The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-10-22


preached ihemi nor could excursions to su,
etslaHee from the vessels be yeniured upon
ihe drifting OF the fields OF ice in which The
vessels we're eRcssed making Their position
Tor any t"enly.iour hours altogether uncer.
tain. Short hunIug expeditions were under.
laken, and some polar bears, deer, foxes and
birds were lgken.
The expedition found no secure harbor
while cruising IN the Arctic regions. As an
Illustration Of the ease with which life may
be sustained in these latindes Surgeon Kane
mentioned that he met with Dane upward
Of 10 years uf age, ho bad spent 55 wears
Of his life North Of 73o, subsstlng during
that period entirely on blrds, fish bears and
other animal food. lie had moi seen veee.
table tho whole time.
The breaking up Of the ice is described BY
the officers of The expedition as commencing
with noise resembling he whistle of loco
motive, followed by singular aud constan,
pulsallon Of the ice.
Fer 81 days Of heir ice bound condition.
the sun did not rise and there was total daik
ness, except at mid day for few moments.
10 the FAINT lgbt IN the South,
1t IS somswhat remarkable that The Eng.
lsh and American expeditions wintered with,
10 fifteen miles Of each ether, without know.
ing 1t, lhe American o:iiccrs only learning it
en- their arrival Of this poli. The return OF
the EaglIsh squadron was also entirely uuex.
Pscted by the ilicers Of the American expe.
cilea.
The following extracts from a letter from
Lady Franklin to Mr.. Henry Grinnel have
been supplied to the press.
u Bedford Place london, Sept. IL, 1851.
MY DEAR Mn. GRrxNELL
~fiie 10 you IA much agitation and con
fusion Of mind, which you viii not wonder at
when YOU hear that Captain Penny, with his
fwo ships has returned and announces tho
gpproa ching return Of Capt. Austln's squad
ron, after being out for only half the period
ior = shich they were equipped.
Cspt. Penny's leitor is 10 day before the
Baard of Admiralty, urging them ia the
strongest lerms to despatch instantly power
itl sieemet to Wellington Channel, in which
quarter, 70 The uauh aest, be has discovered
the passa e which here can be scarcely a
doubt tie ships have taken, since il is the
only opening they have found sny where, and
hundreds Of miles 0 coast have been explof,
cd n The lower western direction TO Cape
" aiker, Banks Land and Melville Island
without ttaee Of them. Dnft wood 10 Goa.
siderable qasnliles has come out Of this north
ses, channel, and also small bit Of rather
fresh Enghsh elm which Penny pronounces
mus Iayo belonged to our ships, and was
probably thtowh overheard.
Thus lhe right track Of the northwest pas
saae and the course Of The missing ships are
identical aud can only regret that our
squadron vas not tod they might attempt
the making ot the passage If they could for
tn that case we should have had no abandon
ing ot the searchtl many more struggles had
been made 10 get lnlo Behfng Straits. The
BarreF Of zee "a Wellington channel did not
break up last year nor he'd done so this, when
Penny left bat his explorations, which ex
tended TO ls0 mtles from the entrance, we're
made beyond il in boat sledges go miles be-
gond this he saw vatcr with land slandlrg
10 the northeast. can hardy conceive
how he could resist following the open water
which he saw beyond hun, and which he Is
convinced leads INTO the so much talked Of
Polar basin. He is also convinced, with DR..
Kane, thai there is better climate in those
moro northern latiludes, with more natural
fesoa ces Of food aud fuel some proofs Of
Hhich, he brings forward. We have every
feason, lhen, 10 hone that some Of our lost
rends and county men may vet be able 10
support life IN this region, though unable TO
return BY the way which they came I; and the
lnnes, on the east side OF Wellington channel,
'toyes nohlng a. all against It, since they
; ere not likely TO lngef on Their way to ex
anime shores and islands, but would push on
u fast as possible while the opportunity IA.
'ofed hem and the next traces 10 be found
4 you'd probably be their second winter quar-.
crs.
In confirmation Of this view, Penny tells
no that there are signs Of their first winter
,ncamnmcnt al Bachey Island, &C., Of their
layng ell i suddenly, and thai the summer
IL lSI6, though extremely unIasorable TO the
; shslers, who, on account Of the prevailing
stnds could not cross over the west side OF
3atiins Bay, must have been quite the re-
erse to our oavlgalors. You may imagine
q what stale OF anxiety ana agitation we
ne TIL We learn the decision of the Adm
hl,ty on the appeal made TO them. have
written q strong letter also, and know that
W. Barron, Who are all at their post, will al /.
,dro the necessity Of prompt measures With I
u tholr powers. Should we fail, we must
ook 10 America alone as our resource. To
,ou VIII belong al the virtue and credit Of
continuing the search when our own country
nen fail, aud 10 you will belong the honor
md glory Of succorlng the distressed and o.