Year: 1875

PORTSMOUTH, England, Nov. 3, 1875.
JAMES GORDON BENNETT, Esq


DEAR SR-You call for my ideas upon
the subject of Allen Young's recent voyage
into Peel Strait, and you call for it as being
yourself deeply interested in Arctic explora-
ton and in all matters relating to the prac-
ticability of the Northwest Passage. l can
have no sort of hesitation in complying with
your wish.


THE GREAT ICE BARRIER.


Young was with me in the Fox when we
attempted to pass down Peel Strait in August,
1858. We were stopped by fixed ice after a
run down it of only twenty-five miles With
ont wasting time in waiting there we
attempted to pass through Bellot Strait and
although we succeeded in this, yet our
further progress was stopped by fixed ice
across its western outlet. You will remem-
Der that my object was to reach King
Williams Island. From my position, at this
western outlet of Bellot Strait, l could see
that all to the north, as far as the horizon
was covered with unbroken ice, while all to
the south was water, with the exception of
the belt of fixed ice, some three or four miles
wide, which so effectually barred my way.
PEEL STRAIT SOMETIMES NAvIGABIE.


Subsequent sledging exploration to the
Great Fish River and all round King
Williams Island convinced me that we
actually saw in that narrow barrier of ice
the only impediment to our progress to and
beyond King Williams Island. 1t also con-
vinced me that Franklin's ships passed down
Peel Strait, thus proving that seasons do
occur when it is navigable.


PASSAGE FROM OCEAN TO OCEAN.
| And now to sum up. We know of one
| year (Franklin's) when Peel Strait was
navigable; of another year (McClintock's)
when it was not navigable and of third
year (Allen Young's) when it was partially
navigable. In my opinion, this strait, to-
gether with its southern continuation, is
probably navigable once in four or five years,
and if steamer could then make her way
through it before the close of the month of
August she would be able to complete the
passage from the one ocean to the other be-
fore the navigable season was over.


Here let me refer you to my narrative Of
the voyage of the Fox Qater editions, pages
265-0 for my own opinions, as they were
written down at the time


WHAT CAPTAIN YOUNG ACCOMPLISHED


Young's attempt to accomplish the North
west Passage was as bold and skilful q one as
was ever made. He persevered, not only
after all hope seemed extinguished, but
until further perseverance would have
rendered his retreat impossible; and
here, at the most critical moment
of his voyage, consider that he
exercised the soundest judgment and discre-
ton in etfecting his escape. Had his at
tempt been successful he would not only
have accomplished the Northwest Passage,
! but would also have achieved another object
which he had in view-namely, that of
searching the shores of King William s
Island, at the only season when they are
free from snow, for further relics of Sir John
| Franklin's expedition, which perished there
in 194S.


THE OBJECTS REALIZED.


But, although bafied in the main objects
of his voyage, other important and useful
work remained for him to do, and well
he has done it. He has brought us
intelligence of our Arctic expedition
of very great interest. BY it we
know that they had surmounted all the diff
culties of Bafiin's Bay navigation, had crossed
the dreaded Melville Bay with hardly check,
and that as early as July 26 they we're within
100 miles of Smith Sound, where their work
of exploration was to begin, and that they
were favored with an unusually good season.
THE WORLD SPARED YEAR OF DOUBT.


But for Allen Young, in the Pandora, this
good news could not have reached us for
another year at the least. The country has
been spared years doubts and misgivings,
and trust that Mr.. Young has received from
official quarters an acknowledgment COM
mensurate with the great public service he
has thus rendered at so much personal haz-
ard and cost / remain, dear sir, faithfully
yours, L. l.. McCLINTOCK.
CAPTAIN ALLEN YOUNG ON THE DIFFICULTIES
WHICH BEsET TILE PANDORA.


To THE EDITOR LONDON TMEs:-


1 SR-Wil you allow me to make the following re.