught nearly
opposite poor Franklin's first sojourn. aud
borne noribward inthe ice for Is days,
directly against the theoretical currents,
and with great rapidiry. We saw at this
time high and domelikc ranges Of land
tending North Westwardly ahead of us,
inihc latitude of &c degrees, at least, and
probably much farther. The axis Of polar
DRIFT must then be more or less from the
Northw estand must have its seats of great
est ice accumulation along the Northern
coast ofwlYt we call Cornwalis's Island.
lnto the region north and west of this,
which for aught we know, may be open
always, aud Which must DC open some
times, as We know, Il contiuiancc of our
drift for a few days longer would have
carried the Ameriean squadron; and it is
not Difficult 10 imagine that Sir John, il
caught in the ice OF Wellington channel,
muy have been impelled BY like cause
III the same direction; as certainly il he
was not SO caught he would follow the
open water. should say that he is now
to he sought for north and west of Corn
wallis Island
AS To the chance ofthc destruction of his
party by the casualties of ice, the return
of our own party after something more
than the usual share Of them is the only
fact that can add 10 what e knew hen
we set out. The hazards from cold and
privation of food may be almost looked
upon as subordinate. The snov-hui, the
FIRE and light from the moss lamp fed
with -Liubber the seal, the narwhal, the
white whale, and occasionally abundant
stores of migratory birds, would sustain
vigorous lie. The scurvy, the worst v,si-
,aiion ofexplorers deprived of permanent
quarters, is more rare in the depths of
polar Winter than in the niilder weather
o.lhe moist Summer; and our two little
vessels c,scouptured both seasons without
losing man.
My impressions are, think, sufficiently
definite as to the manner in which such an
expedition should proceed with reference