Two letters written by Lady Jane Franklin.

The first letter, dated 2nd February 1847, is written to Mr Crowe, the British Consul in Patras (Greece). It is written nearly two years after her husband's departure on his fatal voyage but before news of his death reached England. She speaks cheerfully about some drawings of the sailing, her annoyance at recent pessimistic newspaper reports which are 'not only hypothetical but with no foundation even in probablity', and the encouraging prospects of a relief expedition. She continues with a long discussion of Sir John's pamphlet on the government of Van Diemen's land (Tasmania).

The second letter, undated, and addressed to Mrs Crowe, is an effusive, thank-you note written after a visit to the Mediterranean.

Administrative / biographical background
Jane Franklin (nee Griffin) was born in 1792 in London, daughter of John Griffin, a wealthy silk weaver, and Mary Guillemard. She was an early Tasmanian pioneer, traveller and second wife of the explorer John Franklin. Between 1830 and 1834, Jane travelled in Europe, Syria and North Africa while her husband was stationed in the Mediterranean. In 1836, she accompanied Franklin to Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania] after he had accepted the post of Lieutenant Governor. During his tenure, she took a keen interest in social reform, particularly in improving the welfare of female convicts, and she continued her travels, touring both Australia and New Zealand. Following their return to Britain in 1844, Franklin was appointed by the Admiralty to lead the British Naval Northwest Passage Expedition, 1845-1848. Sailing from London in HMS TERROR and HMS EREBUS in May 1845, the expedition was last seen heading for Lancaster Sound by two whalers in northern Baffin Bay in late July 1845. After that, the expedition disappeared and Franklin was never seen again. Between 1847 and 1859, Lady Franklin took a leading part in organizing the searches for the missing expedition, during the course of which the main facts regarding the route taken and final fate of the expedition were established. The two vessels had become beset north of King William Island, where they had spent two winters between September 1846 and April 1848. Franklin died on 11 June 1847 and the command had devolved on Francis Crozier. Abandoning the two vessels on 22 April 1848, the 105 survivors led by Crozier set out toward Back River. All perished during the journey. In 1860, Lady Franklin became the first woman to receive the founder's medal of the Royal Geographical Society for her efforts in organizing the search expeditions. She continued to travel extensively, accompanied by her niece by marriage, Sophia Cracroft, visiting Alaska, the United States, Hawaii, Canada, South America, China, Japan, India and Europe. She died on 18 July 1875 in London. Lady Franklin's surviving papers are held by the Scott Polar Research Institute and the National Maritime Museum holds a small collection of her personal letters.