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direction is considered the most probable channel ro finding the missing ships or crews. We go down the Mackenzie, along the coast eastward to Point Bathurst, and thence strike across to Wollaston or Banks' Land. The season will, of course, much influence our proceedings; but we shall probably return up the hitherto unexplored river which runs into the Arctic Ocear from Liverpool Bay, between the Coppermine and Mackenzie."

The latest official dispatch from Commander Pullen is dated Great Slave Lake, June 28th. He had been stopped by the ice, and intended returning to Fort Simpson on the 29th. One of his boats was so battered about as to be perfectly useless; he intended patching up the other, and was also to receive a new boat belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company, from Fort Simpson. He had dismissed two of his party, as they were both suffering from bad health, but proposed engaging, at Fort Good Hope, two Hare Indians as hunters and guides, one of whom had accompanied Messrs. Dease and Simpson on their trips of discovery in 1838 and 1839. This would augment the party to seventeen persons in all.

"My present intentions," he says, "are to proceed down the Mackenzie, along the coast, to Cape Bathurst, and then strike across for Banks' Land; my operations must then, of course be guided by circumstances, but I shall strenuously endeavor to search along all coasts in that direction as far and as late as I can with safety venture; returning, if possible, by the Mackenzie, or by the Beghoola, which the Indians speak of as being navigable, as its head waters are, (according to Sir John Richardson,) only a nine-days' passage from Fort Good Hope; to meet which, or a similar contingency, I take snow shoes and sledges, &c.

"In conclusion, I beg to assure their Lordships of my earnest determination to carry out their views to the utmost of my ability, being confident, froin the eagerness of the party, that no pains will be spared, necessary labor avoided, and, by God's blessing, we

no

hope to be successful in discovering some tidings of our gallant countrymen, or even in restoring them to their native land and anxious relatives."

Mr. Chief Factor Rae was about to follow Commander Pullen and his party from Portage La Loche. Dr. Richardson observes that "Commander Pullen will require to be fully victualed for at least 120 days from the 20th of July, when he may be expected to commence his sea voyage; which, for sixteen men, will require forty-five bags of pemmican of 90 lbs. each. This is exclusive of a further supply which he ought to take for the relief of any of Franklin's people he may have the good fortune to find main-land at Cape Bathurst, he would have no chance of killing deer till he makes Banks' Land, or some intervening island; and he must provide for the chance of being caught on the floe ice, and having to make his way across by the very tedious portages, as fully described by Sir W. E. Parry in the narative of his most adventurous boat voyage north of Spitzbergen.

After he leaves the

"Mr. Rae can give Commander Pullen the fullest information respecting the depots of pemmican made on the coast.

"With respect to Commander Pullen's return from sea, his safest plan will be to make for the Mackenzie ; but should circumstances place that out of his power, the only other course that seems to me to be practicable is for him to ascend a large river which falls into the bottom of Liverpool Bay, to the westward of Cape Bathurst. This river, which is named the Begloola Dessy by the Indians, runs parallel to the Mackenzie, and in the latitude of Fort Good Hope, (66° 30' N.,) is not above five or six days' journey from that post. Hare Indians, belonging to Fort Good Hope, might be en gaged to hunt on the banks of the river till the arrival of the party. The navigation of the river is unknown; but even should Commander Pullen be compelled to quit his boats, his Indian hunters, (of which he should at least engage two for his sea voyage,) will support and guide his party. Wood and animals are most certainly found on the banks of rivers.

"It is not likely that under any circumstances Com mander Pullen should desire to reach the Mackenzie by way of the Coppermine River, and this could be effected only by a boat being placed at Dease River, for the transport of the party over Great Bear Lake. This would require to be arranged previously with Mr. Rae; and Commander Pullen should not be later in arriving at Fort Confidence than the end of September."

VOYAGE OF THE "LADY FRANKLIN " AND "SOPHIA," GOVERNMENT VESSELS, UNDER THE COMMAND OF MR. PENNY, 1850-51.

A vessel of 230 tons, named the Lady Franklin, fit ted out at Aberdeen, with a new brig as a tender, built at Dundee, and named the Sophia, in honor of Miss S. Cracroft, the beloved and attached niece of Lady Franklin, and one of the most anxious watchers for tidings of the long missing adventurers, were purchased by the government last year.

