28 OCTOBER 1854, Page 11

FRANKLLN AND COLLINSON.

IF we have not ascertained with certainty the fate that attended the whole party under Sir John Franklin, we have discovered, in all probability, where the bodies of many of them lie, and where might be found materials for throwing additional light upon their course and fate. The elements for calculating their steps in the interval since the spring or autumn of 1846 are scanty indeed. The last traces of them at that date were the encampment at Cape Riley and the graves on Beeehey Island. They are next heard of

iiheaenuts of the Esquimau', transmitted by D. Rae, near the' island called-A:jag William's Land, moving Southward ; and late'r, in the sit0 season their bodies are discovered to the North- 's-Mt' of the at Fish River. They'were then marching both and`Bouthward ; prosecating-the object of their search at the same time, probably, that they . were moving towards grounds *here they Might obtain better supplies of 'food. As to their movements from Cape Riley to King 'William's Land, and between the autumn of 1846 at the latest and the spring of 1850, we have as yet no record ; but it s'very probable that the record might be discovered at the spot where their bodies were last seen, °rib the hands of Esquimau'. story leaves much yet to be learned. It is unlikely, that the 'whole party can have remained- in the -place where the boat a-found. We want that topographical description of the spot which would enable us to tell whether it was milted to be a place of rest and shelter. The habits of the party, and the experience of Franklin if he still-survived, would induce them to keep together, aslinuch as-possible ; but it -would also induce them to push on," unless -they had arrived at a part of the country where they could secure-shelter and supplies, or to send out parties in search of both. The statement thatshots were heard in the neighbourhood at a date-subsequent to the discovery of the bodies; so late as May, after the arrival of the -wild-fowl, would confirm a belief that some of the party had retained 'sufficient -vigour to move about and to-seek for subsistence. Bat if they',could do so until the'sarrplies actually 'arrived,- the probability is that they would reeover, and vvenld still seek a path back to the World. The dis- covery of the Esq-iiimans; therefore, is not final. When Franklin's party left this country, in May 1845, they car- ried with them provisions for three years, and it was calculated that they could eke out those proviSions for another year, even if the thieniPg.rof their numbers did not enable them to protract their subsietence still longer. The spring of 1849, however- was the natural-termination of their supplies on the longest safe °aleph-- Eon:: and in a note by the Lords of the Admiralty,-published in 1817; they declared-that if no accounts were received of Franklinby the end of that year, active steps must be taken in the search. No serh3us apprehensions, however, were then felt. Sir George Back deelesed, in January 1848; that 'i he could- not :bring himself to entertain more than ordinary anxiety for the safety and return of Sir,John Franklin and his gallant companions." Suggestions were made, for sending the search -directly- after. Franklin by Davis Streit, or by Rech's River to the bottom of Regent's Inlet, or by the 'Mackenzie River ; but we remember how these steps were de- layed, or partially carried Cut, and how a controversy was carried on at .a subsequent date, as to,whether the expedition must not have perished entirely: In 1849, Sir Edward Parry was still urging the departure of an expedition, against those who were con- tending, that it was. useless. We now learn that a considerable number of the party at least survived until the spring, 'probably

until May 1850. . •

We have yet no certain proof that the 'whole party had expired. The original number was 138; three were buried at Beechey Is- lead ; forty were seen alive by the Esquimau', thirty-five bodies- are found near Back's Itiver,—a. statement -which still leaves five of the forty unaecounted for; and some eighty or ninety more of the entire party are unmentioned. These foots greatly strengthen the arguments of Captain Kellett for stopping out auother.- winter .in order to assist Collinson. Franklin had provisions for three years;. he made them serve for five.. As usual 'with Aretic explorers, his people did not remain inactive, but eontinued to move about ; first, of course, in search of information, subsequently in search of the return home. It is evident that if the quest had been prosecuted by those who had been sent -out to assist them early and widely enough, their path had been,. crossed.. The Esquimaux encountered by Dr. Rae's in-. formers might have been met sooner ; and even if the party which perished had not been assisted, information might have been dis- covered leading to the rescue of survivors. Dr. King pointed out,- in 1847, the exact path taken by Franklin, as the one in vel- iieh he might be met or crossed. All these facts, which were facts while arguments were carried on here against sending out assistance to Franklin, now apply to the case of Collinson. His gallantry in disclaiming any search to be sent after him does not exonerate any who remain at home. Since the day of Franklin's commission, much information has been gained respecting the con- formation of the coasts and the probable resting-places. Parties thrown out from a stationary •expedition can usually sustain themselves against hunger -and the seasons for a sufficient time to return ; and they of course 'widen the chances that they may be crossed by those who would to a certain extent be on the look-out for them.

