LATEST NEWS OF SIR JOHN.

Wellington Independent, Volume VII, Issue 586, 24 May 1851, Page 4

LATEST NEWS OF SIR JOHN.

FRANKLIN. (Translated from Le Cerncen, Feb. 18.)

The last mail has brought to Mauritius news, which obtained a momentary belief in England, that Sir John Franklin had been discovered. The announcement had been made publicly in two theatres in London. But this intelligonce had not been confirmed. A letter from Singapore, addressed to the Observer, of Colombo, and of subsequent date to the last news received by the Admiralty of England, gives us almost the sad certainty that there is no hope of his being found alive.

"Sir, —News from the most distant regions should always be received with pleasure, and especially when they relate to those unfortunate men who have risked their all, and whom we have great reason to fear have lost their lives, in the devotion of science.

" I am enabled this month to acquaint you of the result of the expedition in search of Sir John Franklin and his companions, and to put you in possession of news even later than that possessed by the Admiralty.

"The Herald has arrived here (Singapore) from the Arctic regions, having touched at the Sandwich Islands and at Hong Kong kst week, and she brings the most recent intelligence from the northern regions. Near the last station of the Russian Fur Company they learned from the natives, that a party of white men had encamped three or four hundred miles in the interior ; that the Russians had endeavoured to furnish them with the necessaries of life, but that the natives who are enemies to the Russians, had opposed all their efforts, so that it was not possible for them to approach the encampment, or to find the unfortunate sufferers. A tribe of Esquimaux which arrived at the time, confirmed in the most explicit manner this vague report; and added that the whites (supposed to be Franklin's party) and the natives having quarrelled, the former had been massacred.

"As to the probability that this unfortunate party is that of Sir John, is a question that I will not take upon me to decide, but will leave to yourself and your readers, who have attentively read all that has been published on this subject." Intelligence had been received from the Saharan African Expedition to the 22nd August. The following is from the London Times; —

" The expedition had literally fought its way up to Selonfeet in Aheer, near to the territory of the Kailouee Prince EnNour, to whom it is recommended.

"Mr. Richardson had been obliged to ransom his life and those of his fellowtravellers twice. The whole population of the northern district of Aheer had been raised against the expedition, joined by all the bandits and robbers who infest that region of the Sahara.

" The travellers are now in comparative security. It has been a tremendous undertaking for them to force their way amongst tribes who had never seen the face of a Christian, and who look upon Christains as the declared enemies of God.

" The great Soudan route, from Ghat to Aheer, is now explored."