NEWS FROM H.M.S. ENTERPRISE IN SEARCH OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 709, 19 May 1852, Page 4

NEWS FROM H.M.S. ENTERPRISE IN SEARCH OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.

[From the Hongkong Register , Dec. 9.] News has been received of H.M. ship Enterprise despatched in search of Sir John Franklin, which left this to renew her search on the 2nd April last. At the date of the letters (Bth July) the Enterprise was off Cape Prince of Wales.* After leaving this, the northerly monsoon still blowing, little:way could be made in beating with such a style of vessel as the Enterprise, fitted for encountering ice,-and it took them twenty-six days to reach Port Lloyd, (Bonin Islands,) where they remained ten days-r-leaving on the 6th May. On the 21st, the southern edge of the ice was reached off Cape Saint Tbadd6e. On the 3rd June, they entered the ice in lat. 63 9 25’. After leaving the Bonin Islands they experienced very bad weather, losing a topmast and several other spars. On entering* the ice they were completely at its mercy, being drifted north. During the drift they were carried past Diomed Island at the distance of a mile, and were closely beset until the Ist July, when they got into open water, and in two days reached Cape Prince of Wales where they found the Plover, much shaken from her third winter’s sojourn in those regions. The Plover had not found any traces of Sir John Franklin, She: brought back assistant surgeon Adams, and the- seaman of the Enterprise, who were left with lieutenant Barnard, at Port Michelouski, to enquire into- the truth of an Indian report, to the effect that white men in distress had been seen on the source of the Darabin River, as mentioned in the Hongkong Register of the 25th February last. Mr. Adams repotts that Lieut. Barnard, the seaman and himself, penetrated to the Russian'Fort Darabin. During their stay there, the Kinkok . Indians made an attack on the fort ; and, unfortunately, during the encounter, Lieut. Barnard and the commandant of the fort were killed, and an interpreter badly wounded. The Indians were driven off, but in their retreat they attacked an Fsquimaux village in the neigbourhood, and killed fifiy-seven of the inhabitants. Mr. Adams and the seaman got back safely, but they had heard nothing of Sir John Franklin. At the time.they were sent, little was expected from their search, as the white men said to have been seen were supposed to have been some, of the Hudson Bay officers. Lieutenant Barnard and his party, volunteers, went, that it might not be said that any stone had been left unturned, in the search for our un-' fortunate countrymen. Mr. Parks had got the vacant lieutenancy. We may expect the Plover shortly with fuller details of their search, but nothing can be added to the main fact—No tidings”—and it is to be feared, from the severity of the last season, that the Enterprise w|li bring little further intelligence, and we should think it doubtful if she would .be able, to move much further north than her present position. During. the Enterprise's voyage to.the north, ,a very melancholy occurrence took place oh board,

in the suicide of Mr. Whitehead, the purser. We' forbear shocking our -readers with the details of the lamentable event, further than the unfortunate; gentleman was heard by the doctor astir at 2a.r0., 19th June, and on bis looking into the cabin, Mr. Whitehjead was found; to have; the; yeios’ on the left sidle of his .neck with a razor. He died in a few minutes; after he was discovered by Dr. Anderson. Qnr informant states, the pro-bable-causes that djro,ve Mr. Whitehead to the dreadful act, but. we .forbear, mentioning them, further than by jsjalibg that they ate said to have arisen out ;Q.f the disagreeable terms on which Capti. Collinson and his officers stand to each other’—as a sample ; of which;, we may mention that one of the officers was in arrest at the time of the. above communication for haying spoken disrespectfully of Bishops.! This stale of. matters is to be deeply regretted, first as to the ship; itself, and secondly os to the results of .the e> pedition. Of this latter, we believe we are only echoing public opinion when we say that' hope may be considered extinguished, even in the breast of the most sanguine, and we may look? upon Sir J. Franklin and his gallant crew as martyrs to their duty ,to their, country, and it now only remains, for their country to show its sense of the merits of the brave band,, by pensioning their families, and raising a memorial to to commemorate their faithful discharge of their duty.

* The north-west extremity of the Continent of America, forming, With East Cape on the coast of Asia, Bhering Straits. : .