MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 717, 16 June 1852, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

- The following extract is taken from the Aurora Borealis, a newspaper written in 1850 bj the officers of the squadron under Captain Austin in search of Sir John Franklin : — " Travelling-Parties. — The spring travelling parties of this expedition have effected infinitely more _of the ' extensive search of Sii John Franklin* and his 'missing crews, than has been achieved by the ships during the navigable season. " Issuing fortlTfrom the north-west point oi Griffith Island, they have penetrated far intc the unknown west, searching and discovering vast tracts of coast, and 'starting earlier, and travelling longer than any parties that have gone before them, have borne up against the rigorous climate of an Arctic April, and endured hardships of a most trying nature. " From the 4th of April to'theend of the month there was (with the exception of one day) a travelling party constantly away from the ships ; and during the time the temperature was seldom up to zero. The cutting wind frequently browing in their faces, together with the hard uneven ridges of snow, and lines oi heavy hummocks over which the sledges were •obliged to "be dragged, rendered the work' of the travellers very laborious. Their faces were constantly frost-bitten, scarcely was one cheek restored when the other would be caught. Their feet were so affected by the cold that in several cases serious accidents were the results. The glare of the sun upon the snow caused snow-blindness, and soreness of the eyes, and on one occasion there were fifteen men attacked with it, out of four sledges' crews, consisting of thirty persons. "When the tent is pitched, and the fire lighted for supper, the miseries of this travelling are far from ended. With the thermometer below 10 deg., the fat of salt pork becomes hard, and breaks like suet ; the rum becomes thick, and to drink out of a pannikin without leaving the skin of the lips attached to it, requires considerable experience and caution. The steam of the cooking, together with the moisture of the breath, condenses in considerable quantity on the inside of the tent, so that each flap of the canvas caused a shower of fine snow to fall over its inmates, penetrating and wetting their blanket bags. " Besides this, "the men experienced great difficulty in getting off their boots, and felt numbness iv their legs. On several occasions the cold was so intense that it even penetrated the sleeping bags, fingers were frost-bitten, and sleep prevented. The boots, too, which had ■contracted during the mild weather of the 16th and 17th from perspiration from -the feet, soon froze' hard ; aid. the boot with which the Duke of Lauderdale tormented the -Scotch • Covenanters, was brought to the Arctic tfaveller's recollection, when forcing his foot into these frozen receptacles of torture. "But let it not be supposed that these hardships and privations were not attended with concomitant comfort — a comfort whose extent can never be felt by those who are accustomed to the luxury of beds, or even to the bare ground in less rigorous climes, Not the tired soldier, when, after a long march, he wraps himself in his cloak, and lays him down by the watch-fire ; not-the South American horseman, to whom sleep has been a stranger for thirty hours, when overpowered by drowsiness, and with his bridle twisted round his arm, he drops from his saddle and falls into a delightful slumber ; not the labourer who, after a heavy day's work, returns to his humble dwelling to refresh himself in sleep, none of these can imagine the enchanting dreams and delicious repose experienced by the Arctic traveller, when with one pound of pemican stowed comfortably away, he ensconces himself for the night in his blanket bag. The agreeable passages of the past, and all that imagination can prompt as delightful for the future, pass across the dreamer's mind, and banquetting halls with tables-groaning under the profusion of luxuries are laid out before him. This latter image is more vivid, if the day's meal has happened to Jbe more meagre than usual."

