She served some time in China (losing her original commanding officer) before being ordered to New Zealand in September 1845.

She was damaged by a storm en route, necessitating repairs to her engine and boiler and other parts of the ship.

[6] Driver set off east from New Zealand for her return journey to England via Cape Horn on 28 January 1847.

[3] On 11 March 1850 she was docked in Victoria Harbour to witness Richard Blanshard assume the Governorship of the newly formed Colony of Vancouver Island, and issued a seventeen-gun salute.

[7] She was wrecked on 3 August 1861 on Mayaguana Island, the most easterly of the Bahamas, in the West Indies,[1] during a voyage from Bermuda to Jamaica.