In conclusion, I would just remark that the continent has been traversed from north to south, but there is yet the important feat of crossing from east to west.  For whom is this wreath reserved?  Is it to be won by a Totnes or an Ashburton man, or one from this country?  Time will decide.

I remain,

Yours truly,

John Lavington Evans.

. . .

A correspondent to the Bendigo Advertiser concluded a long letter with the subjoined paragraph:—­

Poor Wills, the martyr, whose history of the journey is all that is left to us, is deserving of a nation’s tears:  his youth—­his enduring patience—­his evenness of temper, which must have been sorely tried—­his lively disposition even in extremities—­his devotion to his leader—­all tend to stamp him as the real master-mind of the expedition, and as such let Victoria be justly proud of him—­let no false delicacy keep the memory of the noble youth from the pinnacle it is so justly entitled to.

. . .

The Mayor of Totnes, J. Derry, Esquire, in compliance with a requisition from many of the principal inhabitants, convened a meeting at the Guildhall on the 31st of January, 1862, which was most numerously attended.  Eloquent speeches were made, extracts from the letters of Mr. Watson, and Mr. Lavington Evans, were read, and the following resolutions were unanimously passed: 

1.  That this Meeting is of opinion that a Memorial should be erected in Totnes to the late Mr. William John Wills, who perished at Cooper’s Creek on his homeward journey, after, with three others, having for the first time successfully crossed the great Island Continent of Australia.

Perhaps when the subscriptions were received they would be able to decide what form the memorial should assume.  It had been suggested that a tablet should be placed in the church, but he, Mr. Cuming, the mover, rather demurred to this:  the church would not be a conspicuous place for it; and as many would subscribe who did not attend the parish church, he thought the Plains, or some other public site, should be chosen, but it would be well to leave this matter for the present an open question.

2.  That a committee be now formed to solicit subscriptions for the purpose of carrying into effect the last resolution, and that such committee consist of the following gentlemen:—­The Mayor, Messrs. Bentall, Kellock, Cuming, Presswell, Heath, Windeatt, Watson, Michelmore, Condy, Clarke, Ough, Endle; with power to add to their number.

3.  That as soon as the subscription list is completed, and the Devonshire men resident in the colony have communicated their wishes and intentions to the committee, according to the intimations expressed by them, the committee be requested to call a meeting of the subscribers to decide on the character of the memorial to be erected.

The subscriptions at Totnes have been very liberal, and are still open.  Mr. Watson and his family contributed most liberally.  The Duke of Somerset gave ten pounds.  Each of the members, Admiral Mitchell, and various others five pounds; but the character of the monument has not yet been decided on.  At Ashburton Grammar School a memorial has been erected, Mr. Lavington Evans and his brother contributing ten pounds from Australia.