s examination should be conducted;
that the inquiry had a more important object than gratifying sheer
curiosity; and when he goes before the Royal Commission next
Thursday they will find him a very good witness. The deepest
sympathy was expressed by the meeting, and it will be most
sincerely felt by every soul to whom his extraordinary history will
become known.

The Exploration Committee held a private meeting on the 29th, at
which King was present. He there stated that the tide rose and fell
six inches at the part of the river where he was left by Messrs.
Burke and Wills when they proceeded on foot with the object of
discovering the sea. The gallantry of King is amply testified to by
some memoranda in the handwriting of poor Burke--the last he ever
wrote. The documents were contained in a pocket-book which the
dying explorer committed to the care of the survivor, charging him
to deliver it into the hands of Sir William Stawell. This last
desire of his unfortunate commander was most scrupulously observed
by King. The manuscript ran as follows:--

I hope that we shall be done justice to. We have fulfilled our task,
but we have been abandoned. We have not been followed up as we
expected, and the depot party abandoned their post.

R. O'HARA BURKE.

Cooper's Creek, June 26th.

King has behaved nobly. I hope that he will be properly cared for.
He comes up the creek in accordance with my request.

R. O'HARA BURKE.

Cooper's Creek, June 28th.

Again, the next entry says:--

King has behaved nobly. He has stayed with me to the last,
and placed the pistol in my hand, leaving me lying on the surface as
I wished.

R. O'H. BURKE.

Cooper's Creek, June 28th.

. . .

The following sketch of the journey across the continent
of Australia, by Messrs. Burke and Wills, in a letter from the
Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Barclay, to Sir Roderick Murchison,
was read before the Royal Geographical Society in London on the
15th of January, 1862, and was ordered to be printed in their
proceedings. The letter also appeared in the Times of the 15th of
January:--

MY DEAR SIR RODERICK,

Knowing the interest you have ever taken in the exploration of
the interior of Australia, and that you still occupy the post of
Vice-President of the Royal Geographical Society, it was my
intention to address you fully by the present mail-steamer
respecting the Victorian expedition under Burke and Wills, which
you will learn has achieved