124 REAR-ADMIRAL F. W. BEECH EY'S ADDRESS. [May 26, 185(5. 



quently of the southern coasts of America. In Febmaiy, 1817, he 

 was entrusted with the conduct of an expedition having for its 

 object a survey of the coasts of Australia, a service on which he 

 continued employed in the ' Mermaid,' cutter, and ' Bathurst,' sloop 

 —to the command of which he was promoted by commission, dated 

 17th July, 1821— until his return to England in 1823. The results 

 of the undertaking are contained in a Narrative of the Survey of the 

 Inter- tropical and Western Coasts of Australia, and in an Atlas, both 

 compiled by Captain King, and published, the former by Murray, 

 and the latter by the Hydrographic Office of the Admiralty. In 

 September, 1825, from the feeling of confidence with which he had 

 impressed the Admiralty, in the discharge of his late duties, he was 

 appointed to the 'Adventure,' sloop, and ordered to survey the 

 southern coast of America, from the entrance of the Eio de la Plata 

 round to Chiloe, and that of Tierra del Fuego. He was paid off on 

 his arrival in England, 16th November, 1830, and has not been since 

 employed. His post commission bears date 25th February, 1830. 



In 1832, Captain King published, as the partial fruit of his recent 

 voyage, a Volume entitled, ' Sailing Directions to the Coasts of 

 Eastern and Western Patagonia, including the Straits of Magellan, 

 and the Sea Coast of Tierra del Fuego.' , 



On his retirement from active service. Captain King returned to 

 Australia, and shortly after his arrival, succeeded Sir Edward Parry 

 as manager of the aifairs of the Australian Agricultural Society, the 

 duties of which office he discharged with characteristic and exem- 

 plary ability and attention for several years. He was appointed a 

 nominee member of the Legislative Council by the governor. Sir 

 Charles FitzRoy ; but latterly he held his seat in the House in the 

 more honourable capacity of a representative member, having, at the 

 general elections of 1851, offered himself as a candidate for the con- 

 stituency of Gloucester and ]\Iacquarie, and on that occasion was 

 returned by a large majority over his opponent, Mr. Joseph Sim- 

 mons. During the last session of Council, he strongly supported, in 

 particular, the proposition for the establishment of a nautical school. 

 For some time past he held the office of chairman of the Denomi- 

 national Board of Education, and was consequently regarded as the 

 representative of that body in the Council. 



His was the first instance of a native of Australia rising to so 

 distinguished a rank in the British navy, and every one must feel 

 a deep regret that his enjoyment of the honour was for so brief a 

 period. 



