tic regions. The ships Enterprise and Investigator, lately under the command of Captain Sir James Ross, have already been refitted, and were despatched from England on the 12th of January; the Enterprise, under command of Capt. Collinson, and the Investigator under Lieut. Maclure, who served in the Enterprise in her late voyage. Measures have been taken by the Admiralty to give these vessels the aid of steamers in passing the Straits of Magellan and on to Valparaiso, in order to quicken their voyages and enable them to reach Behring Strait in time for continuing the search for Sir John Franklin during the present season. Should information be received from the missing expedition, or any further light be thrown upon it by other expeditions now out, additional orders are to be sent by Panama to meet the ships at the Sandwich Islands.

But the efforts to render succor to the missing ships do not end here, as the search within Behring Strait is to be continued until the close of the summer of 1853. This search will be committed to Captain Moore with the Plover beyond the time prescribed to Captain Collinson for his operations. Such a course seems necessary for the purpose of affording relief to Sir John Franklin or any of his party who may reach that region, as well as for affording aid to or co-operating with other expeditions.

6. The last steamer from England brings advices that the British Admiralty have decided on two more expeditions to be sent out during the present spring, as follows. The first will consist of two sailing ships, the Baboo and Ptarmigan, and two steamers, the Eider and Free Trader. These will be sent to Barrow's Strait and adjacent localities under the command of Captain Austin, who acted as first Lieutenant of the Fury, in Parry's third voyage in 1824.

These vessels will have a crew of 30 men each and will be fitted and stored with full three year's provisions.

7. The Admiralty have also planned another expedition, of which Captain Penny, late of the Advice whaler, is to have the command. This will consist of the Lady Franklin and Sophia, which will also be fitted with three years' provisions, and will have a complement of 50, being 25 for each ship. Captain Penny left town last evening for Aberdeen and Dundee, to person

ally superintend the fitting of his vessels; and it is expected that he will be ready to sail for Jones' Sound by the first week in April.

8. It is also stated in a late London paper that the veteran Polar navigator, Sir John Ross is pushing on his expedition, and yesterday proceeded to Troon, Ayrshire, on the Clyde, to purchase a new vessel not yet launched. Mr. Abernethy, late gunner of the Enterprise, it was stated, was to accompany the gallant officer. The question of security to the crew of his vessel for their pay has been raised in many quarters. It is said the vessel is to be insured, if any office will take her; and should she return she will be sold, and the proceeds will form the means of paying the wages.

Thus, it will be perceived that there are now, and will be, in the field during the approaching summer, eight different expeditions, embracing twelve vessels, including two steamers and two parties in boats; all devoted to the noble and praiseworthy object of affording assistance to or rescuing Sir John Franklin and his associates from their ice-bound and dreary home.

The Rev. Dr. Scoresby, whose long experience in early life in the Greenland Seas, aided by much valuable information collected in his voyages there and by subsequent scientific investigations, has thrown out some considerations for the discovery and relief of the missing ships, which seems more feasible and more likely to be attended with favorable results than any before projected. His plan is to procure two vessels, such as are used for whaling; two smaller craft of about 100 tons burden, or less; and a well equipped boat, to be managed as follows:

"The largest vessel of the series (which might be a whaler) would be appointed to take position in, or not remote from Port Leopold; another vessel say the next largestmight take up a position as a second depot and place of refuge, at Melville Island. A third

a small vessel-would be directed to the west side of Cape Walker, for penetrating from thence, as far as she conveniently might, to the south-westward, should the position of the land and the condition of the ice permit in that direction. The other small vessel would have assigned to her the search of Wellington Channel, and other inlets proceeding out of Barrow's Strait northward; whilst the boat being dropped, after the passage of the middle ice,' might undertake, with great advan

tage, the researches which are still requisite within the different indents of the upper part of Baffin's Bay (principally that of Jones's Sound, and secondarily that of Smith's Sound, with any other penetrable channels that might be discovered), such inlets seeming to promise additional outlets, westward, after the manner of Lancaster Sound.

"The boat, acting independently, would be no burden on, or incumbrance to, any of the exploring vessels. . . . . . The boat would seek its own safety at the close of its operations, by going up to the refuge-ships at Port Leopold, or by endeavoring to join some one of the whalers, by which the boat's crew might obtain a passage home."

From these vessels parties might be sent off in various directions, and examine a wider field than has yet been explored. Even if they traversed the distance which Sir James Ross went on foot during the spring of 1849, before he left Leopold Island, much might be accomplished. He then explored 500 miles of coast in the space of forty days, and on his return, had the whole summer before him. But his efforts were confined to releasing his ships from their winter harbor, with a view of penetrating westward, and of course small parties could not be spared for separate explorations. With vessels stationed at prominent places, as suggested by Dr. Scoresby, to be employed for depots of provisions, and as rallying points for the crews of the smaller vessels, as well as for their winter quarters, more could be accomplished in an examination of the Arctic regions, with a view of relieving Sir John Franklin, than by any other plan. Even if they fail in attaining their object, they will then have acquired more geographical information than has been accomplished by any previous expedition.

We are strongly impressed with the opinion, that if the barrier of floating ice which exists in the higher latitudes of the North Polar sea can be passed, that an open and unobstructed sea may then be found. Dr. Scoresby, as has been stated, once passed this barrier, which was not at that time broad, when he entered an open sea. Sir Edward Parry, in his attempt to reach the Pole over the broken ice, found this ice moving southward in a body, so that after an arduous journey of 10 or 15 miles, he found by observation that he had not gained more than a third that distance.

