The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-09

We copy from the ERglish journals this
morning full details OF the discoveries that
have Just been made in connection with the
fate Of Sir John Franklin and his companions.
AS was stated yesterday, the researches of Cap
tain McClintock have cleared up all doubts
that existed in regard to their death. The cir
cumstanoes an well as the positiveness of the
event being ascertained, the interest excited
by it calls for succinct account of the
various steps that have been taken to effect
what the Fox has just accomplished.
The failure of the Antarctic expedition of
Captain Sir John Ross in 1874, determined the
English Admiralty, on the recommendation of
Sir John Barrow. to send out another in the
spring Of the following year. The command
was given to Sir John Franklin; and with the
Erebus and Terror, the two vessels that had
Just returned from the Polar seas. he sailed
from Sheerness in May, 1916. Captain Fitz-
| james acted as commander of the Erebus. and to
| Captain Crozier was given the command of the
| Terror 1t was not expected that the
expedition would return to England be-
4 fore the close of 1847, or, in fact,
that any news would be received from
| it unless it succeeded earlier than was antici-
pated in the objects which it had in view.
When the spring Of is4s arrived, without any It'd
ings oft having beenreceivcd, the Admiralty de-
termined on sending out searching expedition
| in three divisions; one consisting of single
/ ship, the Piover, commanded by Captain Moore,
4 to examine the issues by which, in case Of sue
| cess, the ships might come out to the westward
in Behring's Straits; the second, under the CON-
mand of Franklin's faithful friend Sir John
Richardson, to explore the coast ofthe Arctic Sea
| between the Mackenzie and the Coppermine
rivers or from the l35th to the ll5th degree
Of west longitude; and the third consisting Of
| two ships under the command of Sir James
Ross to examine the eastern side of Davis
Straits the locality in which Frankln's ships
entered on their course of discovery. Without
enumerating the various obstacles and difficult
ties encountered in these separate explorations
it is sufficient to state that oil three failed in
their object of ascertaining the whereabouts of
the missing ships. In the spring of 1S49 her
Majesty's ship the North Star, Of 500 tons was
despatched to the Polar seas, under COM
mand of Mr.. J. Saunders, who had been acting
master with Captain Back in the Terror;
but all that she accomplished was to
land some provisions and stores at
Supply Bay, blight on Navy Inlet Sound In
| January, 1850, the Enterprise and Investigator
| were second time sent out, under command
of Captains Collinson and Mcclure Although
this expedition failed in its main object, it had
Cor result that grand discovery for which so
many hardships and periis had been encoun-
tered-the existence of the Northwest Passage
In April, the same year, vessel of $50 tons.
named the Lady Franklin, fitted out at Aber-
deem, with new brig as tender, named the
| Sophia, sailed under the command of Captain
Penny, with instructions to examine Jones'
Sound, at the head of Bafin's Bay, and if posi-
BILE to penetrate through to the Parry Islands
In the following May, two strong, teak built
ships, of about 500 tons each, the Assistance
and Resolute, with two screw propeller steam
ers, the Intrepid and Pioneer, as tenders, were
despatched by the Admiralty, under the COM
mand of Captain Austin, with directions to ex-
anime carefully the north shores of Lancaster
i
Melville Bay the expedition fell in with Sir
John Ross, who, in the Felix, vessel fitted
out by private subscription and the liberaIity
Of the Hudson's Bay Company, was making the
best of his way to Lancaster Sound It was
through communications held with the Esqui-
maux through the interpreter of the Felix that
| the story reached England that in the winter
of 1s46 the natives had seen two ships crushed
! in the ice in the direction Of Cape Dudley
Diggs.
The eloquent and touching appeals of Lady
| Franklin to the American nation led to the
fitting up and despatch Of the Grinnell expedi-
ton in search of her husband. II was COM
| posed of two brigantines-the Advance, of LA
| tons, and the Rescue, of 81 tons-both of which
were provided and fitted out at the expense of
/ Henry Grinnell, our government also con-
| tributing its aid The expedition was placed
under the command of Lieutenant Z. S.
De Haven, and sailed from New York in May,
1850, for Melville Island. 1t was exposed to
the greatest sufferings and perils during one Of
| the most tremendous ice drifts on record, and
to their honor it is to be recorded, that when
at the close Of the season it became ap-
parent that no further progress could be
made, the American vessels, without the
aid of steam, were at the farthest
point that was made by any Of the three Eng
lsh vessels then engaged in the search, all Of
which had been assisted by steam on their out.
ward voyage when in and crossing Baf6n's Bay.
The expedition Of Lieutenant Sherard Osborn,
sent out by the English Admiralty in the same
month MAY, 1850, although valuable for the
chronological facts which it established in con-
necticn with the Esquimaux race, was, as re-
CARDS Its chief object, as unsuccessful as its
| predecessors.