Miscellanea. 309 
under severe privations.* In conjunction with the journeys of Dr. Rae, of 
which I have already spoken in presenting our Founder’s medal, they have 
satisfied us that Franklin’s expedition could scarcely have passed to the 
south or west from Barrow’s Strait; and as the greater part of Bafiin’s Bay 
has been tracked, we are now more than ever led to believe that, if not 
submerged, the gallant explorers must really have passed through Welling- 
ton Channel. The chart of the Discoveries in the Arctic Sea up to 1851, 
recently published by the Admiralty, is, in fact, the document on which 
geographers may scan the merits of those zealous men. By reference to 
it, and to a general map prepared by Arrowsmith, we now see at a glance 
how much new territory was delineated by each of the officers detached by 
Captain Austin, and also how far Captain Penny extended his researches to 
the north of Wellington Channel into what is termed the Queen’s Channel 
and Penny’s Strait in the Admiralty document. The last-mentioned ex- 
ploration of an experienced polar seaman, in sketching the outline of 
grounds between which Sir Edward Parry saw an open channel of water 
in the year 1819, when combined with the relics found at Beechey Island 
and Cape Riley, has also led to the belief, which is prevalent, that Franklin 
‘really passed through Wellington Channel. 
One portion of the new expedition (we are now informed by the pub- 
lished Admiralty instructions), after making a searching examination for 
despatches or relics of Franklin between Beechey Island and Cape Bowden, 
will, if cireumstances 1equire and permit, penetrate northwards by the 
Wellington Channel; whilst another portion will proceed to Melville Island, 
and, after wintering there, make a spring excursion. In this way it is 
supposed the explorers may detect and follow up the track of the missing 
navigators, or, perchance, succour Captain McClure, who forced his way 
into the ice from Behring Strait, purposing to reach the north shores of 
Melville Island to the north-east. If, on the other hand, possession should 
in the first instance be obtained, at or near Beechy Island, of any despatches 
of Franklin intimating his intention of returning from that point, then, of 
course, the expedition will also 1eturn, endeavouring by the way to deter- 
mine the fate of our brave countrymen, who in that case may have perished 
in Baftin’s Bay. 
Whilst these efforts are being made from the north-west, our recent 
researches from the north-east by Behring Strait have, I regret to say, 
been confined to sending out stores by Captain Macguire, with in- 
structions to advance the Plover with some of the supplies beyond Cape 
Barrow, so as to afford a support to the crew of the adventurous navi- 
gator McClure, who, having out-sailed his Commander, Capt. Collinson, 
* Of the officers under Captain Austin who travelled in sledges, Lieut. 
(now Commander) M‘Clintock accomplished the greatest distance, viz. 760 
miles along the South coast of Melville Island. This, however, was 
exceeded by Captain Penny, who, according to Arrowsmith’s map, travelled 
930 miles in exploring northwards from Wellington Channel. 
