The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-29


SRI have just received the inclosed deposit
ton Of Captain Martin, relative to his interview
with Sir John Franklin, and request that you will
give it place in your columns.
am, sir, your humble servant,
c. Il Weld.
Royal Society, Somerset House, Jan.
DEPOSITION
Robert Martin now master and commander Of
the whale ship Intrepid, of Peterhead solemnly and
sincerely declares, that on the 22d day of July.
1915, when in command Of the whale ship Enter.
prise, of Peterhead 10 lat IS 10, Ion. sc w +, calm
weather and towing, the Erebus and Terror Wero
in company. These ships we're alongside the En-
terpriso for about fifteen minutes The deciarans
conversed with Sir John Franklin and Mr. Reid,
his ice master. The conversation lasted all thu
time the ships were close That Sir John, in
answer to a question by the decarant, if he had
good supply OF provisions and how long he ex.
pected them to last stated that he had provisions
tor tive years, and, if it were necessary, he could
make them spin out seven years !" and he said
further, that he would lose opportunity of killing
birds, and whatever else was useful tina. came IN
the way, 10 keep up their stock, and that he bad
plenty powder and shot for the purpose. That
Sir ohm also stated that he had already got sevs
ral casks Of birds sated, and had then two shooting
parties ou.-one from each ship The birds we're
very numerous; many would fall at single shot.
and the decarant has himself killed forty st shot
with white peas. That the birds are very agree
able food, are in taste and size somewhat like youog
pigeons, and are called by the sailors " roohes !"
That on the 10Th 18th Of the said month of July
tWo pdItlc5 VI OH John OmCerS, VINO laQ Oeon out
shooting, dined with the declarant on board the
Enterprise There was boat with six from each
ship Their coAvers alton was to the effect AZ
Sir Johns. They spoke of expecting to be absent
four or i've, or perhaps six years These officers
also said that the SHIPS would winter whore they
could End a convenient place. and in spring push on
as far as possible, and SO on year after year. the
determination was to push as far as practicable
That on the following day an invitation was
brought to the declarant, verbally to dine with Sir
John, but the wind shifted, and the Enterprise hav
ing cut through the ice about mile and hail.
the declarant obliged to decline the invitation
That no saw the Erebus and Terror for two days
lenger they were still lying at iceberg, and the
Enterprise was moving slo Wy down the country
That SO numerous were the birds mentioned, and 80
favorable was the weather for shooting them, that
very large number must have been secured during
the time the declaran in sight Of the two ships
The Prince OF Wales whaler was also within sight
during the most Of the time That from the state
OF the wind AID weather for ten days, during part
oil which the declarant was not in sight of the two
ships the best opportunity afforded for securing
the birds That the birds described are not to be
foundat all places on the fishing groUsd during ths
every certain feeding banks and places for
broodng. and it appeared at the time by the de-
claran to be most fortunate crcumstan that tho
Erebus and Terror had fallen in with 90 many birds
ard that the state o. the weather was SO favorable
for securing large numbers OF them The declarant
has himself had supply Of the description Of
birds which kept fresh and good during three
months, at Davlss Straits, and tns last we're as
good the FIST of them
Which declaration, above written, is now made
conscientiousy, believing the same to be trua.
ROBERT MARTIN
Declared before nae, at Peterhead, this 2asn day
OF Dec, 1851, Il. GRAIH, Provost Of Peterhead