anticipate; and that if the little party has not succumbed to these difficulties before now, they are to be sought for either on the northern coast, by a vessel to be sent there for that purpose, or in the country towards the Gulf of Carpentaria, by an overland party despatched in that direction.  Indeed, both attempts should be made simultaneously, and with the least possible delay.  The present period of the year is most propitious for the inland journey, both on account of the abundance of water and the moderate temperature incident to the winter season.  There should not be a moment lost, then, in forwarding this portion of the search; and the coasting portion of it should be commenced as soon after as possible.

The sufferings to which the unhappy men are exposed will be understood from Mr. Wright’s report of what befell the party under his charge.  They were prostrated by scurvy, as well as being additionally enfeebled by the irregular supply of water.  And at length four of their number, worn out by their sufferings, perished by a wretched, lingering death in the wilderness.  There is something deeply melancholy in such a fact.  Poor Becker!  He had scarcely the physique for encountering the toils of such an expedition.  However, regrets over the past are vain.  What is of importance now is to save the remainder of the party, if possible.  And perhaps the best way of opening up the search inland would be for the committee to avail themselves of Mr. Howitt’s offer to proceed at once, with an enlarged party, including Mr. Brahe, to Cooper’s Creek, and thence to Eyre’s Creek, and northwards towards the coast, should they not previously have encountered Mr. Burke and his companions on their return.

It is somewhat disheartening to find that when Mr. Wright returned for the last time to the Cooper’s Creek depot, namely, so recently as the first week in May—­that is, five months after Burke set out on his final excursion—­he did not think it necessary to make any examination of the country, as far at least as Eyre’s Creek.  It might naturally be supposed that on finding, by examining the concealed stores, that Mr. Burke had not revisited the depot, Mr. Wright would endeavour to make some search for him, to the extent of a few days’ journey at all events.  Before turning their back finally upon the solitude where their companions were wandering, one last search might have well been made.  But perhaps the disabled condition of the men, horses, and camels may be taken to account for this seeming neglect.  It may not be too late even now, however, to make amends for this strange oversight, by hastening on Mr. Howitt’s party.  The whole expedition appears to have been one prolonged blunder throughout; and it is to be hoped that the rescuing party may not be mismanaged and retarded in the same way as the unfortunate original expedition was.  The savans have made a sad mess of the whole affair; let them, if possible, retrieve themselves in this its last sad phase.