Arctic Blue Books - British Parliamentary Papers Abstract, 1852a

1852a. GREAT BRITAIN. (45227)

Arctic expeditions. Report of the Committee appointed by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to inquire into and report on the recent arctic expeditions in search of Sir John Franklin, together with the minutes of evidence taken before the Committee, and papers connected with the subject.

Presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of Her Majesty. London, Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1852. lix, 199 p., 2 illus., 2 fold. maps. (Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Sessional papers, Accounts and papers, 1852, v. 50, no. 1435)

Contains results of an inquiry by the Arctic Committee into the thoroughness of Austin's and Penny's search for Franklin in Wellington Channel in 1850-1851, dealing specifically with ice and current conditions in Wellington and Queens Channels and with the discovery of relics of the Franklin expedition in the vicinity of Beechey Island.

Evidence was given by members of the expeditions of Austin and Penny, and of Capt. John Ross's 1851 expedition. Natives' reports of the Franklin expedition, comments by Pullen, Richardson, Scoresby and others were presented, also the official instructions given Lt. E. J. DeHaven, and Capt. James Saunders. Selected topics in the evidence are noted below.

Report of the Arctic Committee (p. iii-vii) commends Penny and Austin, reviews the status of Franklin search, and recommends an expedition in 1852-1853 to the Barrow Strait area, Beechey Island as base.

Appended are the Committee's instructions (p. x); review of Austin's activities, the Resolute (p. xi-xli); including Ommanney's report on the Assistance, scale of provisions, sledge equipment and clothing lists (p. xl-xli) and report of Penny's activities with the Lady Franklin and Sophia, Capt. A. Stewart (p. xlvii-lix), including voyage to Assistance Bay, spring sledging journeys into Wellington Channel, on Cornwallis and Devon Islands and ships' complements.

Evidence follows (p. 2-199) of 30 witnesses, listed p. 1.

1. Capt. H. T. Austin's expedition

Evidence of Capt. Austin: Franklin relics at Cape Riley and Beechey Island (p. 28), sledging activities (p. 32), ice conditions in Wellington Channel, ice navigation (p. 41-42), statement on his journal (p. 113), decision to terminate expedition (p. 39, 145) criticism of M'Clintock (p. 145), instructions from Admiralty (p. 149-50), fate of the Franklin expedition (p. 164-67), including discussion of ice conditions in Wellington Channel, Franklin relics at Cape Riley, Beechey Island and Cape Bowden, etc.

Lt. R. D. Aldrich's (Resolute) evidence: ice conditions and ice navigation in Wellington Channel, game (p. 110-113), etc.

R. C. Allen: incompleteness of search for Franklin documents, ice conditions in Wellington Channel, tides and tidal currents at Griffith Island, navigation season in Wellington Channel (p. 114-18)..

Dr. A. R. Bradford (Resolute): journey to Melville Island via Bathurst and Byam Martin Islands, game, Eskimo ruins (p. 106-107); sledge equipment, clothing, provisions, selection of personnel (p. 193-96). John E. Brooman's evidence on provisions (p. 131-32, 196-98).

Lt. W. H. J. Browne's evidence: game, ice conditions in Wellington Channel, geological observations at Cape Walker (p. 118-119).

Lt. J. B. Cator's evidence: ice conditions in Wellington Channel, game, ice navigation (p. 103-105).

Lt. J. E. Elliott's evidence: ice conditions in Wellington Channel, and Franklin relics at Cape Riley (p. 138-39).

Lt. F. L. M'Clintock's evidence: ice conditions and navigability of Wellington Channel, and of Melville Sound south of Melville Island, coasts searched by M'Clintock, tides and tidal currents, Eskimo ruins on Melville Island, game (p. 86-89); physical condition of sledgers (p. 91-93); criticism by Austin (p. 145); detailed report on sledging and equipment for 11-man party on spring journey, with sketch of tent, sledge, lists of gear, clothing, food, notes on packaging, travel routine (p. 181-91)

Dr. G. F. M'Dougall's evidence on examination of McDougall Sound, ice conditions in Wellington Channel, tides, Eskimo ruins, game, etc. (p. 120-22).

