Arctic Blue Books - British Parliamentary Papers Abstract, 1852b

1852b. GREAT BRITAIN. (45228)

Additional papers relative to the arctic expedition under the orders of Captain Austin and Mr. William Penny. Presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of Her Majesty. London, Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1852. iii, 368 p., 66 illus., 28 maps incl. 6 fold. (Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Sessional papers, Accounts and papers, 1852, v. 50, no. 1436)

Contains extensive and detailed reports by sledgers from Austin's expedition of 1850-51 wintering at Griffiths Island (the Resolute, the Assistance, Capt. Ommanney, with steam tenders Pioneer, Lt. Osborn, and Intrepid, Lt. Cator) covering journeys along the coasts of northern Prince of Wales, southern Cornwallis, Bathurst, Byam Martin and Melville Islands; also sledgers' reports from Penny's expedition (the Lady Franklin, and Sophia) wintering in Assistance Bay, Cornwallis Island, covering journeys into Wellington and Queens Channels, over most of the Cornwallis Island coast, and parts of western and southern Devon Island; together with translations of natives' reports of the Franklin expedition. These papers are concerned exclusively with the Eastern Arctic.

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

Sledging program, names of crew, ration scale, lists of sledge equipment and clothing (p. 10-13, 251); general instructions and orders (p. 284-93).

Reports of sledging parties (usually comprising the leader's instructions, summary report, journal, a track chart, sometimes pencil sketches of features observed):

Lt. R. D. Aldrich, his journey to Cape Martyr on Cornwallis Island and Somerville Island, to western Bathurst Island (p. 3-4, 112-31), including meteorological data and observations on sledge navigation, game, sastrugi (p. 116, 124), provisions, equipment, etc.

R. C. Allen's journey to Somerville, Garrett and Lowther Islands (p. 241-50), with observations for position, magnetic variation, game, pressure ice conditions, celestial phenomena, equipment, with map and description, of Lowther Island (p. 249) and Garrett Island (p. 250).

Dr. A. R. Bradford's journey to east Melville Island (p. 202-226) with observations on game, ice conditions, magnetic variation, description of coasts of Bathurst, Byam Martin and Mellville Islands.

Lt. W. H. Browne's journey along the Peel Sound coast of Prince of Wales Island (p. 28-30, 64-75), his journal including meteorological data, and observations on game, celestial phenomena, geology, description of coasts, and geological description of Cape Walker on Russell Island.

Lt. J. B. Cator's account of HMS. Intrepid (steam tender attached to Austin's expedition) in pressure ice Aug. 27-28, 1851 in Baffin Bay (p. 297-98).

J. P. Cheyne, his journey to Cape Capel on Bathurst Island (p. 235-40), with observations of Eskimo ruins, game, clothing and equipment.

Dr. Charles Ede's journal of his journey to Cape Walker and west to Baring Channel, with his observations on game, celestial phenomena, brief penetration of Peel Sound, geology, Eskimo ruins, meteorological data, a geological sketch of Cape Walker, medical observations, etc. (p. 76-82).

R. V. Hamilton's journey to Cape Walker and west to Bering Channel (p. 104-112), with observations on celestial phenomena, game, ice conditions, geology, examination of Young and Lowther Islands (p. 109), equipment.

F. J. Krabbé's journey to Cape Walker (p. 83-87), with meteorological data, and observations on game, celestial phenomena, equipment, ice conditions, etc.; also (p. 270-76) a second journey to Cape Walker.

Lt. F. L. M'CIintock's journey of Oct. 2-9 along the southwest Cornwallis coast to Intrepid Inlet (p. 5-8), his spring (Apr.-July) journey west along Cornwallis, Bathurst, and Byam Martin to Melville Island and around Dundas Peninsula: his instructions, report and journal of the trips are given (p. 136-92), the journal includes discovery of Parry's records, observations on game, meteorology, position fixes, magnetic variation, geology, sastrugi, celestial phenomena, flora, coal outcrops; also descriptions of the Byam Martin and Melville coasts, ice conditions, Eskimo ruins, sledging diet, equipment, etc., with sketches of topographic features (Dealy Island p. 158, Winter Harbour p. 174, etc.) and (at p. 143) a track chart.

George F. M'Dougall's April journey to Somerville, Browne, and southwestern Cornwallis Islands, is reported (p. 13-20) with observations on Eskimo ruins, meteorology, etc.; also his May-June trip (p. 276-82) to examine McDougall Sound, between Cornwallis and south Bathurst, with observations on game, position fixes, Eskimo ruins, and vegetation, including visits to Neal and Truro Islands; Walter W. May's April journey to Byam Martin Island (p. 226-35), with sketches of Intrepid Inlet, Cape Cockburn, and Allison Inlet, together with meteorological data, remarks on provisions, equipment and clothing; also his June-July journey around Griffith Island, with description of coasts, Eskimo ruins, flora, sketches, maps, together with Midshipman Clements Markham's journal of this trip (p. 264-70).

Lt. G. F. Mecham's April-May journey to Cape Walker and Baring Channel (p. 29, 53-63), with observations on game, celestial phenomena, Eskimo ruins, geology, sketch of Cape Walker, track chart; also his second journey to Cape Walker, 74š05' N. 97š36' W., and Baring Channel in late May-June (p. 251-64), with observations on ice conditions, position fixes, magnetic variation, game, examination of Baring Channel, Lowther Island (p. 258), provisions, equipment, meteorological data, etc., sketches.

