Arctic Blue Books - British Parliamentary Papers Abstract, 1852m

1852m. GREAT BRITAIN. (45238)

Arctic expeditions. Return to an address of the Honourable the House of Commons dated 19 November 1852, for: Copies of any correspondence received at the Admiralty from Sir Edward Belcher's squadron . . . and from any other of the arctic expeditions since the dates of the last returns . . . from Mr. Kennedy of the Prince Albert discovery ship; from Commander Inglefield of the screw vessel Isabel, reporting his discoveries and proceedings in the polar sea; of any plans or suggestions of search for Rear-Admiral Sir John Franklin, and the ships and crews of his expedition; and, of any further correspondence on the subject of the arctic regions, since the last laid before this House in . . . session 1852.

Admiralty, 16 December 1852, J. H. Hay, Chief Clerk. Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed, 20 December 1852. iv, 88 p., 3 fold. maps. (Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Sessional papers, Accounts and papers, 1852-53. v. 60, no. 82)

Contains reports of arrival of Belcher's expedition at Beechey Island; Kennedy's reports of the voyage (Prince Albert) into Prince Regent Inlet; Inglefield's reports on voyage of the Isabel into Smith, Jones and Lancaster Sounds. In the Western Arctic, around Bering Strait, the activities of Moore, Frederick and Maguire are described. Finally, a number of additional search proposals are outlined.

1. Sir Edward Belcher's expedition with the Assistance, Resolute (Capt. Kellett), North Star, Pioneer and Intrepid: orders (1852) from the Admiralty, instructions on burial of records at cairns, ships' complements; reports en route to Greenland, on voyage north along the west coast, to Cape Warrender, and to Beechey Island (p. 1-13); visit of the Pioneer to Cape Castlereagh and Wollaston Islands, search of Beechey Island for Franklin expedition traces by Cheyne and Hamilton (p. 13-14, 19); Capt. Kellett's trip to Beechey Island, Franklin relics found at Caswall Tower, a bluff at the head of Radstock Bay, southwest Devon Island (p. 18-19).

Cmdr. W. J. S. Pullen's reports on the North Star (p. 19-24) including his orders of 1852 from Belcher (p. 16), and from Kellett (p. 21), and the boat voyage to Maxwell Bay.

Capt. Wm. Kennedy reports (p. 25-32) on Lady Franklin's private expedition of the Prince Albert with Lt. Bellot aboard: voyage to Beechey Island and south into Prince Regent Inlet to winter quarters at Batty Bay on Somerset Island, activities Aug. 1851-0ct. 1852, including visit to Pond Inlet, being marooned two months at Port Leopold; winter at Batty Bay, and sledging south into Brentford Bay, where Bellot Strait was discovered; sledge trip westward across Franklin Strait to Prince of Wales Island, crossing overland to head of Ommanney Bay, returning to the east coast in Browne Bay, thence north to Cape Walker, and return to Batty Bay via the north and east coasts of Somerset Island. Fold. map shows track of Kennedy's sledge journey.

Capt. E. A. Inglefield's private expedition for Lady Franklin in the Isabel 1852 (p. 33-41): preparations, voyage into Baffin Bay along West Greenland coast, exploration of Smith Sound (Ellesmere coast), Jones Sound, entering Lancaster Sound to Beechey Island. Fold. map shows Inglefield's discoveries.

2. In the Western Arctic (Bering Sea region), Capt. T. E. L. Moore reports (p. 42-43, 65) on wintering 1851-52 of the Plover at Port Clarence; boat trip July-Aug. 1852 to Pt. Barrow under Cmdr. R. Maguire, his journal (p. 48-59) with comments on ice, coasts, natives; fold. map.

Capt. Charles Frederick reports (p. 60-72) on summer 1852 voyage of the Amphitrite from Honolulu to Port Clarence with supplies for the Plover, cruise northward to Icy Cape; his survey of the Plover, with report of preserved meats, list of provisions, etc.

3. Franklin search proposals (1852) by Dr. John Rae, Cmdr. Henry Trollope, Capt. Wm. Penny, Lt. W. H. Hooper, Augustus Petermann; Capt. E. Ommanney's proposal for attempt on the North Pole by a steam vessel based on Spitsbergen, etc. (p. 72-88).

Maps (three)

• show Somerset and north Prince of Wales Islands, Wm. Kennedy's discoveries (at p. 32);
• north end of Baffin Bay, Smith, Jones and Lancaster Sounds, Inglefield's discoveries 1852 (at p. 40);
• Bering Strait and northwest coast of Alaska from Norton Sound to Smith Bay, with inset of Moore Harbor, Pt. Barrow (at p. 59).

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