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Leader (1850-1860), 28th October 1854, Edition Country of 2, Page 5

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      Sir John Prankltn's Party. Tiiw Last Arc...

      the coast of Boothia , -when he received information which he thus reports to the Admiralty : — ' < During my journey over the ice and snows thi 9 spring , - with the view of completing the survey of the west shore of Boothia , I met with Esquimaux in Pelly Bay , from one of -whom I learnt that a party of ' white men' ( Kabloonans ) had perished for want of food some distance to the westward , and not far beyond a large river containing many falls and rapids . Subsequently , further particulars were received , and a number of articles purchased , which places the fate of a portion , if not of all , of the then survivors of Sir John Franklin ' s long-lost party beyond a doubt—a fate as terrible as the imagination can conceive . * ' The substance of the information obtained at various times , and from various sources , was as follows : —

      " In the spring , four winters past ( spring 1850 ) , a party of ' white men , ' amounting to about forty , were seen travelling southward over the ice , and dragging a boat with them , by some Esquimaux , who were killing seals near the north shore of King William 1 s Land , which is a large island . None of the party could speak the Esquimaux language intelligibly , but by signs the natives were made to understand that their ship , or ships , had been crushed by Ice , and that they -were now going to where they expected to find deer to shoot . From the appearance of the men , all of whom ' exeept one officer looked thin , they were then supposed to be getting short of provisions , and they purchased a small seal from the natives . At a later " date the same season , but previously to the breaking up of the ice ,

      the bodies of some thirty persons were discovered on the continent , and five on an . island near it , aboiit a long day's journey to the N . W . of a large stream , which can be Mo other than Back ' s Great Fish River ( named by the Esquimaux Qot-ko-hi-ca-l £ k ) , as its description , and that of the low shore in the neighbourhood of Point Ogle and Montreal island agree exactly with that of Sir George Sack . Some of the bodies had been buried ( probably those of the first victims of famine ); some were in a tent or tents 5 others under the boat , which had been turned over to form a shelter , and several lay scattered about in different directions . Of those found on the island one was supposed to have been an officer , as he had a telescope strapped over his shoulders and his double-barrelled gun lay underneath him .

      " From the mutilated state of many of the corpses arid the contents of the kettles , it is evident that our wretched countrymen had been driven to the last resource—cannibalism!—as a means of prolonging existence . " There appeared to have been an abundant stock of ammunition , as the powder was emptied in a heap on the ground by the natives out of the kegs or cases containing it ; and a quantity of ball and shot-was found below high water mark , having probably been left on the ice close to the beach . There must have been a

      number of watches , compasses , telescopes , guns ( several double-barrelled ) , & c , all of which appear to have been broken up as I saw pieces of these different articles with the Esquimaux , and , together with some silver spoons and forks , purchased as many as I could get . A list of the most important of these I enclose , with a rough sketch of the crests and initials on the forks and spoons . The articles themselves shall be handed over to the Secretary of the Hon . Hudson ' s Bay . Company on my arrival in London .

      " None of the Esquimaux with whom I conversed had seen the ' whites , ' nor had they ever been at the place where the bodies were found , but had their information from those who had been there and who had seen the party "when travelling . " I offer no apology for taking the liberty of addressing you , as I do so from a belief that their Lordships would bo desirous of being put in possession at as early a date as possible of any tidings , however meagre and unexpectedly obtained , regarding this painfully interesting subject . " It appears that Sir James Ross and Captain Bollot must have been within n few miles of the sppt to which the party had straggled ; and some of them must havo survived until May , 1850 , us shots were heard and fish bones and feathers of birds were

      noticed near the scene of the sad event . The following ia a list of articles purchased from the Esquimaux , said to have been obtained at the place where the bodies of the persons reported to have died of famine wore found , six , ;—" 1 silver table fork—crest , an animal ' s head with wings extended above 5 8 silver table forltB—crest , a bird with wings extended ; 1 silvor tablo spoon—crest , with initials ' F . K . M . C ( Cnptnin Crozior , Terror ); 1 silver table spoon and 1 fork—crest , bird with laurel branch in mouth , motto , ' < 8 /) ero melwra ; ' 1 silver table

      spoon , 1 ten spoon , and 1 dessert fork—crcat , a fi » h a head looking upwards , with laurel branches on each Hide ; 1 ailver table fork—initials , ' II . 1 ) . S . Cl . ' ( Harry D . S . Goodflir , assistant-surgeon , Erebus ) ; 1 silver table fork—initiala , 'A . M'l > . ' ( Alexander M'Donald , aoslstunt-8 urgcon , Terror ); 1 nilvor table fork—Initialti , 4 G . A . M . ( G 11 U « h A . Mncbcan , micouu-niautor , Terror ) ; 1 silver tablo fork—initial , < J . T . '; 1 silver doaHurl ttpoon —initials , J . 8 . 1 ' . ' ( John S . IVddio , Burgeon , Krobua ); 1 . round Hilvor plate , engraved , ' Sir John Franklin , K . O . B . ' u atur or order , with motto , Nca aapera torrent , G . K . III ., MDCCCXW

