d, but I do not vouch for its truth. When under surgical
treatment for his impaired vision, it was said that the operators
in consultation decided on an experiment to test the powers of the
retina to receive light, and in so doing blinded the other eye. Mr.
Walsh went to England, having had a sum granted to him by the
Victoria government. Whether he has recovered his sight I know not.]

Mr. Howitt being equipped and despatched, I returned to Ballaarat,
somewhat relieved, after my fortnight's anxious labours with the
committee; but on the evening of Friday, the 5th of July, I was
startled by reading the following statement in the Melbourne Weekly
Age:--

THE NEWS FROM THE EXPLORING EXPEDITION.

The unexpected news of Mr. Burke's expedition of discovery, which we
publish this morning, is positively disastrous. The entire company
of explorers has been dissipated out of being, like dewdrops before
the sun. Some are dead, some are on their way back, one has come to
Melbourne, and another has made his way to Adelaide, whilst only
four of the whole party have gone forward from the depot at
Cooper's Creek upon the main journey of the expedition to explore
the remote interior. The four consist of the two chief officers and
two men; namely, Mr. Burke, the leader, and Mr. Wills, the surveyor
and second in command of the party, together with the men King and
Gray. This devoted little band left Cooper's Creek for the far
interior on the 16th of December last, more than six months ago,
taking with them six camels and one horse, and only twelve weeks'
provisions. From Mr. Burke's despatch we learn that he meant to
proceed in the first place to Eyre's Creek; and from that place he
would make an effort to explore the country northward in the
direction of the Gulf of Carpentaria. He states also that he meant
to return to Cooper's Creek within three months at the farthest;
that is, about the middle of March. Before starting on this route
he had already tried a passage northward between Gregory's and
Stuart's tracks; but he found this passage impracticable, from want
of water. He does not state anything that would enable us to form
an opinion of what his intentions might be after leaving Eyre's
Creek, beyond his saying that he meant to push northwards towards
the Gulf. Neither does it appear that he left any instructions or
directions upon the matter with Mr. Brahe. He merely informed the
latter that he meant to run no risks, and that