Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-29
THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE.

Saturday an article announcing the interesting fact
tkat /" a passage BY the Arctic ocean around the
northern continent of America has at last been
discovered by Com. MCCLURE, of the British
NAVY. who had thus accomplished what the enter
t,risa OF two hundred years had failed to do, and
ehus solved the great geographical problem"
FLis statement was made on the authority of a
Brief announcement OF the British Admiralty, and
chs Post adds particulars of the course of Com
AeCLuREs voyage, explanatory of its triumphant
result- Relying on the general accuracy OF the
Past, we took the particulars for granted without
examination but, having attention called to
sbea by friend curious in such matters, they
certaiuly present the strangest tissue Of and
contradictions which we have lately met with. This
may be said, however, without impugning the main
fact stated, of Com. McCLUREs success in ''solvng
TIE problem" lie may have done so, but not if
ssse circumstances related in the Post are correct.
The account in the Post says that " Mcclure sailed
from Dayss straits, the east, Sarough the great
Arctic ocean, to Behring's straits the west
awl he is left {" on the coast of Asia, the out
let of Behring's straits ; whereas Com. Mcclure
G1ruuonced his polar voyage through Behring'
straits, and to "solve the problem" he must have
gone east instead of west If the Post will com
pare It's statement with any recent map of the polar
Esgans it will perceive the discrepancies to which
VIC refer It is possible that when the Admiralty
account comes to hand it will explain present con-
fradctions and make the matter clear. We will
aad here however, from authentic data summary
Of McGlure's voyage up to the time he was heard
FROM previous to this Admiralty account.
Commander MCCLURE, Of the Investigator, sailed
On the 10Th Of January, 1850. He experienced
heavy gales during five weeks off Cape Horn, and
reached Honolulu on the lst of July, 1850. After
replacing spars and completing provisions for three
yeags from the 1st of September in that year, he
sailed on the morning of the 4th and shaped his
eSgrse direct for the Aleutan Islands, passing them
Ia l72' 10 W; he got through Behrings strait on
ffe 9th and anchored in Kotzebue sound (lat Gee
81 ", long 1862 W on the 2Sth of July, which
Is the date Of the last communication from him prior
IL his entering the ice. lie had then seen nothing
If tine Enterprise, and determined not to lose
moment BY waiting off Cape Lisburne, (the rendez-
uous named, but to proceed northward imlne-
diateIy.
The Investigator was fallen in with by she Herald
On The 3lst Of July, of Point Hope, and again on
the 9TH Of August by the Poycr, off the Sea Horse
Fslaads in latitude 100 IL north, and longitude
fa9o 81 west, when she was standing to the north
Endrr press Of sail.
Nothing further was heard Of Com Mcclure
until the recent return Of Capt Inglefeld from
Barrow straits but the course he intended to pur-
sae vas marked out in his letter to the Admiralty
dated " At Sea, Cat, sic 90 n, long. 1922 50
W. Goth July, 1850" In this he says:
= After passing Cape Lisburne it is my intention t,
Sxep in the open water which, from the different reports
that have read appears, about this Of the year
make between the American and the main pacl
a. Ear tie eastward the l30th meridian, unless
favorable opening should earlier appear in the ice whic
xoald lead me to infer that might push more drect
for Dan&ss Land which think is Of the utmost impor
t.Ence 20 examine
Bet lie adds " Should difficulties apparently insur
r11oantable encompass progress to render it
Of doubt whether the vessel could be cxtrcated
should deem e1pedent in that hazard the
lives OF those entrusted my charge after the winter
fs52, but in the ensuing spring quit the vessel with
Sedges and boats and make the best Of way either
Poads Gay, Leopold Harbor, the Mackenzie, fol
the Whalers, according to circumstances"
By the last accounts it appears that a letter has
been received from Com Mcclure, dated " Bay o.
Mercy, Barring Island, April, 1888" We learn from
this that during the winter Of 1S50-51 his vesse
wintered 10 the pack. In July, 1851, he states
@sach body Of ice came down upon US with
strong cast wind, and set the vessel SO far to tn
sguth that we determined to attempt a passage b,
the east end Of the cliffs Of Bankss Land forming
the north entrance Of the large island under which
now are" Barings Island is probably to the soutl
Of Bankss Land and the q north entrance" between
them may be the frozen waters called the Prince
Of Wales strait through which the Investigate
cOuld not pass
IL seems, then that Com. Mcclure has been il
tho Bay Of Mercy since the summer Of 1851, unable
fn move the Investigator either to the eastward Of
to the westward, or in any other direction Thi,
wo1ld OF least render it matter Of doubt whcthe,
the vessel could be extricatcd" in which case. a.
indicated in his letter Of July 20, 1885, in tho
spring Of 1853 he would feel it his duty to " aui
the vessel with sledges and boats and make tn,
best Of his way to some known point, in the hope
meeting relief If such an abandonment has &C
ttIally taken place, the Investigator has not mad
q the Northwest Passage"
just So undoubtedly; and the fellow who says it is
successful student Of humanity:
Whether people sec any beauty in sunrise depends
great deal on surrounding circumstances The poe
with fat wallet looks upon IL the yellow eve