New England Religious Herald

The Search for Franklin.

The Washington National Intelligencer publishes a letter from Captain Wilkes, of the Navy, on the subject of the intended renewed search for Sir John Franklin and his companions, from which we extract the following passage, containing a very just, because practical, view of the erroneous system on which the search has been hitherto conducted:—'Fatal errors have been made in attempting the search in vessels, it being quite evident to the simplest mind that if vessels can track Sir John, he certainly would be able to get out. Therefore, it always appeared to me absurd nonsense, and a waste both of time, energy, and money, to keep to vessels, the scene of whose operations must be limited to the line of the fast ice. The futile attempts of search around the icy bays is no less so. The only and true course is a thorough exploration over the ice by sledges or boats making the advance, in all directions, under a well organized and on a regular base of operations, but particularly to the westward from Wellington Channel, where his trail has been struck. The end in view in a future search ought to be to examine the Arctic region which must and will result in the discovery of some tidings, either affirmative or negative, of the fate of this gallant man and his companions. It behooves the Government of Great Britain to consider the search as now but begun and it ought and must be continued as becomes a great nation, under whose flag and in whose service Sir John and his companions have risked, and are, if alive, enduring great privations.'