Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-09-25

curious and progressive discovery OF Albert Land, in
Guiding Sir John Barrows Monuments the first is Captain
Penny's outline chart Of coast explored by travelling
parties from the Lady Franklin and Sophia in search Of
II. b. S. Erebus and Terror II was prepared at Capt
Pennys winter quarters Assistance Bay and delivered
Captain Austin before they left the ice on the 18th of
August 1851 He then had no knowledge of De Hayens
presence in the North in the fall Of 1850 and doubtless
believed that all he there was original discovery
In his desire make this large possible he pressed
his coast line far north he could and extended it
westward to the utmost limits of credence but with this
exception only he could have had motive for not
presenting every thing precisely he found it. As to
his ongtudes and ATTITUDES it must not be forgotten that
he his observations for longitude rendered
useless and in his latitude he admits that he was de-
ceived from distance" He gives this track-chart
the of the several parties and the lines and
islands, and supposed to have been by him and
the officers under his command but he gives
the land or the water.
Sir John Barrows Monument" at that time, had not
been discovered
The next in order sPennys Outline Of Discoveries
printed the Illustrated London News Of September 90
1851 within two weeks after his return to England 1t
is nearly copy OF the preceding with the addition OF
names to the Capes, Bays, Islands, &c. Here " Grnnel
Land is first called Albert Land and here Sir John
Barrows Monument is first named 1t is placed near
76o AS north and $50 30/ west.
A third one is the " Authorized Chart" which, with
Penny track chart inserted in the appendix to the
Report of the Arctic Committee This chart bears the
stamp of the photographic Office and the date of Sep
TENDER %, 1861 1t has Albert Land with the addi-
ton explored by Captain Stewart The date of his
exploration, May 1851, is omitted 1t gives Sir John
Barrow's Monument in To 81 north, and 95o 30l west
and puts land between McDougalls Bay and Victoria
Channel which the preceding did not.
Up TO this time il may be said that neither Captain
Penny the Hydrographr of the Admiralty had more
precise information of the position and extent of De Ha
VEINS discovery, in 1885, than they obtained from the
published letters from the American Expedition and the
returned whalers and hence excusable in claiming
all seen north Of Cape Bowden original English
discoveries.
When the next 1.-THE fourthl map was published there
could be no pretence OF want Of information full
counts of De Ravens discovery in 1850 had then reached
England On this map appeared the first certain public
demonstration of determination in England to rob him
OF the credit OF the discovery The who volunteered
or who was selected perpetrate this discredabe act
IS one extensively known publisher of maps and
charts and whose reputation for ability AID integrity in
their construction had not hitherto, far is known
here been suspected This map has the following title
Discoveries in the Arctic Sea- between Bain Bay and
Melville Island showing the explored on the ice by
Captain Ommanney and the officers Of the expeditions under
the command Of Captain II. Austin, r. N c. b. and Captain
W Penny: aso BY the Honorable Hudson Bay Companys
Expedition under the command of Rear Admiral Sir John
Ross G. b. in search of Sir John Franklin.
Drawn from official documents by John Arrowsmith 10
Soho square
london Published October 2lst, 1851, by John Arrow
smith, 10 Soho SQUARE"
This map, = drawn from official documents, by John
Arrowsmith 10 Soho square, it is SEEN bears the date
OF October 2lst 1884, but there is on it the southern
shore of Wolaston Land, which first explored in May
1851 by Dr. Rae The letter of DR.. Rae giving an ac-
count Of his exploration and enclosing tracing of the
coast was dated at Kendall river northeast of Bear Lake
June 10 1851 and communicated by the Secretary
OF the Hudsons Bay Company the Secretary of the
Admiralty on the 10th Of November 1t possible
therefore, for Mr. Arrowsmth to publish this earlier than
November, some time after certain intelligence of De
Hayens discoveries had been received and it probably
was not published when the Arctic Committee adjourned
on the lith OF that MONTH as no auson to the pretend
ed discovery by Captain ommanney made by the
committee or by any Of the officers who were examined
On this map, drawn from official documents Sir
John Barrows Monument is placed in precisely TO N
96e W.
Over the coast of Grinnell Land Mr. Arrowsmith has
placed this inscription
albert LAND. Seen ION the birthday of H. r. H. Prince
Albert from H. NJ s. Assistance 26th August, 1s5O-Capt
osMASSEY's JOURNAL.
Independently and explored by Captain PENNY and
his officers"
Thus it appears that according to Mr. Arrowsmith's
map Captain Omanney has asserted in his journal that
he discovered :" Albert Land" the Goth of August
1850 This assertion Of Captain Ommanney if true
would completely cut off De Ravens discovery of the 2d
Of September. But it is not true. Whether the state
ment was made on the authority of Captain 0mmanney
or was invented by Mr. Arrowsmth must be settled by
the gentlemen themselves In the inquiry under con-
sderaton il is Of importance know which OF the two
IS responsible for it. 1t is here Of consequence only to
ascertain what truth there is in it.
The name of Albert Land" Fas given to the land dis
covered by De Haven in 1850 and independently seen
by Captain Penny and his officers" in 1851 The name
had nothing 10 do with Mr.. Arrowsmths birthday dis
coyery Albert Land the maps published be-
fore 0mmanney reached England up to which time neither
Austin, nor Penny, Stewart-not even Ommanney
himself far appears in the official reports and cor
repondencehad heard of discovery Of land in the
north on the 26th of August, 1860.
Mr.. Arrowsmith's map is dated October 81 1850 one
day earlier than the letter Of the Secretary Of the Adm
rally to Admiral Bowles informing him Of the appoint
ment OF the Arctic Committee. This committee met
the oath Of October. After full investigation Of the
Journals reports and proceedings Of all the Searching
Parues OF the expeditions and the examination Of the
ohcers OF all grades, who gave upwards Of
fifteen hundred questions the committee adjourned on
the iIth OF November and made their report on the Goth
0nthe day of the final adjournment OF the committee
the last witness examined Captain Stewart Some
questions were asked him respecting the contents of
letter ne received from Captain Austin after his return
from his exploring journey, about the end Of June 1851
captain Stewart said he had received letter. but did not
recolect the purport of it, Question No 1902 was then
put by the Chairman 8U.#
"Can you state to the best Of your recollection what it
about"
Captain Stewards is, 81 think the purport Of
II was congratuating me on my return and hdriHg dis
coreredMat Rew land 10 the north H
This "new land to the north" for the discovery Of
whichn May, 1851, Captain Stewart was Congratulated
by Captain Austin in the succeeding month Of June is
the Albert Land Of the English maps. There was no
suggestion by the committee by any officer examined
by them that Albert Land" had been discovered nv
other person than Penny and Stewart or earlier than
May, 1851. Captain Ommanney in his examination be-
fore the committee, set pretence discovery
the new land 10 the north the 26th Of August 1850
What he communicated to "John Arrowsmth 10 Soho
square" private affair Of which we know nothing
but what Mr.. Arrowmith has been pleased to make
public,
Let US now inquire where Captain ommanney was on
the 18th Of August, 1850.