(Footnote.  Macdonald Range of Lieutenant Grey, considered by him 1400 feet high.)

BRECKNOCK HARBOUR.

Part of this rich land extended to within five miles of the south-eastern part of Brecknock Harbour.”  The proximity of such fertile land to this fine port was of great importance, and induced us to consider it a great addition to our discoveries in north-western Australia.  Under this impression, I trust the following brief description of it may not be without its value in the eyes of some of my readers.  Brecknock Harbour is six miles deep, extending gradually from a width of one and three quarter miles at the entrance to five at the head, and has a depth of water varying from five to seven fathoms, with a soft muddy bottom.  The few observations on the tides our short visit afforded, make the time of high-water, on full and change day, about half an hour before noon, when the rise is nearly thirty feet, and the strength of stream in the entrance nearly two knots.

LIEUTENANT GREY.

April 16.

Although very anxious to learn if they had in the ship heard anything of Lieutenant Grey’s party, still I did not like to break through my usual rule of indulging in a thorough cleansing of men and boats, before making our appearance on board, we therefore did not make an early start.  In clearing Roger Strait, we heard the cry of a native, who was seen with the aid of a spy-glass, perched on a distant cliff, watching our movements.  I scarcely believed it possible to have heard his shrill voice so far.  We reached the ship, lying in Port George the Fourth, early in the afternoon, and found on board a most welcome addition to our little party, in the person of Lieutenant Grey.  I met him again, with feelings of the greatest satisfaction; for though none were, perhaps, fully aware of it, a feeling of despondency as to the fate of himself and his companions, had more than once occurred to me, which each day’s delay much increased, and which this agreeable rencounter at once effectually removed.  Poor fellow! gaunt misery had worn him to the bone; and I believe, that in any other part of the world, not myself alone, but Lieutenant Grey’s most intimate friends, would have stared at him without the least approach to recognition.  Badly wounded, and half starved, he did, indeed, present a melancholy contrast to the vigorous and determined enthusiast we had parted from a few months before at the Cape, to whom danger seemed to have a charm, distinct from success.

No sooner had we ascertained the safety of the rest of the party, than, as might be supposed, we fell into a long and animated conversation upon the success of the expedition.  They had discovered a river, called by them the Glenelg, and a tract of fine country, which, from Lieutenant Grey’s description, I instantly recognised as being the same Mr. Helpman had seen from Brecknock Harbour.