to last for centuries.  I arrived at Melbourne on Saturday, the 16th of June.  On Monday, the 18th, I called on the Honourable David Wilkie, honorary treasurer to the committee.  I found him issuing circulars for a meeting to consider what was to be done.  My heart sank within me when I found that no measures whatever had yet been taken.  I called on those I knew amongst the committee to entreat their attendance.  I hastened to Professor Neumayer, with reference to Mr. Lockhart’s letter, to ask if it had been arranged with Mr. Burke that a vessel should be despatched round the coast to the Gulf to meet him there.  His answer was that a conversation on that point had taken place between Mr. Burke, my son, and himself, but that Mr. Burke had enjoined him (the professor) not to move in it, for that, if so disposed, he would himself apply to the committee by letter.

A meeting took place on the evening of the 18th.  The opinions were as numerous as the members in attendance.  Quot homines tot sententiae.  One talked of financial affairs, another of science, a third of geography, a fourth of astronomy, and so on.  A chapter in the Circumlocution Office painfully unfolded itself.  Mr. Ligar rather rudely asked me what I was in such alarm about; observed that “there was plenty of time; no news was good news; and I had better go home and mind my own business.”  I felt hurt, naturally enough, some of my readers may suppose, and replied that had I not been convinced something was doing, I should scarcely have remained quiet at Ballaarat for three months.  A gentleman, with whom I had no previous acquaintance, seeing my anxiety, and feeling that the emergency called for immediate action, appealed to them warmly, and the result was a decision, nemine contradicente, that it was time to move, if active and trustworthy agents could be found.  I offered my services for one, but the meeting adjourned without coming to any decision, and was followed by other indefinite meetings and adjournments de die in diem.

On the following day, Dr. Macadam, Honorary Secretary, attended (the press of the morning had incited movement) and announced the welcome intelligence that Mr. A. Howitt was in Melbourne; that he had seen him; that he was ready to go on the shortest notice.  So far all was good.  But now I saw the full misery and imbecility of leaving a large body to decide what should have been delegated to a quorum of three at the most.  The meetings took place regularly, but the same members seldom attended twice.  New illusions and conceits suggested themselves as often as different committee-men found it convenient to deliver their opinions and vouchsafe their presence.  Let me here specially except Ferdinand Mueller, M.D. and F.R.S., of London, who though a foreigner, a Dane by birth, I believe, has won by his talents that honourable distinction.  His energy in all he undertakes is untiring and unsurpassable.  On this occasion he was ever active and unremitting, while his sympathy