Arctic Blue Books - British Parliamentary Papers Abstract, 1855d

1855d. GREAT BRITAIN. (45248)

Report of the Select Committee on Arctic Expedition; together with the proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence, and appendix. Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed, 20 July 1855. xx, 38 p. fold. map. (Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Sessional papers, Reports from committees, 1854-55, v. 7, no. 409).

Contains list of members, report and proceedings of the committee (Mackinnon, chairman) appointed to recommend awards, if any, for Northwest Passage discovery, to be paid to M'Clure with the Investigator, Collinson (Enterprise) and Kellett with the Herald and Resolute (p. i-xix); with review of M'Clure's activities, 1850-54; and survey of acts of Parliament concerning rewards for accomplishment of a Northwest Passage. £5,000 award is recommended to M'Clure and £5,000 to the Investigator's officers and crew (p. vi, xv); Kellett's actions are commended and tribute is paid to Franklin.

Arctic Medal award is recommended to Royal Navy personnel, Hudson's Bay Company employees, crews of De Haven's ships, and those despatched by Lady Jane Franklin. Lady Franklin's letter claiming discovery of the Northwest Passage for her husband is included (p. xviii-xix, 35).

Witnesses are listed (p. xx) and minutes of evidence given (p. 1-35), including that of Capt. Back (p. 1-7) on M'Clure's accomplishment of Northwest Passage, Collinson's voyage;

Capt. H. Kellett (p. 4-10) on voyages of the Investigator and Enterprise;

M'Clure aboard the Resolute, M'Clure's Northwest Passage;

Capt. J. C. Ross (p. 7-8) on rewards for discovery of the Northwest Passage, M'Clure's voyage, voyages of the Investigator and Enterprise;

Capt. John Washington, Admiralty hydrographer (p. 10-12) on Franklin's northwest passage;

Capt. Robt. M'Clure (p. 13-18) his orders (1850) from Collinson, voyage of the Investigator, journey eastward to Beechey Island, Banks Island, steam power;

Sir Roderick I. Murchison (p. 18-23) on the case for Franklin's northwest passage, tides at Victoria Strait, the Arctic Medal;

Dr. W. T. Domville (p. 23-25): medical survey of the Investigator; Rear-Adm. W. A. B. Hamilton (p. 25-26) on Kellett's contributions to M'Clure's success;

Capt. Richard Collinson (p. 27-32): resumé of his voyage in the Enterprise, separation from M'Clure, visit to Melville Island, Franklin relics found at Finlayson Islands, Collinson's northwest passage.

Tabulation of arctic discoveries 1819-1854 is included (p. 33-34) showing officers and vessels by name, sailing date, wintering place, coasts discovered, and date of expedition's return.

Map at end of regions from Chukotsk Peninsula eastward to Greenland shows: tracks of ships of Parry 1819-20, M'Clure in the Investigator 1850-54, Collinson in the Enterprise 1850-54, and Dr. John Rae 1854; with notes on the sea ice, and on the expeditions of M'Clure, Maguire (Plover 1852-53), and Collinson.

• Browse the 1855d Parliamentary Papers Page by Page 
• British Parliamentary Papers Abstracts