The charge of this expedition was intrusted to Cap tain Penny, formerly commanding the Advice whaler. and who has had much experience in the icy seas, having been engaged twenty-eight years, since the age of twelve, in the whaling trade, and in command of vessels for fourteen years; Mr. Stewart was placed in charge of the Sophia.

The crew of the Lady Franklin number twenty-five, and that of the Sophia, twenty, all picked men.

These ships sailed on the 12th of April, 1850, provisioned and stored for three years. They were provided with a printing press, and every appliance to relieve the tedium of a long sojourn in the icy regions.

In the instructions issued by the Admiralty, it is stated that in accepting Captain Parry's offer of service, regard has been had to his long experience in arctic navigation, and to the great attention he has paid to the subject of the missing ships.

He was left in a great measure to the exercise of his

own judgment and discretion, in combining the nost active and energetic search after the Erebus and Turror, with a strict and careful regard to the safety of the ships and their crews under his charge. He was directed to examine Jones' Sound at the head of Baffin's Bay, and if possible, penetrate through to the Parry Islands; failing in this, he was to try Wellington Strait, and endeavor to reach Melville Island. He was to use his utmost endeavors, (consistent with the safety of the lives of those intrusted to his command,) to succor, in the summer of 1850, the party under Sir John Franklin, taking care to secure his winter-quarters in good time; and 2dly, the same active measures were to be used in the summer of 1851, to secure the return of the ships under his charge to this country.

The Lady Franklin was off Cape York, in Baffin's Bay, on the 13th of August. From thence she proceeded, in company with H. M. S. Assistance, to Wolstenholme Sound. She afterward, in accordance with her instructions, crossed over to the west with the intention of examining Jones' Sound, but owing to the accumulation of ice, was unable to approach it within twenty-five miles. This was at midnight on the 18th. She, therefore, continued her voyage to Lancaster Sound, and onward to Wellington Channel, where she was seen by Commander Forsyth, of the Prince Albert, on the 25th of August, with her tender, and H. M. S Assistance in company, standing toward Cape Hotham.

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VOYAGE OF H. M. SHIPS "RESOLUTE " AND " ASSISTANCE," WITH THE STEAMERS "PIONEER AND "INTREPID " AS TENDERS, UNDER COMMAND OF CAPTAIN AUSTIN, 1850-51.

Two fine teak-built ships of about 500 tons each, th Baboo and Ptarmigan, whose names were altered te the Assistance and Resolute, were purchased by the government in 1850, and sent to the naval yards to be oroperly fitted for the voyage to the polar regions.

Two screw-propeller steamers, intended to accompany

these vessels as steam tenders, were also purchased and similarly fitted; their names were changed from the Eider and Free Trade to the Pioneer and Intrepid.

The command of this expedition was intrusted to Captain Horatio T. Austin, C. B., who was first Lieutenant of the Fury, under Commander Hoppner, in Captain Sir E. Parry's third voyage, in 1824-25. The vessels were provisioned for three years, and their attention was also directed to the depots of stores lodged by Sir James Ross at Leopold Island, and at Navy Board Inlet by the North Star. The ships sailed in May, 1850. The officers employed in them were as follows:

Resolute.

Captain -Horatio T. Austin, C. B.

Lieutenants R. D. Aldrich, and W. H. J. Browne.
Mates-R. B. Pearse, and W. M. May.
Purser J. E. Brooman.

Surgeon A. R. Bradford.

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Assistant, ditto - Richard King.
Midshipmen - C. Bullock, J. P. Cheyne.
Second Master-G. F. M'Dougall.
Total complement, 60 men.

Pioneer, screw steamer.

Lieut.-Commanding-Sherard Osborn.
Second Master-J. H. Allard.
Assistant-Surgeon - F. R. Picthorn.

Assistance.

Captain-E. Ommaney.

Lieutenants J. E. Elliot, F. L. M'Clintock, and G. F. Mecham.

Surgeon J. J. L. Donnett.

Assistant, ditto- J. Ward, (a.)

Mates R. V. Hamilton, and J. R. Keane

Clerk in Charge-E. N. Harrison.

Second Master- W. B. Shellabear.

Midshipman C. R. Markham.

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Total complement, 60 men.

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