that effect were exchanged, and subsequently assented to by Captains Forsyth and Penny.

"On the 13th of August natives were discovered on the ice near to Cape York, with whom it was deemed advisable to communicate. On this service, Lieutenant Cator, in the Intrepid, was detached on the part of Captain Austin, and on my part Commander Phillips, with our Esquimaux interpreter, in the whale-boat of the Felix. It was found by Lieutenant Cator that Captain Penny had left with the natives a note for Captain Austin, but only relative to the state of the navigation; however, when Commander Phillips arrived, the Esquimaux, seeing one apparently of their own nation in the whale-boat, came immediately to him, when a long conversation took place, the purport of which could not be made known, as the interpreter could not explain himself to any one, either in the Intrepid or the whale-boat, (as he understands only the Danish besides his own language,) until he was brought on board the Prince Albert, where John Smith, the captain's steward of that vessel, who had been some years at the Hudson's Bay settlement of Churchill, and understands a little of the language, was able to give some expla nation of Adam Beek's information, which was deemed of such importance that Captains Ommaney, Phillips, and Forsyth, proceeded in the Intrepid to the Resolute, when it was decided by Captain Austin to send for the Danish Interpreter of the Lady Franklin, which, having been unsuccessful in an attempt at getting through the ice to the westward, was only a few miles distant. In the mean time it was known that, in addition to the first information, a ship, which could only be the North Star, had wintered in Wolstenholme Sound, called by the natives Ourinak, and had only left it a month ago. This proved to be true, but the interpretation of the Dane was totally at variance with the information given by the other, who, although for obvious reasons he did. not dare to contradict the Dane, subsequently maintained the truth of his statement, which induced Captain Austin to dispatch the Intrepid with Captains.

Ommaney and Phillips, taking with them both our interpreters, Adam Beek and a young native who had been persuaded to come as one of the crew of the Assistance, to examine Wolstenholme Sound. In the mean time it had been unanimously decided that no alteration should be made in our previous arrangement, it being obvious that while there remained a chance of saving the lives of those of the missing ships who may be yet alive, a further search for those who had perished should be postponed, and accordingly the Resolute, Pioneer, and Prince Albert parted company on the 15th. It is here unnecessary to give the official reports made to me by Commander Phillips, which are of course transmitted by me to the Secretary of the Hudson's Bay Company, which, with the information written in the Esquimaux language by Adam Beek, will no doubt be sent to you for their Lordships' information; and it will be manifest by these reports that Commander Phillips has performed his duty with sagacity, circumspection, and address, which do him infinite credit, although it is only such as I must have expected from so intelligent an officer; and I have much satisfaction in adding that it has been mainly owing to his zeal and activity that I was able, under disadvantageous circumstances, to overtake her Majesty's ships, waile by his scientific acquirements and accuracy in surveying, he has been able to make many important corrections and valuable additions to the charts of the much-frequented eastern side of Baffin's Bay, which has been more closely observed and navigated by us than by any former expedition, and, much to my satisfaction, confirming the latitude aud longitude of every headland I had an opportunity of laying down in the year 1818.

"I have only to add that I have much satisfaction in co-operating with her Majesty's expedition. With such support and with such vessels so particularly adapted for the service, no exertion shall be wanting on my part. But I cannot conclude this letter without acknowledging my obligations to Commodore Austin

and Captain Ommaney for the assistance they have afforded me, and for the cordiality and courtesy with which I have been treated by these distinguished officers and others of the ships under their orders. Animated as we are with an ardent and sincere desire to rescue our imperiled countrymen, I confidently trust hat our united exertions and humble endeavors may, inder a merciful Providence, be completely successful. "I am, with truth and regard, Sir, your faithful and obedient servant,

"JOHN ROSS, Captain, R. N."

By the accounts brought home by Commander Forsyth from Lancaster Sound, to the 25th of August, it is stated that Sir John Ross, in the Felix, intended to return to England.

