Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-01-10
January 4,slS52.
Sir John FrankIn-Dr. Kane's Lectures.

II. CAkRlNGION, Executor OF
William C. Darlington.
January 4,s1s52.
Sir John FrankLtn-Dr. Kane's Lectures.
DR.. Kane's lectures before the Smithsonian
Institute have awakened anew the interest iet 10
learn the fate of Sir John Franklin. In his Sc
cond lecture DR.. K. gave it as his deliberate opin-
ion. formed from well established facts, that Sir
John and his officers and crews may yet be living,
there being no deficiency of wholesome animal
food in the latitude where it is supposed his vessls
are ce-bound The last person who communica-
ted with Sir John was Capt. Martin, OF the Brit
ish whaler Enterprise. This occurred in 1S45
The Enterprise was alongside the Erebus In
Melville Bay, and Sir John invited Captain
Martin to dine with him, which the latter declined
doing as the wind was fair to 60 South. Sir
John, while conversing with Capt. Martin, told
him that he had five years provisions, which he
could make last seven, and his people were busily
engaged in sailing down birds, of which they had
several casks full already, and twelve men were
out shooting more. Thus, then, it appears that
at the last tidngs Sir John possessed the means OF
supporting life, so far as food was concerned,
till the wear l852-and this, too, without resortlng
to any of the means suggested by DR.. Kane
From all the evidence furnished by the late arctic
expeditions, fitted out in this country and In Eng
land, the opinion generally obtains that Sir Jonh
Franklin, and his companions are still alive. crnis-
inc in that mysterious open sea which surrounds the
North Pole-for DR.. Kane states tina. there cannot
exist doubt about the North Pole being covered
by an open Sea; the Grinnel expedition, he says,
had seen from their most Northern point that
unmistakable sign, the dark cloud, known as the
"Wa!er Sky" and Capt. Penny, an energetic
English whaler. confirmed this "Sky" by sighting
the water itself. Other polar navigators confirm
this opinion. Indeed, it is confidently asserted
that the North Pole is not ony surrounded by an
open sea, but that the difference in temperature
is so marked, as compared with lower ATTITUDES
as to render change from winter to lighter cloth
ing not only desirable but necessary to comfort
Several navigators, who have reached within
few degrees of the Pole, testify to the fact, we
believe.
We learn from the Philadelphia Bulletin that
the late Arctic expeditions from England, which
reached the polar regions simultaneously, we be-
lieve, with the expedition fitted out in this eoun-
try by Mr.. Grinnell, have led to serious contro-
versy. One of the English expeditions was fitted
out by private capital and placed under the COM
mand of Captain Penny, formerly master in the
whaling service; the other was sent out by the
Admiralty, and commanded by naval officer,
Captain Austin. While in Wellington Sound,
Captain Penny, who had only sailing vessels un-
der his command, offered, if Captain Austin would
lend him steamer to endeavor to reach the great
Arctic ocean; but this the other refused, deemlng
it derogatory to have government steamer COM
manded by man without commission. Never
theless, Austin, who seems to have become SICK
of the business, and wished to return home. tried
to get opinion out of Penny that further search
was useless and having obtained letter, in reply
to categorical question: to the effect that further
search in a certain direction was needless, actu-
ally did turn his Prov towards Eng land, though
having provisions on board for another year. This
disgracsfu backing out led to a popular cutlery,
which compelled the Admiralty to take up the mat.
ter. A committee, appointed by that body, has
Just whitewashed Austin, but the evidence, as
published, renders the report matter of universal
establishment. Penny, who is censured Indirect
ly, appears to have been the only one deserving
of praise. The London Atheneumis very cans-
tic on the Admiralty, and does not hesitate to say
that Penny, as an Arctic explorer, is worth the
whole batch of naval officers who have lately ig-
ured in such enterprises. II further says that
Penny was sacrificed, because he had been
whaler and Austin protected, merely because a
regularly commissioned officer.
If the assertions of the London Athenaum be
founded a9on faets-and we doubt not they are
they speak volumes as to the inefficiency of
those British officers who have lately figured in
these enterprises. Let US hope, for the sake of
humanity, that the expedition now on foot, under
the direction OF Lieut.. PIN, may be prosecuted
with unAaggng zeal and undated ardour. He
left London some months since for Siberia, for
the purpose Of carrying out survey Of The dis
tant and mountainous ands first described by the
Russian navigator Wiangell, and since seen by
Capt. Kellett, q British navigator, beyond which
it is supposed that FrankIin's ships may have
been frozen up.
But possibly the honour Of extricating Sir John
and his companions. from their icy prison, may be
vet reserved for some intrepid American naviga-
tor. The CrinneIl expedition was the first tofind
traces Of the course pursued by the long lost