Capt. E. Ommanney's journey to Cape Walker and west along the north and west coasts of Prince of Wales Island (p. 22-52), his journal (p. 30-52) including meteorological data, description of coasts, observations on game, Eskimo ruins, celestial phenomena, geology; Ommanney's report of the Assistance (1851) voyage east from Griffith Island to Greenland, describing landings made at Cape Warrender (southeast Devon Island) and on the Carey Islands, is given (p. 293-94).

Lt. Sherard Osborn's journey to Allen Bay and Cape Martyr on southwest Cornwallis is reported (p. 9, 87-89, 295) and journal of his April-June journey to Cape Walker and western Prince of Wales Island is given (p. 89-103) with meteorological data and observations on game, celestial phenomena, geology, position fixes, magnetic variation, ice conditions, equipment, etc.

R. B. Pearse's April journey to Cape Cockburn on Bathurst Island (p. 131-36) with observations on game, meteorology, equipment, provisions, description of coasts, etc.; and W. B. Shellabear's journal of a journey also from Griffith Island to Cape Cockburn (p. 193-202), contains observations on meteorology, game, Eskimo ruins (on Cornwallis), equipment, etc.

2. Capt. Wm. Penny's expedition

Admiralty's rejection of his services (p. 300).

Dr. R. A. Goodsir's report (1851) covering the journey along the east coast of Cornwallis Island (p. 341-46) to Depot Point, with observations on geology, etc., report of the journey of Goodsir and Marshall along the east and north coasts of Cornwallis Island (p. 346-59) with observations on game, ice conditions, geology, description of coasts, etc.

Capt. Alex Stewart's journal, Apr.-June 1851, covering sledge trips into Wellington Channel (p. 303-316) to Cape Becher on the west coast of Devon Island, including observations on ice conditions, equipment, game, Eskimo ruins, and descriptions of coasts, etc.

Dr. John Stuart's report of journey (1851) across Wellington Channel and east along the south coast of Devon to Radstock Bay (p. 360-65), with observations on game, tides; Eskimo ruins, Franklin relics at Beechey Island and Caswall Tower, ice conditions, etc.; also his report (p. 366-67) of a journey along east coast of Cornwallis Island.

Dr. P. C. Sutherland presents a detailed report (p. 317-40) of Capt. Stewart's journey to Cape Becher, with observations on meteorology, geology, flora, fauna, celestial phenomena, position fixes, ice conditions and thickness in Wellington Channel, Eskimo ruins, whalebones found inland, migrations of birds, descriptions of the coasts of Devon Island, etc.

3. Reports of the Franklin expedition by natives

Translations of reports by Adam Beck and Erasmus York (p. 301-302).

Maps (28, mostly sledge track charts) show southwest Cornwallis Island, M'Clintock's sledge journey Oct. 1850 (p. 8); and Allen Bay as sketched by Osborn (p. 9); M'Dougall's journey in Apr. 1851 along southwest Cornwallis (at p. 20).

• Russell and Prince of Wales Islands coasts, southwest of Cape Walker, discovered by Ommanney (fold. map at p. 52).
• G. F. Mecham's journey Apr.-May 1851 to Russell Island and Baring Channel (at p. 63).
• Prince of Wales Island: part of the coast south from Cape Walker as explored by Lt. Browne, 1851, penetrating Peel Sound (at p. 74).
• Dr. Charles Ede's trip to the north coast of Russell Island, with geological sketch of Cape Walker (p. 81).
• Griffth Island to Cape Walker, trip by F. J. Krabbé (at p. 87).
• R. V. Hamilton's journey along the north coast of Russell Island (at p. 112).
• Bathurst Island south and west coasts, R. D. Aldrich's journey touching on Byam Martin Island (at p. 117).
• R. B. Pearse's journey to Cape Cockburn on southwest Bathurst Island (at p. 136).
• South coast of Bathurst Island, around Byam Martin Island, and along east and south coasts of Melville Island as far west as Dundas Peninsula and Liddon Gulf: trips of Lt. M'Clintock and Dr. A. R. Bradford (fold. map at p. 143).
• Melville Island south coast: survey of Bridport Inlet and Dealy Island by M'Clintock (p. 158); Skeyne Bay, showing track into Beverly Inlet, by M'Clintock (p. 177).
• Shellabear's trip, Griffith Island to Cape Cockburn (p. 200).
• South Cornwallis, Bathurst, Byam Martin and east Melville Islands: track of Dr. Bradford (fold. map at p. 203).
• Intrepid Inlet, southwest Cornwallis Island, by W. W. May (p. 228).
• May's trip, Griffith Island to Cape Gillman on Byam Martin (at p. 235).
• Cheyne's trip to Capel, southeast Bathurst Island (p. 240).
• West side of Lowther Island, Garrett Island, by R. C. Allen (p. 249, 250); and his track chart to Lowther, Garrett and Somerville Islands (fold. map at p. 250).
• Russell Island, Baring Channel, Lowther Island, examined by G. F. Mecham (fold. map at p. 263).
• Griffith Island sketch maps, showing track of W. W. May, position of Eskimo ruins, rookeries, etc. (p. 266-68).
• Griffith Island to Cape Walker, F. J. Krabbé's trip in May 1851 (at p. 276).
• McDougall Sound, by G. F. M'Dougall (at p. 282).

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