and kindness to myself have never varied from the first day of our acquaintance.  The Honourable David Wilkie, at whose private house we met nightly, deserves the highest credit for expediting the business, which ended in the despatch of the party under Mr. Howitt.  Mr. Heales also, then Chief Secretary for the Colony, promised assistance in money, and the use of the Victoria steamer, under Captain Norman, to be sent round to the Gulf of Carpentaria as soon as she could be got ready.

The Melbourne Argus, of June 19th, contained the following leading article:—­

The public will be glad to learn that the Exploration Committee of the Royal Society have at length resolved to set about partly doing what in April last we urged upon them.  A small party is to be despatched to Cooper’s Creek with means to supply necessaries to the Exploring Expedition, and to make all possible efforts to ascertain the whereabouts of Mr. Burke.  It is well this should be done, and that quickly, for we some eight months since learned that Mr. Burke had provisions calculated to last his party for five months only.  But this is not all that should be done.  When referring to this subject two months ago, basing our calculations on the knowledge we then had—­and it has since received no increase—­we reckoned that Mr. Burke, who left Menindie on the 19th of October last, would reach Cooper’s Creek by the beginning of November, and that if he determined upon making for the Gulf of Carpentaria, he might be expected to reach the north coast by about the middle of March last.  If his provisions enabled him to do this, it is unlikely they would suffice him for a return journey southwards, or an expedition westward.  We cannot think, then, that a party sent to Cooper’s Creek should be regarded as sufficient.  Why should not the Victoria be utilized?  Were she sent round the west coast to the point Mr. Burke might be expected to strike—­if, instead of bearing north, after reaching the centre, he has turned westward, as we anticipated he might do—­he would possibly be heard of there.  If not, the Victoria would be still so far on her way to the Gulf of Carpentaria—­the only other goal he is likely to aim at reaching.  Two expeditions, therefore, should at once be despatched—­the party to Cooper’s Creek, and the colonial steamer round the coast.  Let it not be said to our disgrace that anything has been neglected which money or energy could have done to insure the safety of the men who have devoted themselves to a work in which the whole civilized world is interested, and of which, if now carried on with success, this colony will reap all the glory.  It is a work which all men must have at heart, whether as lovers of their fellow-men, of science, or of their country.  Let it not be marred by aught of niggardliness or supineness.  The work must be well and quickly done.  The progress of Mr. Stuart and of Mr. Burke is now watched with the warmest interest and sympathy by men of science in Europe.  Mr. Stuart is well and generously cared for by the South Australian Government and people.  What will be said if Victoria alone, by parsimony or apathy, allowed her Exploring Expedition to fail or her public servants to suffer unnecessary hardships, or even death?