'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From December 1854 to March 1856. (New Issue.) Edited by the Secretary. Volume XII.' [‎39] (150/258)

ON ARCTIC DISCOVERY 1850-51.
39
mission by the Emperor of Russia to proceed, on the humane plea that he
declined sanctioning almost certain loss of life in an adventure so desperate
but would use every means in his power to see and promote the objects in
view.
In 1850, 54,000 dollars were subscribed in the United States, for the pur
pose of forwarding an expedition to the Arctic Regions. To this Mr. Gren-
nel, a distinguished New York merchant, added 6,0000 dollars. But delays
arose, and the wishes of the subscribers not appearing likely to be realized, in
any reasonable time, Mr. Grcnnel resolved to take on his own shoulders the
whole expenses and responsibilities of the investigation. Accordingly, in May
1850 the two brigs Advance and R escue, of 144 and 91 tons respectively, were
got ready for sea. They were commanded by Lieutenant DeHaven, of the
United States Navy—with Dr. Kane, a man of great energy and accomplish
ments, as medical officer, and naturalist for the occasion. They reached
Baffin’s Bay in the beginning of July, and pushed on through innumerable ob
structions to Melville Bay, reaching the mouth of Wellington Channel almost
simultaneously with Captain Austin’s squadron, which had left England in
April, having penetrated as far as 75 ° 24’ N. Their instructions were, not
to get frozen in, but to return as winter approached; and accordingly, after
having been twice drifted almost embedded in a floe of ice, traversing in a
state of utter helplessness above 1000 miles, from Lancaster Bay south into
Baffin’s Bay, they started homeward, and reached New York on the 20th
September, without mishap, and with a large store of geographical and other
information. It was to the exertions of Lieutenant DeHaven, combined with
those of Captains Ommaney and Penny, that the discovery of the interesting
relics of April 1846, at Fort Reilly, are due. The officers of the expedition
felt sanguine that the rescue of those of whom they had gone in search was
very far from hopeless.
The princely New York merchant had declined in the most grateful terms
accepting a testimonial proposed for him in England, and stated that he
could not accept reward for having done no more than his duty ; and he di
rected the amount subscribed to be employed in the prosecution of further re
searches. On a subsequent occasion, when the Admiralty seemed likely to
despond, he wrote to England stating that he had far from given up hopes,
and should not abandon exertion till a much more minute search than had
hitherto been attempted had been accomplished.
In the spring of 1852 an expedition, consisting of four ships and two steam
ers was ordered to proceed to the Arctic Seas in charge of Sir E. Belcher,
These consisted of the Assistance commanded by the Officer just named,
the screw Steamer Piviicer, the provision ship North Star, Gommandei