Admiralty, correspondence

This material is held atScott Polar Research Institute Archives, University of Cambridge

  • Reference
    • GB 15 Great Britain, Admiralty/Correspondence
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1837-1914
  • Name of Creator
  • Physical Description
    • Circa 107 letters. MS 498;MJ is on microfilm.

Scope and Content

  • MS 395/87/1-79;back loan drawer, Letters (79) to George Back, 12 May 1836 to 11 June 1838 [Mainly official letters regarding the appointment of officers and men, preparation of the ship and repair after its return to Lough Swilly] holograph and printed
  • MS 248/403/1-2;D Letters (2) to Donald Beatson, 27 February to 3 April 1852 [Regarding supplies for his projected Franklin search expedition, written by W A B Hamilton and Guy Stafford] 2 leaves
  • MS 1521/4/2;BJ Letter J T Briggs (for Sidney Herbert, Admiralty) to J Brown, 23 June 1843
  • MS 383/1;D Letter to Lieutenant William Colbeck, 12 August 1903 [Enclosing instructions to be followed while in command of the British Antarctic Relief Expedition, 1903-1904] photostat
  • MS 1532/2/2;D Letter order to Crawford Conybeare, 20 September 1869 [To attend for an examination at Royal Naval College]
  • MS 116/27/14;D Letter to John Hume, 23 January 1850 [Authority to draw 100 expenses for whaler Advices contribution to British Whaling and Franklin Search Expedition, 1849 (Captain William Penny)] 1 leaf
  • MS 248/405;D Letter to Leopold McClintock, October 1859 [Reply to letter regarding relics of Franklin expedition brought back on the Fox] 1 leaf
  • MS 498;MJ Letter to Sir George Strong Nares, 5 June 1877 [Regarding the British Arctic Expedition, 1875-1876 to North Greenland and Canada] microfilm
  • MS 116/27/1-12;D Letters (12) to William Penny, 23 November 1839 to 14 December 1854 [Regarding discovery of bay opening into eastern Cumberland Strait, Franklin search, pay of crews etc] 13 leaves
  • MS 248/406;D Letter to William Penny, [1851] [Refusal to allow him to make a second attempt in Franklin search] 1 leaf
  • MS 1226/12/1-3;D Letters (3) to Sir James Clark Ross, 1855 to 1858 [Regarding a testimonial to Sir Francis Beaufort, Arctic medal, distillation of seawater] holograph
  • MS 116/27/15;D Letter (copy) to John Roy, 17 March 1856 [Regarding rewards for discovery of Franklin's fate] 1 leaf
  • MS 1453/105;1-2;D Letters (2) to Kathleen Scott, 13 November 1913 to 9 February 1914 [Regarding promotions and gratuities for members of the British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913] 2 leaves, typescript
  • MS 248/407;D Letter to United Service Institution, 10 October 1859 [Regarding Franklin relics brought back from Fox see MS 248/405;D] 1 leaf

Administrative / Biographical History

The correspondence comprises of letters relating to the Franklin Search Expeditions sent to look for the missing Northwest Passage Expedition of 1845-1848, these include the British Whaling and Franklin Search Expedition, 1849 (Captain William Penny). Other letters relate to the British Arctic Expedition, 1875-1876 (leader George Strong Nares), the British Relief Expedition sent to the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 (leader Robert Falcon Scott) and the British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913 (leader Robert Falcon Scott)

Arrangement

The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by recipient.

Alternative Form Available

MS 498;MJ is a copy.

Related Material

See SPRI collections GB 015 British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, British Relief Expeditions, 1902-1903-1904 and GB 015 British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913

The Institute holds a large number of archival collections relating to the Northwest Passage expedition of Sir John Franklin and the subsequent expeditions mounted in search of him. It is hoped these will be made available on the Hub in due course.

Location of Originals

MS 498;MJ in Public Archives of Canada (1982)