Hodgkinson, we have seen, was despatched by Wright to Melbourne,
from Menindie, on the 19th of December, with letters assuming to be
written by himself, but, in fact, by Hodgkinson. Whether the
committee knew this does not appear: if they did not, here was one
reason for confirming Wright's appointment. Hodgkinson reached
Melbourne on the morning of the 30th, riding nearly four hundred
miles in eleven days. A meeting of the committee was called on
Monday, the 31st, at which his Excellency attended, and Hodgkinson
started on his return the same evening. This certainly was
business. Nearly double the sum that he had asked was allowed to
Wright, in cash. From the 5th of November, he lingered at Menindie,
until the 19th of December, doing nothing. He says he was waiting
for an answer to a letter he had previously sent. Dr. Macadam, the
Secretary, denies that he ever received such a letter. Wright is
here unworthy of credit, for he could not write. This was extracted
from himself, after considerable fencing, in his examination before
the Commission on the 12th of December, 1861:--

MR. WM. WRIGHT further examined.

Question 1565. There is evidently some discrepancy between
the statement that you wrote yourself on the 5th of November, when
you came back, and the statement of Dr. Macadam that no such letter
was ever received. This letter of yours of the 19th of December, is
it written by yourself?--The one I sent myself?

1566. The one of the 19th of December, is it in your own
handwriting?--The one that is missing?

1567. No; this one [handing a paper to the witness]?--No, it is
not; Hodgkinson did all the writing.

1568. Did he write the one that is stated to be missing?--No, he
did not.

1569. You wrote that one?--I wrote that with my own hand. I just
wrote a few words.

1570. Could your memory serve you sufficiently to write the purport
of that letter that is missing?--It would not.

1571. Nothing approaching to it?--I never thought for a moment of
keeping a copy of it, or of giving it to Hodgkinson to keep a copy.

1572. Have you no recollection of the general purport of it?--I
just mentioned that Mr. Burke had appointed me to take the party
out and take the command; that is about the heads of it.

1573. Have you any objection to write a letter similar to that one,
as nearly as you can remember it?--No. I write a very indifferent
hand.

1574. Which was the reason, it is to be presumed, why you got some
one