The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-11
Sir John FRANKLIN.

Sir John Franklin.
The annexed letter from Surgeon Kane to MIR.
Henry Grinnell (says the New York I'ibune) will
be interesting as giving the opinion of competent
observer in regard to the question of Sir John
Franklin's positions
RENSSELAER,, NEAR PHILADELPHrA,
TUESDAY, Oct. 6, 1851.
Mr. DEAR Sin: You ask me whether I have
changed the vewsI expressed to you when we
parted in May of last year the fate and actual
position of Sir John Franklin's party, and you re-
mind me that then thought the northward pas
sage, by Wellington Channel, as the one which
they had most probably taken.
have seen 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
the arguments that have demonstrated his purpose
to avail himself of this discretion.
Now our own observation, as well as all the in
formation which we have derived from other
sources, makes IT seem an almost unvarying fact
that the ice holds much longer in those parts of the
sound which are to the west and south of yelling
ton Channel than in the channel itself. should
think 1t quite safe to say that under ordinary cir
cumstances, the navigation, though obstructed
and difficult, would be practicable weeks ear
er by the northern than the western route II
seemed to me, too very nearly demonstrable from
ascerained facts that the earlier leads the
eastern side of Wellington Channel. The currents
course, by the rotary movement of the earth, and
our own experience, during long drift down
the western shore of Baftin's Bay, confirmed the
representations OF all the whalers met, that in
the rst months of the season the greater of
polar ice track their way along the western coasts,
leaving the eastern comparatively free.
The position of Franklin's party in the winter of
1856 has now been deinitvely ascertained. It
WAS in the between Cape Riley and the So
called Beechey Island, which is, in fact a penn-
sua forming the southeastern cape of Wellington
lie V1pr,t r,nI fla
strip of low land between Lancaster Sound and
this channel, and commanded full view of the
ice-clad waters of both. The traces of his parties
continued nOrthicdrdly. We even discovered the
unmisakable marks of sedges extending towards
the north These were, in one place, well defined
on the single limestone, and, farther on, in the
hardened snow of former years There can be no
doubt, them either that Sir John did in fact pro-
coed north from his first winterng ground, That
at least, he made observations 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
exploring parties. say Jointly, for you are aware
hat 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 this point is question of minor importance.
We know that he wintered near the Great Chan
mel, and from what all the world knows of the cha
racter of Sir john it is not in the slightest degree
had opened along the eastern shores of w ellington
Inlet, 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 avail himself of the
earliest leads, even if he resolved to return ON
his track when the season should be advanced,
in order then topush his way toward Cape Walker.
He certainly did leave his quarters early in 1916,
and there are some marks which might support the
idea that he did son,ohat hastily as if availing
himself OF an unexpected pathway. IL there are
no traces of him in the direction of Cape Walker,
as there none of later date than 1856 in the
nelghborhood OF Beechey, the inference seems to
me irresistible that he passed north,oardby Wslng-
ton Cham Ell, and that he did not return.
He might be able to do so without having encoun-
tered any fatal accident. We were ourselves, as
you know, caught nearly opposite poor Franklin's
first sojourn, and borne nor,card in the ice for f
teen days. directly against the theoretical currents
and with great rapidity. We at this time
high and dome like ranges Of land, trending north
westwardy ahead of us, in the latitude of 76o, at
least, and probably much farther. The axis of Po-
lar drift must then be more or less from the norhf
west, and must have its seats of greatest ice
mutation along the northern coast of what we call
Cornwalliss Island. Into the region north and
west of this, which for aught we know may be open
always, and which must be open sometimes, as toe
knotD, continuance of our drift for few days
longer would have carried the American squadron;
and it ia not difficult to imagine that Sir John, if
caught in the ice of Wellington Channel, may have
been mpelled by like cause in the same direc-
ton; certainly if he not 80 caught he would
follow the open water l should say that he is now
to be sought for north and west of Cornwallis's
Island
As to the chance of the destruction of his party
by the casualties of ice, the return of own par
ty after something more than the usual share OF
them, lie the only fact that can add to what we
knew when set out. The hazards from cold
and privaton of food may be almost looked upon
as subordinate. The snow. hut, the fire and light
from the moss lamp fed with bubber, the seal, the
mar whale, the white whale, and occasionally album
dant stores of migratory birds, would sustain vig-
orous life. The scurvy. the worst visitation of ex-
plorers deprived of permanent quarters, is more
rare in the depths of polar winter than in the
milder weather of moist summer; and our two
little vessels encountered both without los
ing man.
My impressions are, think, sufficiently def
mite as to the manner in which such expedition
should proceed with reference to its great obiect
but will not inflict you longer letter upon
topics which it has not been within my official
sphere to consider. and on which my friends, the
officers with whom have associated, are better
qualified to decide than myself
| am, dear sir, very truly, yours,
h. X. KANE,
p. A, Surgeon United States Navy.
HENRY GRINNELL, esq, New York