New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-10-08

Ne annexed letter from surgeon Name
20 Nj. Henry Grlnnell VIII be interesting as Civ
iug tie opinion Of competent observer IL re-
gard to the question Of Sir John 'Frankln's
position
RENSSELAER,. NEAR PBILADELrHA,
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 1851.
My DEAR SIR You ask me whether | have
changed the I expressed you when
parted May OF last year "a the fate and actual
position Of Sir John Frankln's party. and YOU re-
mind me that then thought the northward passage,
BY Wellington Channel, IS the one which they had
most probably taken
! have nothing since to change this opinion,
but many things to confirm It. You know that sir
Johns instructions gave him the alternative Of this
course after making decided effort to proceed to
the southwark and westward from the neighbor
hood Of Cape Walker, and | need not renew TO YOU
tie arguments that have demonstrated bis purpose
TO avail himself OF this discretion
Now our own observation, well as all the infor-
nation which We have derived from other sources,
makes seem an almost unyarymg fact. that the ice
holds much longer IN those parts ofthe Sound which
are 10 he west and south of Wellington Channel
than N the Channel Itself | should think It quite
safe 10 say that under ordinary circumstances, the
navigation though INSTRUCTED and difficult would be
practicable weeks earlier BY the northern than
the western route. II seemed 10 me, too. very
nearly demonstrate from ascertaned facts that the
earlier tcHdS occur on the eastern side of yelling
ton Channel. The currents from the Pole toward
the Equator are modified. of course, by the rotary
movement Of The earth, and our own experience du-
nng our long drllt down the western shore Of BAT
FMS Bay confirmed the representations of all the
Wha6rS we met that IN the hrSt months OF the sea-
the greater masses of polar Ice track their way
along the western coasts, leaving the eastern com
paTatlyely free
The position Of Frankn's party in the winter Of
1856 has now been defnitlvey ascertaned. 1t
was in the care between Cape Riley and the So
called Beechey Island, which Is, IN fact, peninsula
forming the Southeastern Cape OF Wellington Chan
mel. HIS encampment occupied the narrow strip of
low land between Lancaster Sound and this Cham
mel, and commanded full view of the ice-cad
waters Of both. The traces OF his parties continued
aOrttuardV. We even discovered the unmlStakable
marks Of sledges extending toward the north
These were, IN one place, well defined on the shin
gle limestone, and, farther on. In the hardened snow
Of former years There can be no doubt then either
that Sir John did III fact proceed north from ms hrSt
Winterng ground. that, al least, he made observa
tons IN that direction TO considerable and we do
not know how great distance.
So much for deduction from the immediate re-
suits OF your expedition, Jointly with the British
piOnng parties i say i0infly, 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 John Franklin had penetrated to the
southwark and westward before making harbor at
tins point IS a question OF minor Importance. we
know that he Nlnierod near he Great Channel, and
nom What all the world knows of the character OF
Sir John Il. i not IN the slightest degree PROBABLE
that he would rest al Beechcy after the ice had
opened along the eastern shores OF Wellington IN
lot, II the hope of being able to penetrateto
south and west al some later period Ii the ice uid
become detached he would avail himself OF the
earnest ieGdS If he was resolved 10 return on
his track when the season should be more advanced,
in order then 10 push his way toward Cape Walker.
lie certainly did leave his quarters early IN 1916 and
there are some marks which might support the idea
that he Gid So so1erhaf h0St as If awaiting himself
~ ned Z. there traces OF
HIM IN the direction of Cape Walker, as there are
none OF later date than 1886 IN the neighborhood
of BeCChey. the inference seems 10 me irresistible
that he passed p9ThTard IN Wellington cRda0ei, ant
mat ne Gid MT Tetir1i.
lie might be able to DO so without having encoun-
tered any fatal accident. We were ourselves, as
YOU know, caught nearly opposite poor Frankhns
first SOIouTn ana borne RoTthpaTf IT. the ice ior 10
days. directly against the theoretical currents, ana
with great rapidly We saw al tins time hlgh ana
dome.hke ranges of land rendmg north wardly
ahead of us in the latitude of 76 at least and prob
ably much farther. The axis of Polar drlft must
then be or less from the northwest, and mus'
have It's seats Of greatest ice accumulation along the
northern coast OF what We call Corn"allss Island
Into the region north and west of this which for
aught We know may be open always, and when
must be open sometimes, as ne kp0w, continuance
of our dnt for few days longer would have carried
the American squadron and 1t IS not difficult to ina
gIne that Sir John, If caught IN the ice OF Welling-
ton Channel, may nave been lmpelled Dy Ike
cause IN the same direction certainly II he was
should say that he Is now to be sought for north and
west of Corvallis Island
Asto the chance of the destruction OF hs 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 to what we knew when
we set out The hazards from cold and prlvatlon OF
food NAV be almost looked upon subordinate.
The snow hut the fire and light from the moss-lamp
fed with blubber the seal, the narw hal the white
whale and occasionally abundant stores of mlgra-
tory birds would sustain vigorous life. The scuryy,
fha noret visit eXnlOFpTS
nen, quarters IS more rare in the depths OF Polar
Winter than in the mlldeT weather of the moist
Summer and our two little vessels encountered
both seasons without losing man.
Ny impressions are, | think sufficiently definite as
10 the manner IN which such an expedition should
proceed with reference to It's great object, but Will
not nflct on YOU a longer letter upon topics which
IT has not been within my official sphere to consider
and Oh which my friends, the officers with whom |
have associated, better qualified 10 decide than
myself | am, dear sir very truly yours,
E. X KANE,
z. A Surgeon L. ; Navy.
ErNRv C,RINNFLL. ESQ, NeM-NOrk