river on the previous
day, reached the junction of the Barkly with the Albert River, near which
we found the tree marked by Mr. Gregory and Captain Chimmo, the former on
the left and the latter on the right bank; afterwards having marked lines
of trees, and marked on trees directions to lead the exploring parties to
the depot, we returned to it.

On the 15th, intending to start tomorrow on the inland expedition, I had
all the horses, in number twenty-three, brought up, the two weak ones
having died since our arrival at the Albert River, besides the five I
mentioned as having died on the voyage. We saddled and packed a few of
the wildest of the horses* to make them more tractable tomorrow, when I
hope, as I have mentioned, to start on our journey.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

(Signed) W. LANDSBOROUGH,

Commander of the Victorian and Queensland Land Expedition.

(*Footnote. The freshness of the horses was surprising: because so soon
after the hardships of their voyage, and the destruction of their forage
on board the Firefly by seawater, they were chiefly sustained, from
Hardy's Island till landing at Carpentaria, by grass cut by our party:
this was a task of some difficulty, as we had no implements for doing so
excepting our knives.)

...

(NUMBER 4.)

(COPY.)

NUMBER 1.

Albert River, October 18 1861.

To Captain Norman, H.M.C.S. Victoria.

Sir,

I have the honour to inform you that I have much pleasure, after the
conversation that we had with regard to Lieutenant Woods, in applying to
you for that gentleman to accompany me in the expedition, of which I have
the command, in search of Mr. Burke and his companions; and I feel that
for the unsurveyed western country in the route which I am instructed to
take, I have much more necessity for the services of that officer in an
astronomical point of view than Mr. Walker can have.

I have got a sextant for taking the latitude, but I have not a
chronometer, as Mr. Gregory thought the jolting it would get should
render it useless.

I hope, therefore, for the cause of science, etc., you will reconsider
the conversation I have had with you on the subject.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

(Signed) W. LANDSBOROUGH,

Commander of the Victorian and Queensland Land Expedition.

...

(COPY.)

(NUMBER 1.)

Victoria, off the Albert River, October 19 1861.

Sir,

In reply to your letter of yesterday, co