New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-10-20

SIR JOHN FRANKLiN-Deba before the Brit
tisl -dssociation.--Mr. A. G. Findiay furnished
to the geographical section paperss Z On, Arctic
A and Antarctic currents, in connection with the
Expedition Of Sir John Franklin y The writer
said he entertained no doubt as to the fate Of
the missing voyagers, but he was afraid it
would ever be shrouded in mystery. ". +
He expressed his belief in the truth Of the
story Of the vessels seen floating on the ice OF
the north edge Of Newfoundland, on the 2eth
of April, 1851, by the Renovation. 1t had been
urged that Sir John Franklin would not aban-
don his ships; that they could not float unin-
terruptedly such distance; that they would
have been seen by the sealers on the Labrador
coast; that the account in the log differed ma
terially from the verbal statement; that they
were not real ships, etc.; while others set
down the story as o pure invention. Well,
they had to combat these statements, and
against them were the consistent statements of
| the whole crew, as well as Of Mr.. Simpson, the
passenger.
AS to the possibility of the two ships floating
ct such distance in company with each other,
there never was the slightest doubt OF the
Southern set out of Bafin's Bay and Dayis's
Straits, and the quantity of ice moving was
very great 1t was the prevailing opinion Of
Arctic voyagers that Sir John Franklin went
up the Wellington Channel in the early spring
of 1915. Surprising that he did SO, and found
open water, and could proceed for five hundred
miles, and then becomes imbedded in the pack,
the ships would drift back to Wellington Cham
mel toward the North coast Of Greenland, or he
might have taken second season or, perhaps,
he became Undecided, and, being impatient of
being SO detained for three or four years, had
deserted the ships as in the case Of the Investi-
gator, which vessel it might be inferred, would
safely drift out in the course Of time without
any human aid
Had they drifted out of Lancaster Sound, the
probability was, that they would have passed
80 close to Labrador, as to have been seen by
the sealers. On the Goth of April, 1871, two
water-logged ships were seen just about the
same spot, so that supposing the first story to
be credible, the fate.of Sir John Franklin was
brought within narrow limits, though still a
great and painful mystery. Yet they trusted
that the return Of the expedition now in search
Of Sir John franklin would furnish them with
some information. This was their last hope. {
DR.. Scoresby gave some interesting details
connected with Arctic life, expressing his opn-
ion that there were islands further in from Mel
Vile Island. upon which the crews of the Erebus
and Terror could have obtained sustenance. He
observed that no navigator had yet sailed fur
Their than 80 or 904 degrees. - f4leIY e
The President (Sir X. ]. Murchison,) asked if
it were not the speakers opinion that Sir John
Franklin might have taken refuge on an island
in the longitude Of Wellington. Straits as far
North az Spitzbergen, and which was as yet
undiscovered, and whether they might not there
be able to get. provisionss
DR.. sceresby replied in the affirmative.
Admiral Beechy said, ne did not imagine that
Sir John would be in q position, after abandon
ing his ships, to obtain sufficient for q winter
supDlv and o61ad thnt ha
scarcely any hopes Of him now. London Times,
Sept. 25.