§ SIR R. H. INGLISI will take this opportunity of putting the question to the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Admiralty on the subject of the Arctic expedition. I admit it is not so stimulative as personal questions affecting one individual; but I think I may call the attention of the House to the fact, that in the question of which I have given notice, are involved the lives of the seamen and officers of eleven vessels, and the sympathy of the whole country. My question then is, whether there are any causes of delay which have prevented the despatch of a steamer in search of Captain Austen, commanding Her Majesty's vessel in the Arctic seas? I shall say no more than that there was an intimation that such a vessel as that would be sent out by Her Majesty's Government in the course of the present season, conveying provisions and necessaries, and naval stores, for the relief of Captain Austen and the expedition under his command. On the 7th of February last, when moving for returns on the subject, I told my right hon. Friend that this is a question which demands instant attention. I said to him that what he was going to do might be of some avail if done speedily, but if postponed for six weeks would be worse than useless. I urged then, and I have repeatedly urged since, to lose no time, if it was intended to despatch this vessel. The general opinion has been that a steam-vessel would be sent out, not an expedition, but a single vessel carrying out stores, and bringing back intelligence of these eleven vessels. I have included in that number the two sent out by our brethren in America, much to the honour of the Government, and still more to the honour of the people. I believe, as I have before stated, that it is an unprecedented act, in which a foreign Government has sent out to the relief of men, not their own subjects; and I believe if the Government propose to send out a vessel with the object I have stated, that they will be supported universally in this House.
SIR F. T. BARINGsaid: With refer- 341 ence to the question put by his hon. Friend the Member for the University of Oxford, the Government had had under consideration his proposal to send a steamer to the Arctic regions this season, to communicate with Captain Austen; but on due consideration of opinions of weight and experience they had arrived at the conclusion that it was not necessary or desirable to send out further vessels for that purpose. His hon. Friend had said it would be necessary the steamer should be furnished with provisions. That was not so, because Captain Austin's expedition was furnished with provisions for three years; besides those provisions left by the North Star and Sir James Clack Ross would be available in case of any accident. For the mere purpose, then, of information and conveying intelligence, having a very heavy responsibility, the Government did not think themselves justified in sending other parties to risk themselves in the Arctic Seas; that they ought not to risk further the lives of their gallant seamen. They had done all that a generous country I would call upon them to do, and they must do their duty now in stopping any future risk of life.
§ SIR E. N. BUXTONsaid, it would not be right to risk the lives of seamen by sending any further expedition in search of Sir J. Franklin and his crew. There were at the present time eleven vessels in the North Seas in search of them, and especially he would mention one vessel, the Investigator, which, alone, is making the attempt to pass from east to west to Melville Island; and the commander. Captain M'Clure, has declared in a published letter that in case he cannot reach Melville Island with his ship, he intends to abandon her, and with his men to cross the ice on foot to that place. He, therefore, thought that a vessel ought to be sent to the north this year to carry succour to the vessels which are there, and especially to leave provisions and stores at Melville Island for the crow of the Investigator.
ADMIRAL BERKELEYsaid, the Government had done everything which they possibly could in this case. Provisions to a great extent had been sent out, and the sending out of a vessel, and that vessel a steamer, would be most ineffective, because she could carry neither provisions nor coals to last for a twelvemonth. The House would also recollect that Sir John Rossi was expected to return in August, and would most possibly bring information up 342 to the period of his leaving the ice. If the Government sent out a vessel with strict orders that she was not, by any means, to be shut up in the ice, she could bring no more information than one of the whale ships.
§ Subject dropped.