Lt G. F. Mecham's evidence on ice conditions in Wellington Channel (p. 139-40).

Capt. E. Ommanney's evidence: misunderstandings between Austin and Penny, navigability of Wellington Channel, Franklin relics at Cape Riley, ice navigation (p. 50), living off the land, description Cape Walker (p. 44-59); Adam Beck's report (p. 143-44).

Lt. S. Osborn's evidence on ice conditions in Wellington Channel, fauna, Eskimo ruins, ice navigation, magnetic observations on Prince of Wales Island (p. 99-101); sledge equipment, clothing, provisions, etc. (p. 192-93).

2. Capt. Wm. Penny's expedition

Capt. Penny's evidence: navigability of Wellington Channel, discrepancies in surveys of Cornwallis Island, tidal currents in Queens Channel, game (p. 1-12), search of Beechey Island, site of Franklin's winter 1845-46 camp (p. 12, 24-25), decision to terminate expedition (p. 60-62, 144-45), instructions from Admiralty (p. 150-52), living off the land, Eskimos and their migrations (p. 179-81), extracts from journal (p. 199).

John Abernathy's evidence: ice conditions in Wellington Channel, tides and currents, and whalers crushed in ice (p. 94-98).

Dr. R. A. Goodsir's evidence: ice conditions off north and east coasts of Cornwallis Island, game, tidal currents in Queens Channel, and Eskimo ruins (p. 73-77).

Harwood's evidence on steamship in ice navigation (p. 82-83);

Donald Manson's evidence on ice conditions tidal currents and ice navigation in Wellington Channel (p. 77-80);

Marshall's evidence on ice conditions, navigability, tides, currents, game, etc. in Wellington Channel (p. 62-66);

Ryder's evidence on ice navigation (p. 83-84);

Captain Alex Stewart's evidence on ice conditions in Wellington Channel, game (p. 12-14), amendments to evidence (p. 125-26), and exploration of Wellington Channel (p. 145-46), John Stuart's evidence on ice conditions in Wellington Channel, Franklin relics and Eskimo traces at Caswall Tower (p. 80-81).

Dr. P. C. Sutherland's evidence on ice conditions in Wellington Channel, ice navigation, game, Eskimo ruins (p. 19-23); ice conditions near Prince Albert Bay (p. 122), and extract from journal (p. 199).

3. Capt. John Ross's expedition

Capt. Ross's evidence on ice and tide conditions in Wellington Channel, on Adam Beck's report of murder of Franklin expedition crews (p. 53-55), and on fate of Franklin's expedition (p. 153-54). Cmdr. C. G. Phillips' evidence on Beck's report, winter quarters of the North Star discovered, and ice conditions in Wellington Channel (p. 67-70).

Also: Capt. Henry Kellett's statement on the Franklin expedition, ice conditions in Bering Sea, and discovery of Herald Island (p. 168-70).

Cmdr. W. J. S. Pullen's brief account of his 1849 boat expedition from Wainwright Inlet to Mackenzie River, ice conditions along the north coast, game, tides, harbors, natives, etc. (p. 127-30); and his second (1850) boat expedition to Cape Bathurst, including ice conditions, and ice navigation in small boats (p. 130-31).

Dr. John Richardson's report on wood fragments from north Cornwallis Island, temperature comparison between Assistance Bay and Queens Channel (p. 123-24); on prospects of survival of the Franklin expedition (p. 174-79), including game, sledge equipment, clothing and provisions, flora, snow houses, etc.

Also statement of Rev. Wm. Scoresby on the Franklin expedition, with comments on ice navigation, dog sledges, sledge boats, steam-powered sledges, etc. (p. 154-64). Official instructions to Lt. E. J. DeHaven, USN (p. xxxvii-xxxviii), and to Capt. James Saunders (p. 152-53).

Maps (two, at end) show coastal regions searched by parties of Austin's and Penny's expeditions.

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