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 Firefly, which conveyed himself and party from Brisbane, was wrecked on Hardy’s Island.  However, a few days afterwards, they were relieved by Captain Norman of the Victoria.  Through the exertions of Captain Norman, his officers, and crew the Firefly was towed off the reef and the horses were reshipped and taken on to Carpentaria.  It had been supposed hitherto that the Albert River was not a good place for landing horses; but the Firefly, a vessel of 200 tons, went twenty miles up that river and the horses were landed without difficulty, in fact they walked ashore.  He was delighted to find so fine a country.  He had had twenty years experience of Australia, and he had never seen better country for stock than he found on the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria.  His mission was to search for Burke and his companions, but he could not shut his eyes to the fact that there was a fine country before them, and that country lying idle—­a country, which through the exertions of Burke and his companions, had been opened to the world. (Hear.) The pastoral interest was a great interest still in Australia; and he held it to be a great pity that the stock of