The barrier on this occasion and at this place, must have been very wide, or he would have passed it and reached the clear sea beyond. Throughout all the Arctic Seas the course of the currents are southward; hence, when the ice is loosened and broken up, it moves with the current. A similar barrier was found in the Antarctic Seas, which was crossed by Captains Wilkes and Ross, and open water found beyond. Now, if Sir John Franklin in passing up Wellington Channel, crossed this barrier (supposing the sea to exist north of that channel), he may have passed far to the west, and we may hear of him beyond Behring's Strait, or off the northern coast of Siberia. these seas he would find whales and seals, which would support his party for a long time.

In

In the United States a deep sympathy is felt for Sir John Franklin and his brave associates, and numerous appeals have been made by the press to the Government and to philanthropic individuals in his behalf. The President has already sent a message to Congress, recommending the fitting out of an expedition to be sent in search of the bold adventurers who have perilled their lives in the cause of science. Many officers of our Navy have applied for the honor of commanding the expedition, or of accompanying it; and it now only awaits the tardy action of Congress before equipping the ships.

But this is not all. While the country is awaiting the slow movements at Washington, HENRY GRINNELL, Esq., a noble and public-spirited merchant of New York, has come forward, and proposes to furnish, at his own expense, two vessels of 100 tons each, well equipped and provisioned, for the Arctic Seas. To render them more efficient, he offers to place them at the disposal of the Secretary of the Navy, to be officered and manned by him. These vessels will be despatched early, so as to be in Lancaster Sound as soon as it is clear of ice, and to search the various openings into Barrow's Strait at the earliest period possible.

In conclusion, it will be asked, What are the prospects that Sir John Franklin and his party survive? These it will be proper to consider.

The expedition took full supplies for three years. It has been absent nearly five years. If it appeared to Sir John that he

"He's right;" muttered Somers. "Yes, I am sure I have found it to cost more than it comes to! I would give all the fees Newlove has paid me, and a hundred more like them, never to have seen his face, nor his daughter's either. Yet she's a right spirited little girl, after all, to be buying out Scrowder at such a gloomy time. I declare I admire her for it! She deserves something better than the ruin which is hanging over her; I must turn to once more, and save her from it if possible. But Sidney? Ah, me; I can't help it!" And the lawyer-on my conscience, reader, I am stating no more than the simple truth -heaved a genuine sigh.

Somers sat down and prepared the deed according to request. He read it over, supplied the stops, and then folding up the paper with the utmost precision, laid it away in one of the pigeon-holes of his desk.

Bearing in mind the next morning, that the stage coach with the mail would soon pass through the village, he thought of enclosing the deed to Mr. Newlove. "What

more can be necessary? They only ask for the conveyance, and there it is. He did not say that my presence was wanted. I am not bound to look beyond the letter of my instructions. 'Qui hæret in litera hæret in cortice-so be it, I am perfectly content to remain on the outside."

The

Notwithstanding this satisfactory reasoning, the deed was not then sent morning following the process was repeated, but with no additional result, except that an envelope was put on. Still another day came, and he had gathered sufficient resolution to write the address. In that condition the document remained a whole week, at the end of which period Somers deposited it in the breast pocket of his coat, and locking his office door, sprang upon the back of his good horse Mansfield. He ambled along as other travellers do, who go with a divided mind, till he recognized off to his right, the hill-top above Everstone, which had been the scene of his re-admission into the favor of Sidney. The road which he had now to pursue led him away southward. As he turned, vexation grew strong upon him. Somers was not perfect. His legal discipline had done something towards correcting the defect of a hasty temperament, yet nature was by no

means expelled. In the present instance, he had made up his mind to go through a certain course of conduct. An imperative sense of duty forced him to the task, but could not force him to regard that task as pleasant and desirable. He went to do a good deed in an ill mood.

Emma, from her window, saw him riding up to the door, and her heart beat quick. She felt relieved, as at the prospect of strong and ready succor. Hitherto, she had stood alone in her trial, now she might expect kind consolation, and wise advice. Immediately, she descended and waited in the parlor the arrival of the visitor.

He entered, uttered a brief salutation in a tone neither warm nor cold, but unsatisfactory, and took his seat.

Emma was quite abashed, and the eager words which her first emotion of joy had prompted, died upon her tongue.

"I have brought you," said the lawyer, drawing forth his packet," the legal document prepared in accordance with Mr. Newlove's note.' ""

She received it, and bowed in silence.

There was perfect stillness for some moments; then he said, "I have received another communication from your father-I got it a good while ago-previous, in fact, to my return to the county."

"Well, sir," Emma took courage to say, "I hope you were gratified by its contents."

But

"Gratified, indeed! was it such excellent good news, to hear that you had all taken the case in your own hands, and were about to make an upset and crash of the whole affair? I left you in a tolerably good plight; how matters now stand, it is not worth while to say. I had taken some pains in the business, and did not expect to have them altogether wasted. what boots it? If the parties most interested are pleased with the change, I am sure I have no right to complain. Yet 'tis a pity I was not informed of your inclination at the first. If you were anxious to lose the suit, I could have shown you the way to do it with a somewhat better grace. Yet, perhaps, a striking denouement was a desideratum-if so, the end, I must confess, seems likely to be obtained. Most bold, indeed, has been the management, and not more bold than brilliant. To whom am I to give the credit of it-Mallefax or