7 FEBRUARY 1857, Page 17

THE FINAL ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Tear another expedition will be sent to search for the remains of Sir John Franklin and his party, we have never doubted ; the only question is, whether it shall be sent at the exclusive charge of Lacly Franklin and her friends, and whether this country shall repudiate its responsibility towards its lost sons. If Lady Franklin could address herself to the British people face to face, they would be ashamed to hnag back. If they do refuse, they must refuse through the Government, in fact through Lord Palmerston ; and that he can maintain his refusal after the letter addressed to him by Lady Franklin more than a month ago, and now published as a pamphlet,* we do not believe. The state of the question is indeed critical. In the summer of 1856, a host of scientific gentlemen besought the Government to

send out an expedition. This movement produced no substantial result at that time. The Admiralty, indeed, considered the question, and inquired, but arrived at the conclusion that it was "too late" to think of equipping a ship for that season. Subsequently, as we collect from Lady Franklin's Letter, Lord Stanley of Alderley told Lord Wrottesley that he took a favourable view of a proposition made by Lady Franklin, that if Government sent no expedition, she should be assisted in fitting out her own. But nothing was done. On the 2d of December last, Lady Franklin made the new and direct appeal to Lord Palmerston ; urging him, by a variety of arguments, either to send out an expedition or to give her the promised aid.

The Government seems tacitly to presume that the question is

closed: but the 5uestion is not closed ; and that is one reason why Lady Franklin has solemnly protested against any premature adjudication of the reward claimed by Dr. Rae. lhe thing wanted now is, not "one more" search, but a final search. The abiding reasons for such a search are manifold. Government has used only a dilatory plea disgraceful if intended to cover a point-blank refusal, but really constituting a promise that an expedition should be sent out this season. The sympathy shown by the Americans proves that their opinion, in concurrence with that of our scientific men, is favourable to a new expedition. In the Resolute, which they have so magnificently sent back to England in a state of perfect equipment, there is a vessel ready for the purpose : other Arctic ships are lying useless in her Majesty's dockyards; there, too, lie accumulated Arctic stores, brought back by the late expedition ; and there are supplies in the cachets and depots already existing on the Arctic shores. Thus a large part of the expenditure is already met. The route to the spot where a search would be requisite, is already known. In the words of a letter from Dr. Kane to Mr. Grinnell the munificent American who has already contributed so largely, the space to be searched is narrow, and it is accessible equally from the East and the West. Within that narrow and circumscribed area must be the missing vessels or their /Twins. It is absolutely surrounded by the tracks of the searchers. To that point Dr. Rae never penetrated; to that pant a new expedition would proceed at once. "By dogs, the great blessing of the Arctic traveller," says Dr. Kane, "this whole area could be scoured." There are 136 men unaccounted for. If none of them survive, there are their bones to collect, the records of their labours, the proofs that they have nobly perished. Even this point is of importance. The proof of death is requisite to the completeness of some social rights, as in the succession to property : the case has actually occurred in the Scotch courts of law, where in default of proof', the right of succession to a particular property is held in suspense. It is, however, necessary to repeat Lady Franklin's observation, that she has no interest in any such question. On the contrary, she isnow prepared to lay down the whole available remainder of her fortune, if the country, to its shame, should let her. The nature of the sacrifice, therefore, is definite ; a large part of the expenditure is incurred, and if it be not thus used, wasted. Let those who think only of the risk to human life reflect, that expeditions are already contemplated for the interior of Africa, and other parts, which, as we know from past experience, "are far less favourable to life than the icy regions of the North."

"This final and exhausting search," says Lady Franklin with touching importunity, "is all I seek in behalf of the first and

* "A Letter to Viscount Palmerston, LG., from Lady Franklin. With an Appendix." Published by Mr. Ridgway. In a note, Lady Franklin says—" The following letter, not originally intended for circulation, is now published at a critical moment, (after refer

ease to Lord Palmerston,) in the hope of engaging such a degree of sympathy in the subject of it as may come in aid of favourable dispositions in her Majesty's Government."

only martyrs to Arctic discovery in modern times ; and it is all I ever intend to ask." Candidates are not wanting to lead and aid. the expedition personally. Among those candidates, Lady Franklin mentions, in the order of their seniority, the illustrious names of CoBinson, Richards, M'Clintook, Maguire, and Osborn. There appears, therefore,. to be no excuse. The plain, businesslike, elovent and affeotmg appeal of Lady Franklin, can scarcely be made in vain, to a gentleman like Lord Palmerston, commanding as he does the vast resources of this country, rioting as be does on behalf of a generous sovereign and people.