Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-21
THE ARCTIC SEARCH.

We learn by the late arrival from England that
the Phenir, screw propeller, Of the last expe-
diton fitted out by the British Government for the
North Sea, has arrived at Cork, having on board
Capt MCCLURE and several of the crew Of his vessel
The Phoenix was unable to obtain any intelli-
gence Ct Sir JOHN FRANKLIN, or of the American
Expedition, under the command of DIR. KANE, fitted
out by Mr.. HENRY GRINNELL. Letters from this
expedition, written in Bafhn's Bay in July, 1858,
have been received at New York. The health Of
the persons composing it continued good, and en-
thusiastc determination to persevere in endeavorng
to ascertain the fate of the long-lost Franklin ami
mated each and all of the gallant party. Accord
ing to the plan agreed upon before Dr. KANE left
New York. he should return to that port during
the present or the next month. His early arrival,
however, is not looked for with certainty, he has
the discretion to continue his researches in the Arctic
regions for another season.
The Cork " Examiner" in mentioning the recent
arrival of the Phoenix, gives the following account
of the recent explorations:
1t viii be remembered that in the May Of 1850 an
expedition for the double purpose of ascertain
ing the fate Of Sir John Franklin, and Of continuing the
exploration Of the ongsought northwest passage This
expedition consisted of two vessels the Investigator
manded by Capt Mcclure and the Enterprise under the
command Of Capt Conson the first of which succeeded
in proving the existence of seapassage along the north
coast or America. 10 the year lo0Z no account
had arrived Of the fate of those vessels and accordingly
expedition was fitted out under the command of Sir
Edward Becher consisting Of his own ship the Assist
ance the Resolute, Capt. Keett, the Intrepid, Capt
McCntock and the Pioneer Capt Osborne to their
assistance Thus there then altogether six ships
engaged in prosecuting the investigation in which alone
Capt Mcclure has been successful In the May Of this
year the Phoenix, screw and the North Star and Talbot
storeships out to the relief of those vessels
and their arrival they found the whole of the two for
mer expeditions with one exception the Enterprise COM
pleey blocked up in the ice in the district embracing
Lancaster Sound, Beechey Island and Wellington Straits
In Melville Bay the ice found to be than it had
been for foryseven years before and every thing
promise of winter unprecedentedy rigorous while there
prospect whatever Of getting the ships free this
summer. Under these circumstances Sir Edward Bel
cher his responsibility, ordered the abandonment
of the entire five vessels which were accordingly left to
their fate, and the distributed among the store
ships. 1t at Beechey Island the latter landed, and
the of the abandoned vessels had to proceed dis
lance Of two hundred miles overland to reach them.
The Phoenix has brought home the greater part Of the
crew of the Resoue, few of that Of the Assistance
and one officer and one man. besides Capt Mcclure of
the Investigator The vessels sailed together until they
met with adverse winds off the Orkney Islands, when
they parted company, the Phoenix steaming for Queens
town, where she could COAL and the others obliged
beat up well they could for London. The Phoenix
has unfortunately brought decided intelligence of the
only ship Of the late expedition missing the Enter
prise but Capt Mcclure stated that he feels confident
Of her safety 1t is conectured that the ship had got
into of the numerous creeks bays the western
coast Of the North American continent that she had
been abandoned by the crew, and that the latter
making their way the land These conectures have
been formed from number of concurrng circumstances;
but the principal from the nature of number
of interesting dispatches from Capt Coinson found at
different points, bearing date about the year 1852 the
second year Of his being in the ice Among other cir
it appeared from those that he had followed
for great distance nearly the same course that Capt.
Mcclure had pursued and that at period they
close to each other twelve days SAIL space of
less than hundred miles During the whole of her
perous voyage Of nearly four years the Investigator has
lost but officer and five out of of sixty five.
The Phoenix unable to obtain any intelligence Of
the American expedition fitted by Mr. Grinne since
it left Apernavk.
The London Morning Chronicle has the following
article on the same subject:
The public mind hardly have been prepared for the
closing in the drama Of arctic search 1t is with
pain that under the necessity Of announcing
only the Of Sir Edward Belcher but the fact that
he has abandoned while they yet unnjured and
available for further SERVICE the four fine placed
under his command and what is Of far higher import
that he has left the gallant Conson to effect his
treat
It is to be presumed that Sir Edward Belcher win fully
explain his proceedings respects his own search for
poor Frankns party; and We conceive that the public
will claim also to be fully informed why her Majestys
ships have been thus abandoned in the face Of nstruc
tons laid before the House Of Commons and conveyed
Sir E. Belcher by the Phoenix in the present summer
These instructions II they did not positively require
mistakably enoined such might the
safety Of Captain Consons for the accomplishment of
which the ampest means placed at the disposal of
Sir E. Belcher and in pursuance Of which he further
instructed to consult with the very able officers who
companied him. Rumor is already busy and it is said
that Sir f. Bechers return England is to be followed
by courtsmara and inquiries into disputes with his Of
cers 1t is not trust owing to the ignobe
these that the public service has suffered and the
claims of humanity been sacrificed.
OF the proceedings of the search we have yet only
gathered that tie division under Capt Keett effected all
that was anticipated Commander McClintock having
completed very extended edge journey to the west
ward from Melville Island occupying about hundred
days. during which he found abundance of musk oxen
and reindeer The movements of Sir Il. Becher appear
to have been limited since the date OF his dispatches
ceved last year. to his retreat upon Beechey Isand and
the promising land to the north and northeast Of Yelling
ton Channel remains therefore unvisited.
But amidst all the gloom which hangs the search
for Franklin and his unfortunate companions, may
heartily congratulate the friends of Captain Conson
upon his presumed safety, notwithstanding the detention
to which Sir Edward Belchers return has probably
signed him. As wehave always anticipated his course
precisely that Of Captain Mcclure whose first winter
resting place attained in the following year by the
Enterprise four days only after it had been vacated by
Mcclure Failing his predecessor had done, to ac-
complish the northwest passage through Investigator
Strait Capt Collinson ultimately found his first winter
harbor in 1872 in Walker Bay, on the south side of
have pursued the following easterly course
along the North American shore, through Dolphin and
Union Strait He may thus possibly be able to carry his
ship through Victoria Strait and Peel Sound into Barrow
Strait which would be efecting the northwest passage
though not by the channel that has been sighted and
nearly accomplished by Capt Mcclure. Our knowledge
Of these circumstances is derived from the records de-
ed huG ia and ~