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search in the Arctic regions for the missing ships, Erebus and 
Terror, and that, in consequence, Lady Franklin has pur- 
_chased a screw schooner yacht, which she is about to send 
out at her own private expense. 
“We trust that your Lordship will not consider it unbe- 
coming in a body like the Royal Irish Academy, one of whose 
main objects is the promotion of scientific inquiry, if we ven- 
ture to solicit your Lordship’s influence with the Lords of the 
Admiralty to induce them to reconsider their decision. 
““ We have heard that a petition from several influential 
merchants of New York has recently been presented to their 
Lordships, praying that the Resolute should be fitted out at 
the expense of the Government, for further Arctic explora- 
tion in search of the remains of the lost expedition. 
‘* We beg leave to express our earnest hope that the prin- 
ciple of this request may be complied with; and, without 
dwelling on the philanthropic objects that may be attained by 
such an expedition, we beg to submit to your Lordship’s con- 
sideration the following particulars, in which we conceive the 
interests of science are deeply concerned :— 
“‘], There can be little doubt that the Erebus and Terror 
must be in existence; and it is more than probable, from the 
known practice of officers engaged in Arctic research, that if 
even the wrecks of these vessels could be discovered, there 
would be found near them buried copies of the scientific ob- 
servations made by Sir John Franklin and Captain Crozier, 
in the early part of their expedition; and it is needless to say 
that such observations would now be of the highest scientific 
value. 
«© 2. The region within which the missing ships must lie 
is circumscribed within narrow limits, and is a region of the 
greatest scientific interest, from its proximity to the North 
Magnetic Pole. The extent of coast line already traversed 
by Government searching expeditions is 6500 miles, leaving 
to be discovered 370 miles only. 