      " Also a number of other articles with no marks by which they could be recognised . " Dr . Rae adds , that from what he could learn there is no reason to suspect that any violence had been offered to the sufferers by the natives . It seems but too evident that they had perished from hunger , aggravated by the extreme severity of the climate . Some of the corpses had been sadly mutilated , and had been stripped by those who had the misery to survive them , and who were found wrapped in two or three suits of clothes . The articles brought home by Dr . Rae had all been worn as ornaments by the Esquimaux , the coins being pierced with holes , so as to be suspended as medals . A large number of books -were also found , but these not being valued by the natives had either been destroyed or neglected . Dr . Kae has no doubt , from the careful habits of these people , that almost every article which the unhappy sufferers had preserved could be recovered , but he thought it better to come home direct with the intelligence he had obtained than to run the risk of having to spend another whiter in the snow . The / Shipping Gazette states that " Dr . Eae , of the Hudson ' s Bay Arctic Expedition , had an audience with Sir James Graham on Tuesday , at the Admiralty , on the subject of his discovery of the probable fate of Sir John Franklin and his companions . The interview occupied a considerable time , in the course of which , we understand , Sir James Graham , announced the intention of the Government to send out early in the ensuing spring an expedition , in order to make further search for the remains spoken of by the Esquimaux ; and the command of the expedition-was offered to Dr . Eae . " The Admiralty have received documents , being the latest records of Captain Cotlinson , found , by Commander Mechara , dated August 27 , 1852 , Kamsay Island , lat . 71 deg . 39 min . ST ., long . 110 deg . 5 min . W . It is thought that Captain Collinson is on the right track homewards , and great hopes of his safety are entertained . . Among the earlier explorers of the Arctic regions wasDr . King , who headed an expedition in search of Sir John Ross , and who opened a , correspondence with the Admiralty in 1847 and 1848 , to urge the sending out a land party in search of Franklin . Dr . King pointed out the Great Fish River as the proper route by which to meet Erahfclin's partythe veay river near the mouth of which the thirtyfive bodies have been found . Dr . King intends to volunteer forthwith on the same mission .

      October 28, 1854.] The Leader. 1013

      October 28 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 1013

      The Protection Of Women And Serjeant Ada...

      THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND SERJEANT ADAMS . The Assistant-Judge of the Middlesex Sessions is again , and perhaps naturally , indignant . The " Associate Institute for Improving and Enforcing the Laws for the Protection of Women" seems sometimes to take up cases of indecent assaults on women without sufficient authority . Two cases of the kind on girls were brought before the sessions last week , and broke down at once . Serjeant Adams then delivered himself thus . He said" A case of the same kind was tried before him at the last session at Westminster , and the first he had now tried was more disgusting , if possible , than that to which he had just alluded , and which was also prosecuted by this society . If they raked up such cases , and prosecuted them , as they did , without instructions , no man would bo safe from the accusations of the vilest of women . With respect to the last case ho would make this observation , which , of course , ho had abstained from making before the verdict of the jury was returned , that the last answer he received from the father of the girl was , that ho had given no instructions for the prosecution , but that this society , or rath « r the solicitor , had taken up the case through seeing it in the newspapers . Now , ho wished to know what right the society , hoAvever laudable its objects might be , had to prosecute without instructions merely for tlws sake of costs ; and ho would say this , that a man was indicted for obtaining monoy by fnlse pretences by getting money paid to him for a prosecution which ho had taken up without instructions , and if there had been money obtained in these instances , there having been no instructions given , that man ' s fate would have been staring the society in the face . Ho had no great notion aft all of volunteer prosecutors . This society might bo an admirably-conducted one , but it became a nuisance if it took up those proflccutions for the mere sake of costs . Those two cases and another had occurred in about a fortnight , and it ought to be discontinued , Ho should not allow the costs . ' The next day the court waa enlivened by ono of those acenes for which the Middlesex Sessions is iamous , and which present its bench and bar in an aspect to which the public is not accustomed elsowhore , and docs not recognise , in the administration of justice by our tribunals . Mr , Parry , whoso mission seems to bo the exhibition of all possible contempt for the presiding judge , presented himself in the chaructcr of standing counsel to tho society in question to protest against tlio « onsuro of tho bench . He dunicd that there was any ground for tho observations which had boon nnuJoontho solicitor of the society , or tho society itself , of which tho ArchbiBhop < of Canterbury was

      president , and which was supported by several bishops and laymen of high , character—like Mr . Samuel Gurney and Mr . John Labouchere . He read the newspaper report , and said he found Mr . Serjeant Adams remarked that one of the cases was " more disgusting if possible" than one he had tried at a previous session . The matter then proceeded after the manner of the Middlesex Sessions—a criminal court of solemn jurisdiction—thus : The Assistant-Judge—Those were the terms I used . Mr . Parry said he knew they were , when he saw the report . The Assistant-Judge—I ana in the habit of speaking the truth .

