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in her in the West Indies for two years under the late Admiral G
Graves. In 1835 he was appointed midshipman in an expedition
consisting of the "Sulphur" and "Starling," fitting out under the
late Admiral F. W. Beechey, for exploration and survey in the Pacific.
He served for five years in the "Sulphur," chiefly under Sir Edward
Belcher, on the surveys of the West Coasts of South and North
America, the Pacific Islands, New Guinea, and the Moluccas, and was
then transferred as Senior Executive Officer to the "Starling,"
Captain Kellett. He was present in her during the first Chinese
War at the taking of the Bogne forts and the capture of Canton.
The ship returned to England in 1842.
After three months iu the "Caledonia," under the flag of Sir David Milne, he was, on July 12, 1842, promoted to Lieutenant, and appointed to the "Philomel," fitting for the survey of the Falkland Islands, under Captain Bartholomew Sulivan. The "Philomel" was, however, diverted from this survey to take part in the operations against Rosas, the President of the Republic of Bnenos Ayres, in 1845-46. Lieutenant Richards was present at the different actions in the Parana and the Uruguay, and commanded the boats of the "Philomel" at the cutting out of a schooner at night under a heavy fire of musketry from the banks of the Uruguay, and received the thanks of the senior officer, Sir C. Hotham, on the quarter deck of the "Gorgon."
He was senior lieutenant at the attack of the forts at Obligado in the Parana on November 18, 1845, and commanded the small-arm men of the "Philomel" at the storming of the batteries and cap- ture of the guns which were taken on board the ships. On his return to England, in June, 1846, he was promoted to Commander from the date of the action.
In 1847 he was appointed to the "Acheron," Captain J. Lort Stokes, destined for the survey of New Zealand, and was employed for four years on this service. The existing charts of this colony are mainly the result of this survey.
Returning ome, in 1852, Commander Richards volunteered for, and was imnediately appointed to, an expedition fitting out for the Arctic Regions to continue the search for the missing ships of Sir John Franklin, and in April of that year sailed as Commander of the "Assistance," and second to Sir Edward Belcher in the Welling ton Channel division of the squadron
Whilst on this service he conducted several extended sledging expeditions, travelling more than 2,000 miles over the frozen sea, mapping many unknown coasts, and being absent from the ships on such duty for a period of, on the whole, seven months. Commander Richards' unvarying good humour and good fellowship did much to render this expedition a success under very trying circumstances
