Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-07-23
The Late LADY Franklin.

Lady Jane Franklin was a daughter Of
John Griffin, of London, and was born about
1905. In 1926 she became the second wife
Of Sir John Franklin who had fought with
distinction under Nelson, and who had lead
successfully two Arctic expeditions.
years later, she accompanied her husband 70
Van Dieman's Land aud aided in securing
him the popularity he enjoyed during the six
years he was governor Of that colony. One
Of her acts Of practical philanthropy while
there was to pay out Of her private purse a
bounty of $3.50 each for the destruction of
a dangerous species Of serpent, which in con-
sequence was soon exterininated. Returning
to England, Sir John Franklin accepted the
command Of the ships Erebus and Terror,
with which he hoped to discover northwest
passage. He sailed in May, lS45, on this
Inflated expedition and when he did not re-
turn in l847, as was intended, Lady Frank
lin felt great anxiety for his fate, aud began
that series Of heroic efforts which have se-
cured her imperishabe fame. In the spring
of lS48 she offered rewards of $4,000 aud
$4,000 to any persons discovering or afford
ing relief to the missing party, or making
any great effort to do so. In 1849 she ad-
dressed pathetic appeal to the American
people, through the president, for active CO.
operation in the search, which was nobly re-.
sponded to by the late Henry Grinnell. In
1850, and in subsequent years, Lady Frank
lin fitted out expeditions, chiefly at her own
cost, supplementary to those sent by the
government Finally she sent out, in 1857,
the steamer Fox, under command of Capt.
McClintock, who returned, about three years
later, with the melancholy news Of Sir John
Franklin's death, but with abundant proof
that the daring explorer had accomplished
the discovery he was sent to make, namel y,
the existence of a northwest passage. The
tidings Of the commanders death McClintock
had learned from document left in cairn
on the shores of King Williams land by the
survivors of Eranklius company. The pa
per, dated April %, l849, stated that Sir
John Franklin died. June IL, 1S47 that
the Erebus and Terror were abandoned
April %, lS49, when the survivors, 105 in
number, started for the Great Fish river
Many relics we're found Of this party, who
persisted on their journey soon after they left
| Tue NeSseis AllOuSu tuSIS was w lultuSl
reason to doubt the fate of her husband
Lady Franklin was henceforth unceasing ii
her efforts to learn more Of him and his brave
companions. She held out liberal reward
to any Que who would bring her further It'd.
iDgs, and took a, warm interest in every
scheme for exploring the polar regions. She
offered to pay literally the late Capt. Hal
Of Cincinnati, if he would go over to London
aud tell her the story Of his five years voy
age in the Arctic zone, but finding that hi
was too intent on starting again for the Nortl
pole, and so could not spare the time, Lad,
Franklin set out for this country, and arrived
in Cincinnati, by way of Panama and Sal
Francisco, in July, 1870. She had a lonl
conversation with Capt. Hall, and learne,
his views regarding the fate of the missing
records of her husbands voyage and tn
prospect of finding last message, which sh'
firmly believed he had written her. In 1872
Lady Franklin bought Franklin house il
Lincolnshire intending to collect there tn
relics Of her husbands expeditions. In thu
same spirit OF romantic devotion, she Offered
rewards for further tdings of her lost hus
baud aud his men at the recent sailing of
British expedition to explore the Arctic re
gious, and, if possible, to reach the Mort
pole.