Subject	Penal colonies–Australia
	Penal colonies–Great Britain
	Convict labor
	Explorers
	Tasmania–History
	Correspondence
	Natural history
	Discoveries in science
Category	1. Settlement
Author	Franklin, John, Sir
Keywords	Lieutenant-Governor
	Van Diemensland
Current Holder	National Library of Australia
Date	1839-02-15
Series Number	MS 10679
Item Number	8681463
Access Rights	Digitised
Rights	Copyright Undetermined. Available for research. Not for loan.
Country Of Origin	Australia
Place	Tasmania
Language	French
	English
Description From Source	0.03 m 1 folder (2 letters) MS 10679 comprises a letter written by Sir John Franklin, Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen’s Land to Captain Washington, dated 15 February, 1839. In this letter Franklin references John Gould (English ornithologist), John Montagu (Colonial Secretary of Van Diemen’s Land from 1834 to 1842), and Alexander Maconochie (Private Secretary to Sir John Franklin 1836-1838). John Gould, was a significant author and researcher of Australian wildlife, and was the first major documenter of Australian birds. In the letter Franklin notes that Gould’s research is of great significance and has left very little research for any other ornithologist to discover. Franklin describes John Montagu in this letter as being a ‘gentleman of considerable talent’. At the time of this letter Franklin had accepted Montagu’s leave of absence and requested he be given speaking opportunities during his time in England. Of Alexander Maconochie he states in the letter that he will be silent on his thoughts on him as he has “nothing good to say”. Franklin and Maconochie shared opposing views on Australia’s colonial penal system. In 1838 a paper was written by Maconochie criticizing the harshness of Tasmania’s penal system and which outlined the poor treatment of convicts. The criticism of this work forced Franklin to dismiss Maconochie in 1838.
Physical Format	Letters
Bibliographic Citation	https://www.zotero.org/groups/4688363/oama/items/7KRV2855/