Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-22
THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE.


The Philadelphia American cites, as one of the
most interesting items in the late foreign news the
following from the office of the British Admiralty,
showing that the problem of the Northwest Passage
has been solved at last and that ship has actual
ly sailed round the American continent through the
Arctic Ocean. Commander MCCLURE carries of
the honor Of this remarkable exploit.
ADMIRALTY Der. I, 1853 Commander ISoLEF1ELD,
who it will be remembered was dispatched in her Ma
jestys steamship Phoenix in the spring of the year with
supplies to Sir Edward Bclchers squadron, arrived at
the Admiralty to-day, having left the Phoenix at Thurso
New Brunswick.
Commander Ingledeld brings no intelligence Of Sir
John Frankin's expeditions he has however succeeded
in deposting the supplies directed and we are happy
to say accompanied by Lieut. Croswe of the nyesti-
gator with dispatches from Commander Mcclure, who
sailed in December 1872 in search of Sir John Frank
lin in her Aaesys ship Investigator and from Captain
kee who sailed in the spring Of 1852 in her Majesty
ship Resolute the same mission
We regret to say that traces towards success in the
main object Of their mission have been discovered but
We have been favored with communication of letter
from Commander Mcclure dated her Majestys shin In
yesgator Bay of Mercy, Barings Island, April 1853,
which announces his in accomplishing the long
probematical enterprise Of the Northwestern Passage
The gallant writer states that during the winter of
1850 his vessel wnered in pack without sustaining any
damage and surprising to say he has toreport the
result at the end of the third winter and without the loss
OF single man of her crew in the frozen called
Prince of Wales Strait and communicating with Barrows
as he ascertnned the Goth of October of that year.
In July, 1851 he states such body of ice came down
upon us with strong east wind and the
to the south that determined to attempt passage by
the east end of the cliffs Of Banks Land forming the
north entrance Of the large island under which we
are"
The difficulties and dangers Of this passage may be es
mated from his statement that the ice foes encountered
measured from As to 20 feet beneath the water only or
above. We must refer for the details, Of which we
cannot make even hurried transcript to the Des
patches which of course will be Immediately published.
1t is interesting learn that inhabitants been
covered further northward than known previously, at
Woaston and Victoria Lands and norhward still the
track designated Prince Albers Lands. These
found exceedingly kind and friendly and great quantities
of copper found, apparently in very pure state.
This metal is used by the natives for edgng their
pons &C., but they appeared to be amused at seeing
pieces of picked up by the crews possessing value
In April 1852, Commander MCCLURE went to Melville
Island sedges, expecting to find there Of Captain
AUsTINs vessels or at all events store of provisions
but disappointed to find only notice left by Lieut.
saying where provisions were and giving
the positions of their ships. 1t inferred that the
search supposed to be abandoned and other vessel
expected to have come thus far
Since October, 1851 the of the Investigator is
stated to have been put two-thirds aowance-haf
pound of meat per diem in climate where their
manders state they could readily have consumed four
On the hills adjacent to the bay from which the letter is
Dated large number of deer and other game have been
the short-commons of the previous polar sojourn.
The only portion of Captain Keles letters with which
yet made acquainted is the brief notice dated
Melville Island 7th May, that Mcclure had joined
about fortnight all WELL but half starved From Capt
cCures letters it appears that he had already de-
ached of his to return home by Batfn's Bay
Ind small party by the Mackenzie.