accomplished his mission, the benefits of
which cannot be too highly appreciated by the whole of the
inhabitants of the Australian Colonies; and which must secure to
his future memory, under the unfortunate circumstances by which he
was sacrificed, not only honour and fame, but the sympathy, love,
and respect of his fellow-men in all parts of Her Majesty's
dominions, and in every civilized country throughout the world.
These considerations the Council trusts you will endeavour to bring
to your aid in overcoming the intense grief with which you must be
afflicted.

I am, sir,

In the most heartfelt sorrow,

Yours very truly,

W.B. RODIER,

TOWN CLERK.

. . .

A proclamation in a supplement to one of the Melbourne Gazettes,
towards the end of November, announced that the Governor, with the
advice of the Executive Council, had directed that the portions of
Main-street, Ballaarat East, lying between the Yarrowee River and
Princess Street, shall hereafter be designated Wills Street, in
memory of the companion of Burke.

The two following letters, written by Devonians settled in
Victoria, appeared in the Totnes Weekly Times:--

Batesford, Geelong, 25th November, 1861.

DEAR SIR,

I have sent you by this mail the sad history of poor Burke
and Wills, which I am sure will be read with painful interest by all
your fellow-townsmen. The Melbourne papers have been very severe on
the Exploration Committee, and it was my intention to have sent you
copies of the Argus, from 4th to 9th November, but they cannot now
be procured at any price. My brother will lend you his, if you
desire it.

Nothing that has occurred here for many years has thrown such a
gloom over the whole of the Australian Colonies. We are generally,
perhaps, a cold, unfeeling people, but there are few whose hearts
have not been touched by this sad event.

It is scarcely possible that you, accustomed as you are to the
green pastures, the shady lanes, and crystal springs of dear old
Devon, can realize to the full extent the sickening hardships they
had to endure, or the cruel disappointment under which even they at
last gave way. I cannot conceive a situation more heartrending than
theirs must have been on their return to Cooper's Creek, to find
the depot abandoned. They had succeeded in accomplishing the
glorious feat which so many brave men had tried in vain to
accomplish; they had endured hardships which might make the
stoutest heart quail; they