The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-05
THE ARCTIC NAyIGAToRs.


before the Englixh Court Martial.
The general ourt.mxrtiA ON Captain Sir Edward
cher, for tho loss Of the ships composing the
tic squadron, re-assembled on the morning Of the
u uit. on board this Waterloo, at Shesrnsss,
agiand,) Admiral the Hon. w, Gordon, With the
mbers Of the court, being present.
Sir Edward Belcher read the folio wing defence:-
|drawing up the folio wing statement, am actu.
ID solely By the desire cf aff3rding general infor-
|tion OF TIE leading features OF the expedition
ICED under my command. II will be seen BY re-
|snce to page in my original instructions, under
he April l6, 1852, that was entrusted With this
|pmand In the full persuasion Of your thorough
uAint ance Of its obligations, and OF your jldgmsnt
q ability TO meet them" At first glance Il may
|ape the general reader that there were any oblf-
Hons beyond those contained Ia my (prfnted) in
Flctions. But all commanders know that during
E.uent conferences with the First Lord of the Ad.
|alt, as well a. with the senior naval lords,
"a Are op,'tcations imposed, and subjects to b
kked out il nd faith, BY. every officer en-
ted with plensry powsrs; ana truss snas, MOI
iaany years Of Independents command, VA. sne
lcrities who selecsed me were fan, .ons.n ~
! was not the person to waver from any OF tae
cations entrusted TO me. Sir +. Barring then eu-
. ised me, at any moment thatthe ships should be
0und by the Toe as to stand In the way OF .0be-
bee to tLeir lordships wishes, to abandon them.
Gsace the Duke OF Northumberland was put
Z in possession Of all matters impressed on meby
F. Barring. and Admiral Hyde Parker's last words
e." II collect. you are on search for Sir John
pkliD, and not for the discovery Of the North.
Passage" In the Attn paragraph Of my in
csions their lordships impress upon me that they
pit the recommendation Of the committee an
cd in October 1851, to inquire and report upon
evious expeditions; and toat @ the plan OF future
atsous there proposed is to be the basis Of your
bee0ings-" Finally, the bearing Of my inssrue
from the successive First Lords Of the Admi-
wee concentrated 10 the l6tn paragraph, wnare
eDjcoed to provide for she safe return ofthe par.
Er gland. The 10Th paragraph binds me to ODE.
ce, and although am commanded to return
n the stock Of provisions shall have been 70.
I'D Is twelve months full allowance, common
q dictates that twelve months full allowance
.essly oeart OF su,a mixture OF preserved
= and other Requisites a. would sustain an ener.
d crew for that period, should any Of my squad.
be caught Gas the Americans were Ia 1857 in
Pack and compelled to winter in it. True 1t is
supplies have been forwarded, both last as well
bis year, to Beechy leland; but, in go far as re-
TO our ships and preparations for further service
concerned, we, who know by experience tie
ulty Of laying out the caches, even for the sus-
nee OF travelling parties, well know that sledge
3, dragging at the man draught of two hun.
pounds per man, have but scanty store to de-
q; and TO victual our ship from BECKY Island
stain the crew for one year would occupy, as
experience teaches Us, about an entire season.
. fact, too painfully known to me, that, but for
nance arrival Of the Phoenix, after / had quit
OSCOuy AnlauVy buht tu0 dtOCk VI pEo8cEvoJ
8, &c intended for the relief Of any wac might
Beechy Island was far from sufficient, and that
an allowance only could be spared for the in
ed crews then assembled on board her Majettys
North Star. As to travelling condition, all
usl vas expended In laying out the caches for
ain Collins0n before June this year; lignum
and coal, i'll adapted, only remained These
matters Of deep import, but which are seldom
ght OF by others than those on whom the COM
! rests. But, to return to the committee Of
under paragraph Ill, l find them hesitating
skiing the lives Of the brave and meritorious
and In paragraph 16 these words are pressel
the notice Of their lordships:-" But with the
distinct injuncti0nS not to advance to such
nee as to endanger their return to the depot, or
communication with il that year; and it should
joined with equal striotness that, 10 the event
ireparable disaster to the ships 80 proceed
Or II they should be too firmly fixed in the ice
extficated during the summer of 1858, they
be abandoned, and the crews brought down to
epot" But nature herself bad provided that no
PIE progress should be made beyond the 9th de-
at this turning angle Of the coast as rendered
er advance to the ships impossible; therefore
ID myself OF the refuge which here alone was Of.
Arctic navigators now well know that the only
of exploration open to SUCCESSFUL search Is by
and botn parties. and the time which must be
iced to gain few miles useless Wrestling in the
would enable us TO execute nearly half seasons
1t was suggested to me at that period thAt
restless minds might, in idleness, dream Of
PE progress in the ship, and therefore deem
prudent to call on Comm ander Richards, Lieu.
8 Osborn, and Mr.. Lpvey, master, for their
N opinions, which still hold. From the
Hnt however, Of securing the vessel for the
e. which later experience has revealed to us be-
sariier to the northward Of Beechy Island, and
zee succe. sive seasons before the 26sh Of An 1
bur sledge parties had started. and explored
ent during the autumn Of 1853, to enable us
|mre plar 8 for the spring search Of 1853. That
was carried to the limits Of everyl and where,
,sibility, Captain Sir john Frankltn's parties
have proceeded. Il they ever reached the
to which the Assistance proceeded, have
Union Of Commar der Richards and others, who
led over the ice between our winter quarters
ape Lady Franklin, with his division OF sledges,
noopenirg has existed there for ye Arb" Indeed.
hannel ia asmuch barre as the strait which i'm
wills Island. / have, further, my own expo
and my own conviction, based on my jour
% the northeast In 1852 and 1853, that up to
ddie Of July, 1858, no opening for navigation
Tered. Indeed, II 1t had, no one officer Of my
could have en suggested course 70 pu.s1s
Ne search to be prosecuted for every known
ad beon sufficiently explored! Over the vast
comprisBg half the circle Of vacant space,
ut even loom Of land, or water sky, no
Invited, Speoulasors alone, ignorant Of
within the Polar waters, but believe the
On sense and intelligent portion OF the officers
squsdron do mos credit that his ships passed
eridian Of Beechey Island. The release of the
azoe and her tender TO re- assemble my squad
more efectual search in direction more
10 yield success, became simultaneously the
d Captain Kellett and myself, and thought
chad ex dressed II in his public letter to me,
"a it had already been communicated In the
toes forwarded BY tae Phoenix last year. /
bwever, that it is in . private letter,
be en- June, 1858, which accounts for its
bRarance. In that communication Captain
i sad suggested nearly the course contem
y myself, viz, the search Of the western
q Bsffln's Bay, and in order to effect this he
stet "that one veseel was to winter Ia Ponds
stamer in Exeter Bay, another steamer 10
intermediate snug harbor, and the Assistance
Glide" This would have enabled Us to com.
Dur work "slDetactorily, TO use Capt. KEEL
wors,) to the good people Of England" The
attn OF tie Assistance In 1863 Was rendered
We iesr Cape Eden, So miles north of Beechey
Captain Kellett's vessels, having on board
ey VI her Msjesty's ship Investigator, had not
lead Of, and now excited our sympst,ies
rstScs were mot only made for his relief, but
sha OF their lordsdips were anticipated by
ou caches for the aid Of Captain Collnson,
he attempt to reach Beechey Island b. the
Or west.~ The orders Of 1863 only reas hed me
Seysember, 1858; and taking into considera
,sir spirit and the impossibility Of extricatinQ
- a..