The New York herald., 1875-11-09
LETTER FROM REAR ADMIRAL
RICHARDS.

Rear Admiral George Henry Richards the well
known Arctic explorer, wrote TO tho Times a very
kindly and appreciave letter about the Pandoras voy
age which has done much to cnhghten the English as
to what Captain Young has accomplished. The follow
ing is his letter.
To THE EDITOR OF THE TrnEs:-
SIR.-When the Pandora left Portsmouth In June last
the OF her voyage TO great extent shrouded
in mystery. Little more could be gathered than That
she provisioned and equipped TO pass winter in
the ice and that receiving letters for the Polar
Expedition which had preceded her month
It was known, Of course, that Captain Allen Young
experienced Arctic navigator; that he had some
able naval and other officers under his command and
that he was accompanied by staff OF talented corre
spondents, naturaiiss, artists, &c with small but
picked crew equal TO any service they might be called
on TO perform. Under these circumstances, and with
harbor tho 10th of Juue last for the Arctic regions
But Captain Young's aims we're not purposeless, and
he did not leave England without conndng TO few Of
his Arctic friends what his hopes and intentions
confess among those who believed that he
displayed wise discretion in his roticence.
The Pandora has returned, probably, before many
have been ably and graphically depicted by the alen
special correspondent It has not appeared very clearly
authoritatvely what the precise objects of her
cruise or why she returned few words yorr
columns therefore, from one who has personal in
terest IN the matter and who does not overstep the
bounds Of confidence in writing them may not be un-
fitting At the present time.
II is generally known that the late Lady Franklin
tortaised to the end Of her life unaerabe convic-
tion that records OF her husbands expedition
still lay buried King williams Land OF the shores
OF which his ships we're abandoned in 1s48. However
much Arctic authorities may have differed 10 the
utility OF further search for those documents Captain
Allen Young was always anxious 10 crafty this natural
desire and indeed the only interested in the
subject whose private would permit him TO do
More than once he went so far TO purchase vcs-
sci with the view OF carrying out this object though
from one Cause another his Efforts were frustrated
Last year however, he succeeded In obtaining suit
able vessel In the Pandora and with tho assistance OF
two associates who joined him In the enterprise
strengthened completely equipped her Afttc
service, himself assuming the command; and athougn
he probably encouraged by the change which lad
been gradually coming public opinion IN regard 70
Polar exploration and by the decision OF the govern.
ment TO send out a expedition n Is pretty certain
that he would have carried out his avorito prolecs
Irrespective OF either OF these considerations
The Pandora then left England and passed BY the
usual route through Davis strait and Lancaster
Sound but instead Of sailing down Prince Regent Inlet
and irving Bellot Strait whore McClntock had been
arrested tho Fox Captain Young pushed down Peel
Sound the westw ard which had scarcely before been
attempted BY ship but which very generally be-
cved 20 be tho gateway TO the northwest passage
along the coast OF America, which Coinson, in The
Enterprise so nearly effected from Behring Strait
Could the Pandora have passed the barrier OF ice
which choked the throat OF this sound about
100 miles within its entrance tho northern edge OF
which she reached there is littlc doubt In my mind
that Captain Young would have accomplished the
northwest passage, and he would at tho Same time
have bad opportunity OF re-cxaminng the western
shores OF King Williams Land under favorable circu
Stances but when he had reached this barrier and saw
from an eminence the western entrance Of Belot
Strait with hrm ice stretching right across Peel
Sound, he that there little hope OF eject
ing the passage during the present season II
manifest then that he must either return or adops