The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-15
The Arctic Expedition.
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The Arctic Expedition.
Prom the LONDON Bun. December
The report of the committee appointed by the
Lords Commissioners Of the Admiralty to inquire
into and report on tae recent Arctic expeditions in
search of Sir John Franklin, together WITH minutes
of evidence taken before tae committee and papers
connected with the subject, has just been printed
The following is copy of tae report
ADMIRALTY, AaoTIc COMMITTEES,
November 20, 1851 (
Sir-l. The committee appointed by their Lord
ships letter Of the 22d October to inquire into and
report on the conduct of the officers entrusted with
the command Of the late expeditions in search of
Sir John Franklin, and whether everything was
dene by them to carry into effect their Instructions
and to prosecute the search for the missing ships,
commenced their proceedings on the 2ith ult and
conceiving that the only distinct incupations are
those contained in Mr. Penny's letters to their lord
ships, OF the 18th September and 10th October, we
considered it our duty to direot our attention, in
the first instance, to this part Of the subject, and
we accordingly examined Rir. Penny himself, ana
all the principal officers OF the Lady franklin and
Sophia, with the view OF ascertaldiDg satisfactorily
every circumstan connected with the exploration
Of Wellington Strait and the channels discovered
above it, aad how far Mr.. Pennys subsequent
statements are in conformity with those be SO dis
tincty expressed IN his Letters OF the 4th and iltn
August addressed 70 On plain Austin; and having
obtained all the information in our power, and
most carefully considered tae whole question, We
one construction on Mr., Penny's two letters re-
ferred to, and that, havi1g been thus assured BY
him that the open water found above wellington
Straits was Ito use ais own expression) from tine
fearful rate at which the tiis runs mot less than
six knots) through the sounds that divide tho chan
mel, dangerous lori BOAT, much more to ship,
unless clear OF ice, which from its present appear
ance would not be SO that season, impracticable
for navigation at that time, and that the shores
and islands on both sides had been thoroughly
amined by the exploring parties, without any
traces Of the missing ships being discoyerable, we
do not think Captain Austin would have been JUS
titled in commencing a fresh search in direction
concerning which he naturally considered himself
to have received such authentic information.
2 1t will be observed that in Mr.. Penny's letter
of thu 18th August, 1851, Qrom which we extract
the preceding paragraph he distinctly acquants
Captain Austin Of his fixed determination to return
Immediately to England, and that nothing is to be
found in it in any way expressive Of his wish for
further search in Wellington strait, and the chan
nes connected with 1t. In his Journal as0 several
remarks occur, all equally discouraging, and fully
indicative of his opinions at that period; and we
can only account for his subsequent change Of Ian
guage on his arrival in England, by his considering
las he himself states in his evidence) that he
found everybody disapponted; that II had been
said "more might have been done; and that " he
| therefore wished TO have the means OF going out
again. but we are boAnd to state that the evidence
brought before has not, in our opinion, corrobo-
rated the statement that he expressed to Captain
Austin at the time any such sentiments; and it will
be seen that Captain Austin distinctly denies hav
ing received any communication to that effect.
3. Some desultory conversation, however. GER
tainly appears to have taken place on this subject
when Captain Austin and Mr.. Penny met on the
18th of August, 1851; and it was for this reason
that the former very prudsnty and properly, in
our opinion) pressed Mr. Penny SO strongly tor his
opinion in writing.
4. We think, therefore, that Capt. austin could
only form his judgment on Mr. Penny's written
communications, which, although very laoonic wore
snfi lent
cumstances Of the case, much weight is due to the
feeling expressed by Captain Austin in his evidence,
that as Mr. Penny's expedition was, equally with
his own equipped at the public expense, and receiv
ing its ordersfrom the Admiralty, although indie
pendent of his authority, he considered himself
bound to abide by the strongly expressed opinion
of the officer who had, by mutual agreement, uu-
dertaken that particular portion of the search that
| call had been done which it was in the power Of
man to accomplish.
B. We beg to remark on this part Of the subject
that although MIR. Penny endeavors to draw dis
tinction between Wellington Strait and the channel
to the northwest, which he has since named u ueen
Victoria's Channel, such distinction appears in
the track chart delivered by him to Capt Austin
at the time, and which we annex 10 TINS report; ana
we therefore think that Capt Austin coad not
fairly be expected to recognise any distinction be-
tween the upper and lower parts of this channel.
8. 1t appears to have been under this impression,
which we think Captain Austin fully justified in
entertaining, that, after finding Wilmington Strait
closed, the ice still presenting the same impene-
trable barrier it had done in $780, he decided on
occupying the remainder ofthe aavg able season in
the examination of Jones's Sound, to which inlet
his own instructions, as well as Mr. Penny's direct.
ed attention. but which the latter had been unable
| to explore in the preceding season.
Z. We think that considerable benefit might
have arisen, especially in reference to future opera.
tons in Wellington Strait, if one Of the exped.
tions had remained near the entrance about tort
night longer, in order to obtain the latest nforma.
ton Of the state of the ice in that direction. and
| -. &c
ton Of this strait and we think this might have
been accompi he'd by Mr.. Penny, without involv.
ing any serious risk Of being detained during the
winter; but we are clearly of opinion that as no
met with in any direction beyond their wintering
place at Beechey Island in 1856, and no record
Of the route intended to be pursued by them could
be discovered, after the most dilgent and repeated
search (thus leaving this question amere matter
Of conjecture), both Captain Austin and MIR
Penny were fully justified by the tenor of their
Lordship's Instructions in not rsking their deten
tion in the ice during another winter; and We beg
to add, that all the most experienced Arctic
officers in both expeditions appear to have unan-
mously eoLcurred IN opinion as to the expectancy
otreturning to Eng land.
5. With respect to the conduct Of the officers en-.
trusted with The command Of the expeditions and
several exploring parties we most 81 lady express
our highest and most unqualified admiration OF Inc
zeal, energy, intrepidty, ana perseverance WIN
which every individual amongst them peiorned
thor respective duties They appear to have
been animated by comm nieeling of determination
to endure every hardship, and brave every danger,
in heir eEdeavours to obtain some trace: OF tne'r
missing coantrymen Inc journeys accomplished
under the most difficult and trying circumstances
far exceed both in distance and duration, any to
be found il the previous records Of Arctic eSpora
ton in those parallels oilatituae and the arrange
merits made by Captain Austin and Mr.. Penny
were SO we'll considered and SO complete. that all
their parties returned (with only one ex,sption,l
in perfect heal h, and without having experienced
any sutternss beyond those which were nsepara-
BILE from severe fatigue in such inclem.nt regions
9. With respect TO the result Of the late exped'-
tion. a. regards the search tor the missing ships
or which their Lordships desire our opinion. We
may remark that in the first place j IS q matter
Il 40 small interest and Importance 70 haye ascer-
.ained with certainty the exact position 10 winch
they passed the winter Of 1886, while the careful
and minute exploration of the coast to the south
ward and westward by Capt. Ommaney and Lieut.
M'Clin.cck without discovering any traces what
ever of sir John Franklin, would seem to aHo.d =
,ar,- sron RI sun nion thai he did not "a th at