SIR JOHN FRANKLIN'S EXPEDITION. [From the Cornwall Chronicle, Van Diemen's Land, March 9.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 489, 10 April 1850, Page 4

SIR JOHN FRANKLIN'S EXPEDITION. [From the Cornwall Chronicle, Van Diemen's Land, March 9.]

Sir J. Ross, Sir J. Richardson, and Mr. Kerr, master of the whaler Chieftain, have just arrived in London from the Artie sets. Sir J. Ross and Sir J. Richaidson went out, the one by sea, the other overland, to endeavour to discover Sir John Franklin. Captain Kerr, it will be remembered, was the shipmaster who met with the Esquimaux Indian, upon whose authority it is held that the Arctic navigators are still in existence. In the autumn of last ye*r, Sir J. Ross penetrated a little to the westward of Leopold Island, when the ships were obliged to take up their winter quarters at Port Leppold (entrance of Prince Regent's Inlet.) In the spring of this year Sir James Ron with, a party traversed the

north coast of North Somerset, beyond Capet Rennel, Gifford, Bunny, and finding the land extend nearly due south,'he followed it to that part of the western coast opposite Kertwell Bay ; the total distance traveised heing about 500 miles. Another detachment was sent down Prince Regent's Inlet, as far as the spot at which the provisions of the JFtoy were left ; they reached it, and found them in a perfect state of preservation. This party then crossed over to the opposite side to Port Bowen, and returned across the inlet to the ships. A third party went from the ships, across Barrow's Strait, but they found it at that time impenetrably blocked with ice. Meeting with no vestige of any kind, and no flag-staff or marks, the probability is that Sir John Franklin's ships passed through towards Cape Walker, without any obstruction. Sir James Ross having wintered at Leopold Island, and searched all around in every direction, next cut a canal of two miles and a half in length, with tbe intention of continuing the' search, and proceeding to the westward, to Melville Island ; but immediately after getting out of this canal, unfortunately got into a flue of ice, in which they became frozen up, and were thus carried bqdily with the field, at the rate of about eight miles a- day, through Lancaster Sound, and out beyond Pond's Bay, much after the same manner in which Back's ship the Terror was drifted off Southampton Islend in 1837. Soon after, however, the gale and the swell having broken up the ice, the ships, as soon as they got released, stood over to the other side. It wa» now too late in the season to return to Leopold Island, and Sir James, therefore, most judiciously, determined on returning to England. In 1848, Sir J. Richardson proceeded from Mackenzie, eastward to the Coppermine, forming depots of provisions at different parts of the coast. He describes an open sea to the north, all the way as far as his vision extended, until his arrival at the Dolphin and Union Straits, which were blocked with ice. His companion Dr. Rae, was to proceed with a party of select men down the Coppermine/ in this manner to penetrate as far north as he could, and endeavour to advance between Woollaston, and Victoria Islands, where it is" believed there is an opening, as the tide sets eastward and westward through Dease's Straits and the Dolphin Straits. Tjbis route will intersect the course which Fra'nklfo wonld most' probably steer from Cape Walker, the shortest distance to which point is; 400 miles. . The latest news from the third expedition, that by Bearing's Straits, is to the time her Majesty's ship Herald, Captain Hellet, C.8., sailed from Oahu on the morning of the 19th May last, loaded with provisions of all kinds from a hired transport sent from Valparaiso. None of the Esquimaux had been on board Sir James Ross's ships, and from the communication of Mr. Kerr, of the Chieftain, who had been examined by the Lords of the Admiralty, it would appear that there is a slight discrepancy between his statement and that of Captain Parker of the Truelove, inas-. much as the Esquimaux had told Captain Kerr, that they had been on board the ships. i nor in the Esquimaux sketch was there any track from ship to ship, both of which were inferences, the one from the Esquimaux having said they were all well, the other from there being a line on the sketch which might be meant for the bowsprit of one of the ships, or any other long article. With respect to Sir J. Franklin, it is stated that his ships were provisioned for three full years — that is, from July, 1846 ; but Sir J. Franklin mentioned in his last letters, that he could extend it to four years without serious inconvenience — that is up to July last ; but if they were fortunate enough to take any seals and birds, of which Sir James Ross obtained an ample supply, it might be that thosa provisions could be eked out for a still longer period. The case of the arctic navigators certainly is a bad one, but still there is 2 room for hope in it. Sir John Ross, in company with Sir James Ross, were absent from England in their polar expeditions between four and five years, and for four years were not heard of, although they were only at tbe bottom of Prince Regent's Inlet. During this time they subsisted on their awn provisions for three years and then on those of the Fury. It is just possible Sir J. Franklin and his party may do the same. .