eits
suggested themselves as often as different committee-men found it
convenient to deliver their opinions and vouchsafe their presence.
Let me here specially except Ferdinand Mueller, M.D. and F.R.S., of
London, who though a foreigner, a Dane by birth, I believe, has won
by his talents that honourable distinction. His energy in all he
undertakes is untiring and unsurpassable. On this occasion he was
ever active and unremitting, while his sympathy and kindness to
myself have never varied from the first day of our acquaintance.
The Honourable David Wilkie, at whose private house we met nightly,
deserves the highest credit for expediting the business, which
ended in the despatch of the party under Mr. Howitt. Mr. Heales
also, then Chief Secretary for the Colony, promised assistance in
money, and the use of the Victoria steamer, under Captain Norman,
to be sent round to the Gulf of Carpentaria as soon as she could be
got ready.

The Melbourne Argus, of June 19th, contained the following leading
article:--

The public will be glad to learn that the Exploration Committee
of the Royal Society have at length resolved to set about partly
doing what in April last we urged upon them. A small party is to be
despatched to Cooper's Creek with means to supply necessaries to
the Exploring Expedition, and to make all possible efforts to
ascertain the whereabouts of Mr. Burke. It is well this should be
done, and that quickly, for we some eight months since learned that
Mr. Burke had provisions calculated to last his party for five
months only. But this is not all that should be done. When
referring to this subject two months ago, basing our calculations
on the knowledge we then had--and it has since received no
increase--we reckoned that Mr. Burke, who left Menindie on the 19th
of October last, would reach Cooper's Creek by the beginning of
November, and that if he determined upon making for the Gulf of
Carpentaria, he might be expected to reach the north coast by about
the middle of March last. If his provisions enabled him to do this,
it is unlikely they would suffice him for a return journey
southwards, or an expedition westward. We cannot think, then, that
a party sent to Cooper's Creek should be regarded as sufficient.
Why should not the Victoria be utilized? Were she sent round the
west coast to the point Mr. Burke might be expected to strike--if,
instead of bearing north, after reaching the centre, he has turned
westward, a