Franklin, if he still survived with his companions, had made some way towards that same part of the globe in which he had previously braved death. There was a period in 1821 when some of his companions actually succumbed to that death by starvation and hardship which the others escaped when they believed them- selvesibeyond hope ; and now a band of Englishmen, headed by the setae- officer, returned almost to the same spot. They were near- the mouth of that river near whose source was their ren- dezvous of Fort Enterprise in 1821. How many changes had taken place in the interval !Franklin was a generation older; he had grown deaf; but he had not lost any resolution. He had different compan- ions, but they appear to have been not less faithful. He had come by the sea and not byland, yet lie was doomed to the same hardships. Nothing is more affecting, or atlbeinacele„ti, , elatntinntliana the narrative Of men travelling sonieliTRa RAL4;13,00.or.... miles on miles, for days and months,:feAng-pik therA190.***IIS ‘;

the basest kind of food; sometimes depending upon. thetenapialtihi ‘1

from' the rOplcs the noxious weed tripe de roche, gethpringsaceic*,, of the past season, er going back to the old liaantaito feast ea:Abe:, marrow Of bones thrown away in the year he:for$••9ri Piee410/0'i hide, rind their eivn shoes ; deliberately naeag out -these horrible supplies, calculating their strength. for ; eyn,upen,mw., sustenance ; and all the while Sustaining each other throughout with comfort, with religious thoughtsi with example. They found themselves—and the earefessiCit confeaviith rininispeakable-dignity of Itandour;--growing at times under the pressure of ilifiitraity hasty and irritable.- The man who felt firm in his ownteofirege waa daunted at the -gaunt face and deep sepulchral voice of his

companions. - , • .

They, too, had cannibalism amongst them ; and the peculiar character of it may suggest some relief tO those who Lread of Lithe kettles found.near the mouth of. the -river on this lastreecdsiele The officers and men had Come down to the point Of acttnitsterva- tion, beyond even the stage where they were • feeding,■teptin 'fatten offal which excoriated -their mouths; and they weteFwithout a thought of recourse to a sustenance which is worse. thaw death. But there was one ainongst them—Michel, a Canadien--whe-fre- quently absented himself in the reef; Who took poseeasion of a hatchet under circumstances which suggested thathe intended' to cut up something frozen; and who remained strong; and lidlited, while more than one of his companions 1-ivaS left deadibehind, sometimes when alone with him. -One cf the 'first of those to fall was the amiable and gallant Hood. This Michel once brought-Some piece of meat -which he asserted to le :Wolf's 'flesh; but which, there was afterwards reason to suspect, Wei part of a fellow Canadian. Hepburn, the faithful. servant; suggested that this -man, feeding upon his companions, should he Pitt out Of tfietway ; and Richardson undertook the responsibility of sheeting him. From these awful trials the party were at list rescued: theyclinie home with virtue unblemished, with names imisiortaliied ; 'setde of them returned to show that even such experienoes are-not sufficient to measure the resolution or enterprise of EngliShiben. Deep is the faithful love, larger than tears, which still clings to those Un- buried -heroes, more beloved than :ever. It is imposaible that the remains and the story of such men, or that the emulatbre of Such men, can be left uncared for in the frozen sea.