The Sun. — 1851-11-25 (London, England)

OMMANNEY, R.N., one of the commanding officers of the late expedition, then gave a very succinct and interesting account of their proceedings, tracing on the chart the course the expedition had taken, but without that assistance it would be impossible to follow him satisfactorily through his narrative, and the principal part of it has in fact already appeared in these columns. It proved that the whole of the coast as far as the vessels could go along Baffin's Bay, Lancaster Sound, and Barrow's Straits on either side, the principal part of the Wellington Channel and the coast of Melville's Island, had been most carefully and minutely explored, but without success. The fact however, of Sir John Franklin's expedition having touched at Beachey Island in April, 1846, was shown by the tombs of three seamen found there with inscriptions upon them. In answer to a question from the Chairman, Captain Ommanney said, the result of the exploration satisfied him of the improbability of Sir J. Franklin's having gone to the westward of the Cornwallis Island.  Lieutenant OsBoRNE, one of the officers of the expedition, expressed his firm conviction that Sir John Franklin had rushed forward to the north-west of the Wellington Channel. It must be recollected that the expedition was equipped for four years' service, and he had recently heard in Paris, from a gentleman who was well acquainted with Lieutenant Halkett, one of Sir John Franklin's officers, and who was conversing with him just before he started, that the provisions they carried would hold out for six years if necessary. Now, the instructions of Sir John Franklin were to proceed to the northward of the Wellington Channel, if possible; and he would ask whether, equipped as they were, Sir John Franklin and his fellow officers were men likely to turn their back on their duty after having been absent only eighteen months ?—(llear.) Captain Parry, with provisions for that period only, had pushed his ships north-westward for Melville's Island, and Sir John Franklin's expedition had an advantage over Captain Parry's in having steamers. It had been suggested that Franklin's ships bad been driven by the ice from Barrow's Straits and Lancss• ter's Sound into Baffin's Bay, and had there perished; but they had heard before of ships being so swept out, and yet the crews had always been saved. .Teo ancsuppose that his ships had been crushed by the lc that the whole of the crews had perishe believed, out of the question. lie Opposed to the idea that there was an open sea first ervations which he the Wellington Channel, but. o had sea beyond the as the presence had made during the expedition, downan varioustil e channel, q suchu a t iaca birdsd also the enifiancgt coming from the opinion, and oforffotwmhhetrihteeeaNpwphoerantlrehisng to be two tides—one Baffin's Bay, had the northward, m to come to the conclusion that there was such an and induced the otherhim tf or e change th e open sea, and that Sir John Franklin might have forced his way into it by the Wellington Channel, and so make his way to Behring's Straits. Sir B. BsLcaszt observed that the white whales  Mr. fell (the chief clerk)—Was Hands generally in the room when the man you speak of came ? Witness—Yes, always, except when she went out for short time to get some refreshment. Mr. Fell-7 Was she there on the night of the murder ? Witness—Yes ; but she did not come in till twelve o'clock. Mr. BROUGFITON (to Inspector Jackson)—ls Mrs. Hands here ? luspector She is not Sir, and it will perhaps be some time before she will, be able to leave the infirmary. Mr. BROUGLITON (to the witness Beckett)—Did you ever see anything irregular in the conduct of the deceased? Witness—Never, Sir ; quite the contrary.  Inspector Jackson here said—" I find from the inquiries which I have instituted respecting her that she has been for a long time a hard-working and industrious woman, but that the prisoner has been jealous of her for some years past."  The prisoner cross-questioned the witness Beckett, who in reply to him said—There was no one in your room but you and your wife; the boy was outside with a box, and you had opened the door fur him to take it out. After the box was taken away I heard no words, but I did hear loud screams. I never heard that either of the women was a fortune-teller. Prisoner—l have nothing more to say to ou. (Addressing the magistrate)—Is Mrs. Hands to be examined to-day ? Mr.