Burke’s despatch from Torowoto, and in not urging Mr. Wright’s departure from the Darling, committed errors of a serious nature.  A means of knowledge of the delay of the party at Menindie was in possession of the committee, not indeed by direct communication to that effect, but through the receipt of letters from Drs. Becker and Beckler, at various dates up to the end of November;—­without, however, awakening the committee to a sense of the vital importance of Mr. Burke’s request in that despatch that he should ’be soon followed up;’—­or to a consideration of the disastrous consequences which would be likely to result, and did unfortunately result, from the fatal inactivity and idling of Mr. Wright and his party on the Darling.”

During the month of March, the Argus newspaper called attention to the matter, and a letter, signed Lockhart Moreton, expressed itself thus “What has become of the expedition?  Surely the committee are not alive to the necessity of sending some one up?  Burke has by this time crossed the continent, or is lost.  What has become of Wright?  What is he doing?”

Then came a letter from Menindie, expressing strong opinions on the state of affairs, but flattering to my son.  It was evident to me that these gentlemen knew or thought more than they felt disposed to state directly in words.  I have already mentioned that Mr. Burke, while within the districts where newspapers could reach him, had been harassed, from the time of his appointment, by remarks in the public prints, evidently proceeding from parties and their friends who thought the honour of leading this grand procession more properly belonged to themselves.  Being a gentleman of sensitive feelings, these observations touched him to the quick.  When he was no longer within reach, they still continued, but he found defenders in the all-powerful Argus.  I am sorry to say, for the sake of human nature, that there were some who went so far as to wish no successful result to his enterprise.

Believing and trusting that these remarks of Mr. Moreton and others, would stir up the committee to take some steps to ascertain if Mr. Wright was moving in his duty, I contented myself with writing to the Magnetic Observatory, to learn from Professor Neumayer what was going on.  He being absent on scientific tours, I received answers from his locum tenens, to the effect that within a month certain information was expected.  The committee I did not trouble, as their Honorary Secretary had deigned no reply to letters I had previously sent.

In the month of June, unable to bear longer suspense, with a small pack on my shoulders and a stick in my hand, I walked from Ballaarat to Melbourne, a distance of seventy-five miles, stopping for a couple of nights on the way at the house of a kind and hospitable friend, Dugald McPherson, Esquire, J.P., at Bungel-Tap.  This gentleman has built a substantial mansion there, in the Elizabethan style, likely, from its solidity,