TRANSACTIONS OK THE SECTIONS. 



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tion, recently found at Novaia Zemblia, may be lighted on some three centuries 

 hence. The ' Enterprise,' bv hugging the Arctic shore of America from Behring 

 Straits to Dease Straits, has 'proved the practicability of accomplishing the North- 

 west Passage from Baffin's Bay to the Pacific in one season, in a vessel suitable 

 for the service. This was the object which Sir Allen Young had in view when ho 

 generously diverted his expedition into Smith's Sound last year, to effect a com- 

 munication with Nares's Polar Expedition. 



Lieutenant Pullen had examined the coast between Wainwright's Inlet and the 

 Mackenzie River in the autumn of 1849, in a boat voyage full of adventure ; no 

 traces of Franklin's ships were discovered, nor had the Esquimax seen any thing of 

 them or the crews. 



In 1850, the Behring Straits Expedition being fairly set off, the Admiralty 

 purchased two ships, the ' Resolute ' and ' Assistance,' to which were attached two 

 steam tenders, the ' Pioneer ' and ' Intrepid.' The introduction of steam, and an 

 improved form of ship with fine lines, instead of the square-ended bomb-vessels of 

 Parry's time, marked a new era in Arctic navigation, and facilitated the means of 

 exploring the icy regions. This expedition was sent to follow up the search via 

 Barrow's Straits, and entrusted to the command of Capt. H. T. Austin in the ' Re- 

 solute,' seconded by Capt. E. Ommanney in the ' Assistance,' Lieutenant Sherard 

 Osborn commanding the ' Pioneer,' Lieutenant Cator the ' Intrepid.' Simultane- 

 ously with this expedition it was desirable to enlist the services of men experienced 

 in the enterprising and hazardous life of the whaling trade. A carte blanche was 

 confided to Captain William Penny, a seaman eminently qualified for the object he 

 had at heart, to equip an expedition in the north. Two smart clipper brigs were 

 fitted out with every requisite for the service, and manned by a noble set of daring 

 seamen experienced in ice navigation. These vessels, the ' Lady Franklin ' and 

 ' Sophia,' set out from Aberdeen on April 13th, 1850, with the object of searching 

 the Wellington Channel. A noble-spirited merchant of New York, Henry Grin- 

 nell, at his own cost equipped two vessels to enter upon the search : they were 

 commanded by Lieutenant E. J. De Haven, United States Navy ; and the veteran 

 Sir John Ross, at three score and ten, started in a small schooner to look for his 

 old friend Sir John Franklin. 



I will now pass briefly through the proceedings of the expedition most interest- 

 ing to myself, the one above-named, under Austin and Ommanney, which left Green- 

 hithe, 4th May, 1850. In our passage through Baffin's Bay we were more or les3 

 obstructed and detained by ice, reaching Cape York, in North Greenland, early in 

 August. Here we divided into two expeditions— the < Resolute ' and ' Pioneer ' 

 proceeded to examine Pond's Bay ; I was left to search the north shores of Bar- 

 row Straits. Having embarked an Esquimaux at Cape York, we first examined 

 Wolstenholme Sound, and found a record left there by H.M.S. ' North Star,' which 

 had been forced to pass the winter there ; then crossing the north water of Baffin's 

 Bay, through loose ice, the coast of North Devon, from Cape Warrender to Cape 

 Riley at the entrance of the Wellington Channel, was examined, discovering Port 

 Dundas. On the 23rd August, 1850, whilst searching along the shore at Cape 

 Riley, I stumbled on " the first traces ever found of Franklin's ships " since they 

 were last seen in Baffin's Bay in 1845, consisting of fragments of stores and 

 clothing. Cape Riley is the southern point of the Bay, which proved to be the 

 first winter quarters of Franklin, 1845-46. We searched about in vain on 

 Beechey Island and around the locality, but to our grievous disappointment no 

 record could be found, though the sad evidence afforded by three graves, with the 

 names of the deceased seamen and their ships, was a confirmation that the ' Erebus' 

 and ' Terror ' left their quarters in the summer of 184(3. Seeing that the other 

 ships were coming up in order to follow the clue so happily found, whilst the few 

 days of navigation were available, it was incumbent on me to push across Wel- 

 lington Channel with the 'Assistance' and ' Intrepid ' for Cape Hotham, Corn- 

 wallis Land. In doing this we were closely beset in heavy ice, and sustained, some 

 very awkward pressures. The south coast of Cornwallis Land was explored without 

 finding further traces. September set in, the navigation season closed, and the ex- 

 pedition was finally frozen in for the winter two miles eastward of Griffith Island. 

 With regard to the other expeditions, Penny's vessels took up their winter 



