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three years. He was chiefly employed in the Greek waters, and 

 had the good fortune to be of considerable service in the delicate 

 adjustment of complicated diplomatic relations. 



During this period, as indeed on all other occasions, he eagerly 

 availed himself of every opportunity, not only to improve his know- 

 ledge of geology, to which science he was greatly attached,. but 

 also used every exertion to add to the museum of the Geological 

 Society and to the private collections of scientific men. 



After a brief period of rest, which followed his services in the 

 Mediterranean, he applied to Lord Glenelg for employment under 

 the Colonial department, and his Lordship, in a very complimentary 

 manner, offered him the important post of Governor of Van Diemen's 

 Land, which he held for seven years. 



During this time, that Colony received the convicts sentenced to 

 transportation, New South Wales having ceased to be a penal 

 settlement, which rendered Sir John Franklin's position most onerous 

 and trying. But he acquitted himself so entirely to the satisfaction 

 of the colonists, that in grateful remembrance of his government, 

 which was marked by the establishment of a College and a Philoso- 

 phical Society, they, unsolicited, subscribed 1600 towards the ex- 

 penses of the recent private expedition fitted out for his rescue. 



It might be supposed that after so long a period of laborious 

 services, Sir John Franklin would have desired repose, particularly 

 as he had now attained high renown ; but his wishes still pointed 

 towards active employment, and consequently, when the Arctic 

 Expedition was contemplated, which in all human probability has 

 cost him his life, he was willing and ready to take the command, 

 when the Admiralty were of opinion that he was the officer best 

 fitted to act as its chief. 



That Expedition, as will be remembered, was originated by the 

 late Sir John Barrow, who, before resigning his office of Secretary 

 to the Admiralty, submitted a plan for the discovery of the North- 

 west Passage to that branch of Her Majesty's Government, by whom 

 it was referred to the Council of the Royal Society. 



Without concurring in all Sir John Barrow's views, the Council 

 gave it as their opinion that such an Expedition was likely materially 

 to increase our knowledge of geography and terrestrial magnetism, 

 and to promote the general interests of science, and that it was at 



