The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-26
From the London Times, September TO-.
Arctic Searching Expedition.


The following letter from Captain Parker, of the
Truelove whaleship, giving an account of Captain
Austin's expedition up to the 18th of September,
1850, has been brought by Captain Ord, of the
Tyne of Berwick upon Tweed, which ship
rived at that port on the 9th instant from Davs's
Straits.
From this letter it would appear that the Search
ing Expeditions about 10 enter into winter
quarters on the southern shore Of CORVALLIS
Island, in Barrow Straits, and Captain Parker, OF
the Truelove, transmits letter from MIR. Kane,
surgeon of the United States expedition, which
will be read with the deepest interest by all con-
cerned in Sir John Franklins expedition
The traces of Sir John Franklin's expedition,
which had been already reported by Captain For
syth as having been discovered by Captain ON
manney and Lieutenant BERTHE Gator, had been
further followed up by Captain Ommanney, Cap
tain Penny, and Captain De Haven of the United
States expedition placing beyond doubt the
safety of Sir John Franklins ships up to this point
which was their first winter quarters, and during
their soourn at which there is not the slightest
ground for supposing that any disaster of any de-
scrption had occurred beyond the ordinary casu-
alties of life among such number, three men hav-
ing died of the two ships companies up to April,
1916, about which period they would be preparing
to push forward on the main object Of the expe-
dition
NJ b. The persons whose graves here re-
ported formed part of the expedition.
MIR. Mcdonald is assistant surgeon of the Terror
"DAvIs's STRAITS, July "a, 1851
ssMy LORDS: May il please your lordships to re-
Seive at my hands the enclosed testimony, received
on the 10Th of July, of the American searching YES
sels the account of their voyage In search OF Sir
John Franklin.
On the 9th of September, 1850, they left all the
af Martvrs. CORVALLIS
Island, they not being enabled to pursue any fur
Their westward direction from that date
ga harbor called the Assistant Harbor, discover
ed by Captain Ommanney, three miles south OF
Cane Martyrs was the place in selection by them
70 winter in. The bay ice was forming very strong
at that time, yet the Advance and Rescue were de-
termined to proceed homewards; but unfortunate
ly, however, a gale sprung up and drove them up
Wellington Channel fifty miles, and afterwards
they were frozen in.
al have not been enabled to get further north
wards than the DEVILS Thumb; and the time being
limited for my sojourn in that quarter, cannot
give you any more particulars excepting that the
two American vessels and the Prince Albert were
left by us near the Duck Islands, the wind being
southwest and blowing strong at that time.
ssThe American schooners have left some de-
spatches for the admiralty at Sievcly which in due
time hope will be received.
cat this date am off Stostinburg. The ice in
my voyage northwards seemed to be very light,
but could not get through il in time The Anne
rican captain De Haven told me that the winter
was very mild, and that he give no further par
ticulars respecting Sir John Franklin than the en-
closed account. He said he determined to go
to the seat Of search again, after having wntered;
and all the documents received from the admiralty
and others gave to him.
al remain, my lords, your lordships' most obe-
dent servant, JOHN PARKER, Master.
"P. S. Truelovc, five whales-75 imperial tons.
intend proceeding westward from this date"
tDfemorandum from Capt. Parker, of The Tr.elove.
ID "On the Goth of August 1850. traces were
found to northward of Port Innis Wellington
Channel, confirming those previously found at Cape
Riley by Captain Ommanney These consisted OF
fragments of clothing, preserved meat tins, and
scraps of papers, of these bearing the name Of
Mcdonald, medical officer in the expedition.
(2.) "On the 9th Captain Penny's parties re-
ported graves These were at once visited by Cap
tain De Haven, Mr.. Penny, and DR.. Kane. They
bore respectively the names of w. Braine, r. M,
and John Hartnell, of the Erebus, and John Tor
rngton of the Terror; the date of the latest death
being the Sd of April, 1916.
"Added to these sad but unmistakable evidences
were the remains of the observatory, carpenters
shop. and armorers' forge. Upon the hill side
and beach were fragments of wood, metal, and
clothing, with stacksofemptymeat tins. Everyth thing
indicated permanency and organization. There
can be no doubt that the between Cape Kley
and Beechy Island, facing Lancaster Sound, was
the first winter station Of the missing vessels. On
the 3lst of September the impervious ice of the
Wellington Channel underwent complete disrup
ton, and by the 9th several vessels penetrated to
the CORVALLIS SIDE. Such, however, was the I'M
penetrabe character of the pack in Lancaster
Sound that, by the 10th Of September, the entire
searching squadron were again concentred about
eight miles south of GrfTth's Island
This was the furtbest westing attained by the
American expedition. The latest dates from Com
modore Austin of the 18th of September. They
then in momentary expectation of making
winter quarters, and tits probable that small har-
Dor discovered by Captain Ommanney about three
miles east of Cape Martyrs viii be the haven Sc
lected
"Thence the American vessels, while proceed
ing homeward, were frozen in opposite Wellington
Channel, drifting during the ensuing winter from
latitude of 1926 throughout the channel and
sound into Bafins Bay. Their liberation, after
much exposure and trial, took place the 10th of
June, 1851, at point south of Cape Walsnghan
65.30-a linear drift exceeding 050 miles
''The conn, ZION of the ice with its attendant I'M
certainty was their chief source of trial. Every
officer and man had marked scorbutic disease but
no deaths have occurred. The crews are now re-
freshed, and the expedition is endeavoring to re-
gain the seat of search. have, &c,
"E. X KANE, Surgeon to the Expedition
THE INToLERABLE SuFFERINes OF South CARO-
LINA.-As a sample of the effect of the expressions
G. n. -rs..- /. L