Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-07-12
Sir John Franklin.

writer in the last number Of the Southern Lite
rary Messenger enters into an ingenious argument to
prove that Sir John Franklin may be yetalive-hem-
med in by the almost impossible barriers which SUR
round the Polar Sea. He asserts what is not impro-
babc, that the climate Of the Polar Circle is much
milder than that Immediately without it-and that
Franklin and his crew may well be supposed to with
stand its severity and to find sufficient food to sustain
life.
He suggests that Sir John entered the Polar Sea
during some warm season-that he has not since had
= similar opportunity Of coming out-and that the
why Of those, who have gone in quest OF
him, have not found him, is that they have not been
able to penetrate FAR enough to overtake him. He re-
lies on the absence Of wrecks and fragments Of
sells evidence of negative character that this adj
venturous navigator is still safe and sound within the
impenetrable prison-house Of the Polar Sea.
We wish that we had some more substantial
sons for entertaining the same belief The arguments
urged by the writer in the Messenger would have
been very good-almost convincing-wthn three or
four years from the time Sir John franklin first set
sail on this expedition. We consider, however that
they are effectualy destroyed by the long lapse Of
time which has interviewed since that period If no
has occurred since he went into The Polar Sea-
likely that any such period will ever occur. Even
should he be able to resist the rigor of the climate
and to find food enough to sustain him, his vessels
must go 20 decay and his means of tranSPorta>
ton be destroyed. In that event he and his gallant
crew must remain where they are, and await alike
the inevitable hour" common to all mankind.
We believe that three expeditions-if not more
have been made in search of Sir John Franklin
One fitted out by the British Government--ano-
ther went from own shores, and another pre-
pared from Lady Franklins own private purse. The
information gained by these expeditions was, Tor the
most part, vague, unsatisfactory and indefinite. IL is
presumed that they did all that science could expect
all that duty, humanity and ambition prompted. 80
They have brought back no information which iusti-
fies reasonable hope that Franklin is alive The
presumption is, that for many day he and his gal.
liant companions have been all sleeping that sleep that
knows no waking, AMI their manly forms ain the
deep bosom Of the ocean buried" The British gov
eminent has come to this conclusion. Sir John Frank
Inns name has been struck from the roll of officers
the British navy. He has been declared dead, and
his will admitted to probat in the English courts
But who can measure the woe, and the suspense
and the long continued anguish of that heroic wife
Lady Jane Franklin? Who can depict her anxiety
and her hoping gIinst hope and her occasional sea
sons of utter despary Despite all the evidence t.
the contrary, the want of evidence to sustain il
she still clings to the conviction that Franklin lives
and will be one day restored to her. Nay-slic ha
utterly refused to accept the pension decreed her 8.
the widow of British Admiral. 1t would be crue
to attempt to destroy this hope 1t is the animatr.
principle, which, perhaps, sustains life itself A.
groundess as it may be- it were better for Ter SAX
that 1t should be encouraged Without it, life woul,
indeed be n burden too heavy to he borne.
When we reflect on the heroic patience and con
stancy, and the Interchangeable affection of this lady
how pointless appear the arrows which are aimed
the sex, of which she is such distinguished orna
ment? How unjust the reproach of the old satirist
"FGmina, yarium ct mutabile semper"
How beautifully do we in her instance find displayed
that high courage and splendid herosm which dis
tingush woman in the hour of danger or Of difficulty
or of adversely
Sir John Franklin may be yet alivc-but there i
scarcely the shadow Of hope that such is the case
But though dead, he is not altogether "unwept un
honored and unsung" The united voices of all civil
Used nations proclaim him the brave man and the nd
venturous sailor, who has sacrificed his life in en-
deavorng to advance not only the interests Of science
but the glory of his native land