Napoleon's Farewell to the Soldiers BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE FOR ELBA. With measured step and slow, followed by the guard and by his friends, he passed through the long gallery of Francis I. (in the palace Fontainebleau.) He stood for a moment on the landing of the grand staircase, and looked around on the troops drawn up, and the innumerable multitudes from the surrounding country, which had assembled to witness this grand historical event, that they might recount it to their children". What contending feelings agitated the breasts of that vast crowd, in which* there were more than defenders. But the greatness of the fall in some, the sorrow for misfortune in others, a regard to decorum in all, produced an universal silence. Insult at such a moment, would hays been cowardly—the cries of "YiveV'Empereur" a mockery. The soldiers themselves experienced a feeling too solemn, of too religious an awe, to think of acclamation ; they felt a deep sense of honour in their consciousness of fidelity even in adverse fortune, and felt that now the sun of their glory was about to set, and with their chief to sink for ever behind the trees of the forest, and the waters df the Mediterranean. They envied, the lot of those of their comrades whom fate or choice had favoured by allowing them to be the companions of their exiled Emperor. Their heads were Lowed low, their looks were mournful, and tears rolled down the furrowed cheeks of the warriors. Had the drums been covered with crape it would have appeared like an army performing the obsequies of their general. Napoleon, after casting a martial and penetrating glance at his battalions and squadrons, had in his countenance an expression of tender regard unusual to him. What days of battle, of glory, and of power did not the sight of that army call to his mind ! Where now were they, who had composed it, when it traversed with him the continents of Europe, Africa, and Asia ? How many now remained of those millions in the remnant before his eyes ? , And yet those few were faithful ; and he was going ,to leave them for ever. The afmy was himself. When he should no longer behold it, what would he be? He owed all to the' sword, and with the sword he had lost all. He hesitated a- moment before descending, and seemed as if about to' re-enter the palace mechanically. He rallied, however, and recovering himself descended the stairs to approach

his soldiers. The drums beat the salute. With a gesture he imposed silence, and, advancing in front of the battalions, he made a sign that he wished to speak. The drums ceased, the arms were, still; and the almost breathless silence allowed his voice, re-echoed by the high walls of the palace, to be heard to the remotest ranks, " Officers, subalterns, and soldiers of my oil guard," he said, "I. bid you farewell. For five-and-twenty-years have I ever found you walking in the path of* honour and of glory. In these,latter times as in those oßour prosperity, you have never ceased to be models of fidelity and bravery. With men such as you our cause would not have been lost ; but the war was interminable ; it might have been a civil war, and then it would have beeu worse .for France. I have therefore sacrificed our interests to those of the country. I leave you do you my friends, continue to serve France ; her honour was my only thought ; it shall ever be" the object of my most fervent prayers. Grieve not for my lot ! If I have consented to outlive myself, it is with the hope of still promoting your glory. I trust to wrjte the deeds we have achieved together. — Adieu my children ; I would fain embrace you all. Let me at least embrace your general and your colours !" At these words the soldiers were deeply affected ; a .shudder ran. through the ranks, and their arms quivered. General Petit, who commanded the old guard in the absence of the marshals — a man of martial" bearing but of sensitive feelings — at a secoDd signal from Napoleon advanced between the ranks of the soldiers and their Emperor. Napoleon embraced him for a long time, and the two chieftains sobbed aloud. At this spectacle one; stifled sob was heard through all the ranks* Grenadiers brushed away, the tear from their eyes with their left hands, " Bring me the eagles," resumed the Emperor, who desired to imprint upon his heart and on these standards the memory of Catsar. Some grenadiers advanced bearing before him the eagles of the regiment. He grasped these trophies so dear to the soldier; he pressed them to his breast, and, placing his lips to them exclaimed, in a manly but broken accent, "Dear eagle, may this last embrace vibrate for ever in the hearts of all my faithful soldiers ! Farewell again, my old companions, farewell ! " The whole army burst into tears, and the only reply was one long-continued groan. An open carriage, in which General Bertrand awaited his master and friend, received the Emperor, who hurried in and covered his eyes with, both his hands. The carriage rolled away towards the first, stage of Napoleon's exile. The first empire was at an end. Napoleon knew the power of imagination over mankind. He well knew also the part which the heart plays in history. In this scene, in the face of France and of the world, he had made a solemn offering of his own, and of that of his troops. To his very enemies this act appeared worthy of the greatest pages in the history of nations. It had required fifteen years of victories and of reverses to pre-_ pare the seene — an array and a hero to act it, the world for a spectator, and an exile to render it touching. This is the pathetic page in the Emperor's life. He had been a sovereign, never a man. In returning to nature, he again; found greatness. This "adieu" to his army gained for him the admiration, the pity, and the heart of the people. — Lamartine's History of the Restorations ,