The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-03

The Arctic Dlscoveries.


The opening meeting Of the Royal Geographical
Eociety for the session was held on Monday evening
in the theatre Of the United Service Insulation 10
Scotland ya-d There was very Gro Eded attend,
ance, IL elm aing Admiral Lard Radstock. Admiral
Sir T. Herbert, Sir John Ross, Captains Inglefed,
Quin Ebadwell, Fnzgibb0D, Mcclure, kellatt, Lieu
tenant PIN, Dr.. Hodgkin, Colonel Sabine, General
Monteith Lord Sheffield, DR. Rae, Colonel Portlcck,
Commander Osborne, DR.. 6coreeby, Mr.. Hodgkin, DC.
The caAir was uped by Lord Colchester.
paper by DIR. RAE was read upon the recent dis
coveiies in the Arctic regions, and the evidence
that lad beeu obtained of the probable late OF Sir
John Franklin and his patty. The paper, which
occupied considerable time in the reading, was
merely q repetition Of the dispatches and CORES.
ssns he voyage s-s and disoovers: q Dr. Rss and
his companions. The Doctor himself explained his
paper by tracing out upon small but apparently
very correctly executed model and number Of
maps the course IL had pursued, aud particularly
the point where they had met the Esquimaux who
had reported to them the ia Of number Of white
men. supposed (by the remains found to have been
Biz John Franklin and some Of his crew. moscl
Of travelling party in the Arctic regions was ex-
hihited by Lieut.. PIN, showing the nature of the
work they had to undergo; also some Arctic play
bills and lists Of game shot by the Officers Of the late
In reply to number Of questions,
DR.. RAE said that he did not himself speak the
language beyond very few words the facts de-
scribed by the Esquimaux were interpreted to him
dition. This man spoke tle English language o.
Ruently ~ be CDR. Rae) did, and be had reason to
believe that be was trustworthy The person who
recommended him. and whom he CDR. Rse) had
known for years. told him that this interpreter was
never rogue unless when he was hungry. "a
lsuRh) In this case the man had no interest to de
ceive, and II an Esquimaux attempted to impose an
you t. him e
portion of the silver plate belonging both 10 Sir
John Franklin aud Captain Crozier; and this snd
the statements made BY the Esquimaux he thought
gsDeral opinion that If the party divided, as was
most probable, ono ships company would take one
direction and the other snother. Now, there were
only two routes that could be taken-the one by
Lancaster Sound and the other by the B sex River,
and 1t was in the immediate vicinity Of the Back
River that the remains were found.
DR.. SC0REsBY inquired whether DR.. Rae had
been enabled to form any opinion, from what had
been communicated by the Esquimaux, as TO the
period OF the year when the party OF white men was
seen 10 boat, and when they obtained supplies
fiom the Esquimsux.
the year when the Esquimaux went down to hunt
seaR, which was about the end Of April or the be-
ginning Of May. It was about month after this
that the bodies were found after the navigation had
began to open, but before tho ice had broken MP.
The Esquimaux, like all savage people, calculated
time BY moons They had the beer moon, the fish
moon, the fowl moon, and the seal moon, and it was
after TIE seal moon.
Ur. SCOHESBY-ln Wn0C year was tN6t
DR.. RAE replied that he bad very clearly ascer-
tanned, by crossquestioning the Esqunaux, that it
was in the year 1850. And, although the informar
ti,n came to him second hand, 1t was, in some re-
come first bard from the Esquimaux who fell in with
the party Of Europeans, they might have had an in
tercst In misleading, because they might suppose
that the persons questioning them desired to deprive
sons who had persisted; but the party VINO gavs the
information had no u:h interest," and, BESIDES they
were friendly to the white men.
DR.. ScoREsBY-Is 1t your impression that it was
near to the Back river the calamity happened
DR.. RAE-Yes, it was d'stinctly described BY the
Esquimaux. They described the number Of rivers
should have TO cross to get TO It, and they stated
that the place where the bodies were found vas to
the west Of the river where there were'no hills, and
the only part that answers that description ID the
ground near the Back river.
TIE CHAIRMAN thought that on ths present COCA.
sion, which was the first on viii the society had
met sir &c thu had heard this i'm portaat bat melau
| chely Information which DR.. Rae had brought to
them, and itwou not be right unless the chairman
land he regretted that the absence OF Lord Elles
mere and 6r R. Mulchison imposed that duty on
biD) expressing on behalf Of the society the deep
and heartfelt sorrow with which they had ell heard
the tidiDgs Of the calamitous fate Of Franklin and
way they could their deep regret for the loss OF thai
distinguished navigator and their sympathy for the
sDflerDgs Of his Loble minded widow. Hear, hear)
| No doubt the governments or the people, or bo.h,
memory. There was no need for him to reca pitula.e
the exploits Of Sir John Franklin, but he could not
but CAL to mind the indomi.able courage he had
displayed on sosmany he had bsan engaged
in expeditions to the Arctic regions and the many
and important iiscoveries be hsd made. Nor could
hefoTget that after having returned from those expo
ditions with honor, and after he had become the
counter the dangers Of an Arctic exploration at his
advanced period Of life, and that he persisted in
that service. (Hear.) Without doubt his name
would 60 down 70 posterity with honor, but It was
fitting that the Geographical Society should NO.
omit the EXPIRE ssion Of their deep regret at the me-
lanchoy fate Of one who had contributes 30 largely
to our geographical knowledge. (Hear, hear He
must, at the same time congratulate the meeting
celebrated Arctic navigator, Captain Mcclure
(cheers)-wb0 bad had the good fortune and the
happiness Of returning to his country and his friends
northwest passage. Cloud cheers) In conclusion,
the noble chairman called uYon any gentlemen pre-
sent who were ACQUAINTED with the subject to give
their opiI ions Oh the conclusions to which DR.. Rae
had arrived.
Dr.. 6CoREsBY expressed doubt whether they had
yet the n cans before them to come to q conclusion
as TO the fate of Franklin and his companions. It
bad bten ASSUMED by the newspapers that the ships
Of the expedition had been lost, but they had no
evidence II the fact. Dr. Rae had given NO informa-
ton o. TO any timber or remains Of ships being
found In the possession Of the Esquimaux Toe
presumption therefore was, that the ships still
~ CAEUNuocJ ouu suds ny pOsu-bl5 was ny no m6Aub
inconsistent with the finding part Of the crew
starved to death as described. II was natural for
Sir John Franklin and his party, findiI 4 his ships
frozen In and having no means of extr atirg the a.
to consider what should be doue-sbe probability
was that tsey had LEFT their vessels aud proceeded
inlaDd-some would probably take one route, some
another-some might have remained In the ahips.
BE thought 1t possible that some Of these brave men
yet survived II was natural, be thought, that Sir
]. Franklin would make across for the American
coast.
Sir JcnH Ross observed, that in return for the
kiDdLess he al himself experienced at the hands
Of Sir John Frar kiln, promised that he would make
search for him IL he did moi return in . certain
time, and he intended shortly to publish state.
msDt Ct the circumstances which had prevented
him Performing shst promise. He might, however,
say be had used every effort to promote the search.
When be last conversed with SIR John Franklin,
that oil or stated that be would leave notice Of
his intended route in the channel where he winter
ed. In 1916 thew found the case in the chanrel In
dicafAd hnf M IN fud hn