The ice was at that period very heavy, extending all around from Leopold Island, at the entrance of Regent Inlet, to Cape Farewell, to the westward, so as to prevent the possibility of any of the vessels pushing on to Cape Walker. When the Prince Albert was between Cape Spencer and Cape Innes, in Wellington Channel, Mr. Snow went at noon to the mast-head, and saw H. M. Ship Assistance as near as possible within Cape Hotham, under a press of sail. Her tender, the Intrepid, was not seen, but was believed to be with her. Captain Penny, with his two ships, the Lady Franklin and Sophia, was endeavoring to make his way up the same Channel, but it was feared the ice would ultimately be too strong for him, and that he would have to return home, leaving Captain Austin's squadron only to winter in the ice.

The American man-of-war brig Rescue was close beset with the ice near Cape Bowen.

The Pioneer was with the Resolute on the 17th August.

A TERICAN SEARCHING EXPEDITION. UNITED STATES' SHIPS, ADVANCE" AND "RESCUE," UNDER THE COMMAND OF LIEUTENANT DE HAVEN, 1850-51.

In the spring of 1849, Lady Franklin made a touching and pathetic appeal to the feelings of the American nation, in the following letter to the President of the Republic:

The Lady of Sir John Franklin to the President. "Bedford-place, London, 4th April, 1849.

"SIR, I address myself to you as the head of a great nation, whose power to help me I cannot doubt, and in whose disposition to do so I have a confidence which I trust you will not deem presumptuous.

"The name of my husband, Sir John Franklin, is probably not unknown to you. It is intimately connected with the northern part of that continent of which the American republic forms so vast and conspicuous a portion. When I visited the United States. three years ago, among the many proofs I received of respect and courtesy, there was none which touched and even surprised me more than the appreciation everywhere expressed to me of his former services in geographical discovery, and the interest felt in the enterprise in which he was then known to be engaged."

[Her ladyship here gives the details of the departure of the expedition, and the measures already taken for its relief.]

"I have entered into these details with the view of proving that, though the British government has not forgotten the duty it owes to the brave men whom it has sent on a perilous service, and has spent a very large sum in providing the means for their rescue, yet that, owing to various causes, the means actually in operation for this purpose are quite inadequate to meet the extreme exigence of the case; for, it must be

remembered, that the missing ships were victualed for three years only, and that nearly four years have now elapsed, so that the survivors of so many winters in the ice must be at the last extremity. And also, it must be borne in mind, that the channels by which the ships may have attempted to force a passage to the westward, or which they may have been compelled, by adverse circumstances, to take, are very numerous and complicated, and that one or two ships cannot possibly, in the course of the next short summer, explore them all.

"The Board of Admiralty, under a conviction of this fact, has been induced to offer a reward of 20,000l. sterling to any ship or ships, of any country, or to any exploring party whatever, which shall render efficient assistance to the missing ships, or their crews, or to any portion of them. This announcement, which, even if the sum had been doubled or trebled, would have met with public approbation, comes, however, too late for our whalers, which had unfortunately sailed before it was issued, and which, even if the news should overtake them at their fishing-grounds, are totally unfitted for any prolonged adventure, having only a few months' provision on board, and no additional clothing. To the American whalers, both in the Atlantic and Pacific, I look with more hope, as competitors for the prize, being well aware of their numbers and strength, their thorough equipment, and the bold spirit of enterprise which animates their crews. But I venture to look even beyond these. I am not without hope that you will deem it not unworthy of a great and kindred nation to take up the cause of humanity which I plead, in a national spirit, and thus generously make it your own. "I must here, in gratitude, adduce the example of the imperial Russian government, which, as I am led to hope by his Excellency, the Russian embassador in London, who forwarded a memorial on the subject, will send out exploring parties this summer, from the Asiatic side of Behring's Strait, northward, in search of the lost vessels. It would be a noble spectacle to the world, if three great nations, possessed of the widest