ll it. I trust on that occasion the public funeral
promised to those brave men will be carried out with the enthusiasm which
was manifested a year ago, and that active exertions will be used by all
concerned to raise an appropriate monument to their memory. (Hear, hear.)
I have now great pleasure in handing to King, on the part of the Royal
Geographical Society of London, this watch, which bears within, as he
will find, an inscription setting forth that it was "Presented by the
President and Council of the Royal Geographical Society of London to John
King, for his meritorious conduct in the expedition under the lamented
Burke and Wills." (Great applause.)

John King, who seemed overpowered with emotion, replied in the following
terms:

May it please your Excellency, it affords me much grateful satisfaction
to receive this watch, which the Royal Geographical Society of London has
been pleased to present to me in recognition of my services during the
late Victorian Exploring Expedition, and particularly to the lamented Mr.
Burke in his last moments. In these particulars, your Excellency, I
consider that I simply did my duty--a duty that I would perform over
again if I were similarly placed. (Applause.) Still it is a source of
grateful satisfaction to me to know that our achievement has been
properly appreciated by the British Government and the great scientific
bodies, and also that my humble services have been appreciated by the
Royal Geographical Society, and by His Grace the Duke of Newcastle. I
beg, through your Excellency, most respectfully to thank His Grace and
the Royal Geographical Society for their recognition of my services. Such
recognition will always convince me that no man under this or any
government will do his duty without meeting his reward. (Great applause.)

...

His Excellency then introduced Mr. Landsborough to the meeting, and
intimated that that gentleman would give a narrative of his expedition.
His Excellency also introduced two aboriginals who had accompanied Mr.
Landsborough from Carpentaria.

Mr. Landsborough said he had much pleasure in meeting the Royal Society
and he was much gratified with the reception that had been accorded him.
His expedition had been the second to cross the continent of Australia
from Carpentaria, and he had been fortunate in finding a good road.
Through the liberality of the Royal Society he had a first rate outfit at
Brisbane. Unfortunately the transport Firefl