med of these gentlemen was physically
deficient, advanced in years, and his mode of life in Melbourne had
not been such as to make up for his want of youth. I do not mean to
imply by this that he indulged in irregular or dissipated habits.
He possessed a happy gift of delineating natural objects with the
pencil, but died before passing the boundaries of civilization,
from causes unconnected with want or fatigue. Dr. Herman Beckler,
who has since returned to his native country, was neither a man of
courage, energy, nor of medical experience. He resigned when Mr.
Landells did, and, as will be seen, for a very poor reason. His
place should have been immediately supplied; for had any one worth
a straw been sent, by his position he must have been third in
command instead of Wright, a more ignorant being than whom could
not have been extracted from the bush. He was scarcely able to
write his name.

The following is a copy of the memorandum of agreement, to which
all the members of the Exploration party attached their signatures:
--

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT,

Made the eighteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and sixty, between the Honourable David
Elliott Wilkie, as treasurer of the Exploration Committee of the
Royal Society, Melbourne, of the one part, and the several other
persons whose names are hereto subscribed, of the other part. The
said persons forming an expedition about to explore the interior of
Australia under Robert O'Hara Burke, hereby agree with the said
David Elliott Wilkie faithfully to discharge the special duties
described opposite to their respective names, and also generally to
perform whatever in the opinion of the said Robert O'Hara Burke, as
leader, or in the event of his death, in the opinion of the leader
for the time being, may be necessary to promote the success of the
expedition: and they hereby further agree to place themselves
unreservedly under the orders of the leader, recognising George
James Landells as second; and William John Wills as third;
and their right of succession in the order thus stated. In
consideration of the above services being efficiently discharged,
the said David Elliott Wilkie, as treasurer, and on behalf of the
said committee, hereby agrees to pay the said persons the salaries,
at the respective rates set opposite their names; such salaries to
be paid by monthly instalments, not exceeding one-half the amount
then due, on a certific