      Mr . Parry proceeded—That report contained observations conveying a very serious imputation on the society , and on their solicitor . Now , he remembered those two cases very well , but when they were tried he was unable to appear himself , but his friend Mr . Lawrence kindly appeared for him . They were cases which had been fully investigated , and sent for trial by magistrates of equal rank and character as himself ( Mr . Serjeant Adams ) , and who were gentlemen of ability and experience , though not so high iai position as he , and they were magistrates of the county and of the metropolis . The Assistant-Judge would willingly hear anything Mr . Parry had to say , so long as what he did say was not irregular . " What Mr . Parry had just said was very irregular . Mr . Parry—Not half so irregular as your original observations .

      The Assistant-Judge—Then , Mr . Parry , I cannot hear anything , more you have to say on the subject *' Mr . Parry would say no more , then , of course . The Assistant Judge—Mr . Parry , I will listen to any language which one gentleman may utter and another hear , but in this court you shall use no other . I repeat over again what I said yesterday , that a more disgusting case was never brought before a jury . [ The jury concurred . ] ' Mr . Parry said he was not irregular , because he was about to make a motion , and no judge could deprive him of his right to do so . The society was highly respectable , and after what took place on Tuesday he advised the preparation of a tabular statement of the society's

      proceedings in these cases , which he now held in his hand , and among the cases mentioned therein , he could select several the prosecution of which had been attended , with important results , and which would show the amount of good doiie by the society . He might mention the cases of the Belgian girl , Alice Leroy , which attracted a good deal of public attention , and that of Cunningham , the surgeon , who -was transported for abortion ,, and others . This document , with the report , he was ready to place before the court , and it would show that in 32 cases there had been . 2 C convictions . So it would be seen how useful their exertions had been . They never interfered as volunteers in prosecutions , but they had taken up cases at the instance of the police and various

      other authorities who applied to them for the very purpose . Yet , notwithstanding this , it was insinuated in broad terms by a judge on the bench , that these prosecutions were taken up by the solicitor for the mere sake of costs , and that suck solicitor was liable to an indictment for obtaining monoy under false pretences ; ( reading from the report ) " and he would say this , that a man had been indicted for obtaining money by false pretences , by getting money paid to him for a prosecution which he had taken up without instructions , and if there had been , money obtained in these instances , there having been no instructions given , that man ' s fate would have been . staring tho society in the face . " Now , ho challenged

      him ( Mr . Serjeant Adams ) to put the law in execution if Mr . Shacn had done wrong , or even if there w « h a shadow of wrong about tho matter , and it was perfectly monstrous that such statements whould go forth from a judicial bench to the whole world—statements affecting the honour and character of a gentleman every way C (| ual personally with tho Assistant-Judgo , As to th < 5 refusal to allow the cents , neither ho nor tho society cared about it . The costs of the prosecutions would bo paid out of tho funds of the society , which were ample , « nd they did not go about to get up cases for the suko of prosecuting for co » t » ; on tlio contrary , they had taken cases in hand at the roquetit and inwtanco of othera , un < l had rendered great public service .

      Denying tlio right of the Judge to uttor " grosa libels" from his judgmout seat , which " he would not havo dared to put in circulation privately , " ho usked him to reconsider tho question of costs , urging that tho society acted in tho junco of si public prosecutor , and that the case in quostion had been sent for trial after investigation by tho magistrate . Tho allowance of tho cants wa « a matter of no moment to tho society , but ho nuked Unit tlio AHHtetnnl-Jtulgo would now grant that which lie had improperly « nd rashly ronimwl . Ho JjojhmI lio would take tl » no to consider of it , « h ho MifuwMl ii « n inoiiu'iit of temper , and If , aftor oonwicloriuioii , Urn r « fuH « l hIkmiIiI Iks penuHtcd in , ( . ho wltolo of tlio vl rvuiUHUncuH would bo brought under ruviow in a hi tf tour ijuiirtor , and uh tlio cjohIh of promiuutioiiH were paid out . of tlw consolidated fund , tho fchsurotiiry of Stutu luighL hnvo power to order them to be paid .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 28, 1854, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_28101854/page/5/