early youth. He fell a victim to errors not
originating with himself; but he resigned his life without a
murmur, having devoted it to science and his country. His death,
with the circumstances attending it, furnishes an application of
the lines of a favourite poet, which he often quoted with
admiration:

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And departing leave behind us
Footsteps on the sands of time;
Footprints that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er Life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwreck'd brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

The following pages are the only tribute a fond and mourning father
can offer to the memory of one who, while living, merited and
reciprocated his warmest affections.

WILLIAM WILLS.

London, January, 1863.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER 1.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

Birth.--Infancy.--Boyhood and Early Education.--Youthful Traits of
Character.

CHAPTER 2.

My two Sons leave England for Australia.--Incidents of the Voyage.
--Extracts from Journal.--Arrival at Port Phillip.--Melbourne.
--Employed as Shepherds in the Interior.--Mode of Life.--Melbourne
in 1853.--Advice to Immigrants.--Descriptive Letters from the Bush.

CHAPTER 3.

I arrive in Australia.--Join my two Sons at their Sheep-station.
--Return to Melbourne and Remove to Ballaarat.--Visit to Mr. Skene.
--My son studies Surveying.--His Rapid Proficiency.--Appointed to
take Charge of a Party.--Letters on various Subjects to his Mother
and Brother at Home.

CHAPTER 4.

My Son is appointed to the Magnetic Observatory at Melbourne, under
Professor Neumayer.--His Rapid Advance in the Study of Magnetism
and Mineralogy.--Letters to his Relatives at Home, descriptive of
his Pursuits, Wishes, and Sentiments.--First suggestions of his
Probable Employment on the Exploring Expedition.

CHAPTER 5.

Postponement of the Exploring Expedition projected at the beginning
of 1860.--My Son's Letter to his Sister on going into Society.--Mr.
Birnie's Opinion of him, and Extract from his Lecture.--Letter from
William to his Mother on Religious Views and Definitions of Faith.
--His last Communications to his family at Home, before the
Departure of the Expedition.

CHAPTER 6.
THE EXPEDITION.

How the Expedition originated.--Appointment of the Leader,
Officers, and Party.--Mr. Robert O'Hara Burke, Mr. G.J. Landells,
Mr. W.J. Wills, Dr. Herman Beckler, Dr. Ludwig Becker, etc.--The
Expedi