Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-03-04
E0rtg, aS,rE1,YuGENcE.
DR.. KANE'S LECTURE AT THE ATHE-
NEf1M

crowded by an audience of ladies' and gentle
men, who were drawn there by the distin-
guished reputation of the lecturer, and by the
interesting subject Of his discourse. The seats
were not only packed with as many persons as
they could hold, but the aisles were all filled,
and hundreds unable to gain admission, Were
compelled to return home, much to their regret
and disappointment. We are glad to hear,
however, that the committee, anxious to ac-
commodate those who were unable to obtain adj
mission the first night, have engaged the large
lecture room of the Medical College, where am
pie accommodations are afforded for all who
may desire to hear the second lecture of DIR.
Kane.
The object of this lecture was evidently to
convey to our community the facts upon which
are based the supposed safety of Sir John
Franklin and his companions. These were
treated of in detail, and we We're pleased to find
that their character and arrangement differed
materially from the published reports of the
lectures recently delivered by DR.. X. in New
York.
The lectures commenced by describing the
vast regions of the Arctic Seas, whose area is
d millions of square miles, and may be APP
propriately called world of darkness. Previ-
Gus to 1916 all this portion of our globe was a
blank in geographical history. Since that time
the researches of enterprising navigators, al
though they did not show the practicabity of
Il North West passage, yet had been productive
of inCalc ulable advantages to commerce, and
valuable contributions to science had also been
made. By explorations in these regions the
figure of the earth had been determined and the
problem OF magnetic attraction had also been
satisfactorily solved The cod-fsheries of New
Foundland, and many Of the most valuable seats
of British fishery, were discovered by the ex-
rtntsn an Nv III, Pc l..
hardy companions. The lecturer said he might
dismiss the cui bono ola North West passage and
rely alone upon these valuable discoveries, as an
argument to prove that researches in these cold
and inhospitable regions, had resulted in great
and enduring benefits to the commercial world.
When we take into consideration the exemp-
ton of the Arctic Seas from tempests, the i'm
probability of the lost ships being DESTROYED by
ice, without the escape of the crew,-the ex-
IRENE abundance of animal life, amply affording
food-the abundance of fuel, furs, &c.,-all of
which DIR. Kane clearly demonstrated-we must
confess that the grounds upon which the lost men
were sustained are entitled to consideration and
respect Instances were cited ofmen living for
a continued term Of years in high Northern lat
itudes, with the full possession of health and
vigor. Indeed, Sir John Ross and all his party
spent four years in this very region, and after
having been e ven up by the world as beyond
the hope of safety, he was miraculousy rescued
by whaler. He returned after many hun
dreds OF miles Jurneying in the polar Seas,
with the loss of but one man Sir John Frank
lin has been absent but two years longer, and
surely, if animal life be as abundant as is sup
posed, the chances in his favor are such as to en-
Join continued search.
The Doctor then gave most interesting des-
cription of the ice drifts through Wellington
r Dot 1,,sc
He gave also a glowing account OF scenes in the
ice during the long Polar winters-the hardships
which the ships crew underwent and the inn
minent perls in which they were often placed,
by the immense masses of ice, floating through
the seas.
In conclusion, he laid before the audience his
plan of seach, advocating vessels merely a
means of reaching the seat of their labors, and
then relying upon their own energ ies to traverse
the ice in sledges, with the use aso of the India
Rubber boat and the tent. He mentioned the
interesting fact that Lieut.. McClintock, of the
English Navy had, by similar means, accom-
plished a journey of more than 700 miles in
this very region. Had an expedition like this
been undertaken towards the North, the direc-
ton in which Sir John Franklin's cruise had 10
doubt been taken, traces of the missing PARTY
would, before this, most unquestionably have
been developed. But, although all efforts to
achieve this great object have heretofore failed,
itbecomes us not to give up the search, but to
90 again to the rescue, if not of Sir John Fank-
lin, at least of his bones.
1t was the habit of pagan nations to gather up
and sprinkle with earth, the bones Of their dead
which reposed in foreign soils. Surely, then, il
becomes the enlighted Christian nations to show
their reverence for this gallant man, who had
undergone 50 many hardships, to promote the
into IF ind Pm fort t,ah o.dxy
prising men like him, the vast country of the
Arctic regions would have been trackless
blank in the geography of the globe.
We have been requested to insert the follow
ing note, addressed to the Committee on the
Washington Monument. 1t explains itself:
RICHMOND, March lst, 1852.
To the W. NJ Investigating Committee Of The
House Of Delegates Of puginia:
GENrLEMEN--I am informed that considera-
BILE blame is attached to Lieut.. Gay for partici-
pating in the charges preferred by myself
against those having charge of the construction
of the Washington Monument. Therefore
think that it is due to him that should state
candidly that he had nothing to do with the ex-
posture made by me. 1t was done by me alone
and entirely without his knowledge, until it APP
peared in the public prints; nor am | sure thai
he mas over taken tne tfonple TO notlce IL IN tna
form. | never had any conversation with him
in relation to the matter prior to my making it
publicly known. | hope you will excuse me for
addressing this note. | felt it my duty to a
gentleman and trustworthy officer, that should
as far as in my power, exonerate him from any
censure from those implicated.
am, very respectfully,
LEWIS SEVERANCE.
u The corporate authorities of the city
have at considerable expense, caused tootways
to be paved on those streets lying remote from
the busy thoroughfares of trade and commerce
This is proper and considerate. These paved
footways add greatly to the comfort of pedes-