In the summer of 1858 he went down to Melbourne in consequence of a disagreement between Mr. Byerly and the Chief Commissioner of Land and Works at that time, Mr. Duffy.  He was not then employed in the regular survey, but took occasional contracts, under Mr. Hodgkinson, Deputy Surveyor General, who always expressed his admiration of his character.  A letter to his mother at this date says:—­

Melbourne, August 15th, 1858.

My dear mother,

I have again to plead guilty of the sin of omitting to write.  It is many months since I have heard from you, and as for Charley and the girls, they do not write at all.  I have just left the bush and am living, for the present, in town.  The change is pleasant, after being so long in the bush.  Melbourne is wonderfully altered since I last saw it.  There are some very fair buildings in it now, and things are a little cheaper than they used to be.  I am, of course, living in lodgings, and am fortunate in getting into a comfortable house; a private family with no other lodgers, and Mrs. H. takes almost as much care of me as you would.  It is quite strange, and at the same time amusing to me, to see her anxiety about my eating, drinking, catching cold, and all that sort of thing, as I have been so long unaccustomed to these little attentions.  I am sure if some of you who have never been away from home were to see how we live in the bush, you would not expect us to survive more than a few weeks, and yet it does us no harm whatever.  I passed through Ballaarat on my way down, and spent a few days with my father.  He was looking better than he used to be, very healthy, and not so stout.  It is astonishing how little he eats, and yet is always complaining of having eaten too much.  I expect it will be the same with me.  I have as good an appetite as ever, but I can live on much less food than other people can.  I hope Charley has the books I told him to get.  I send you with this a Victoria News Letter, which will save me the trouble of writing what I suppose you will care little to hear, so I have no more news to tell you; and with best love to—­etc. etc.,

Believe me, my dear mother,

Your affectionate son,

William J. Wills.

. . .

As I shall have occasion to allude to this letter in a subsequent portion of my narrative, I wish the latter part of it, with regard to eating, may be borne in mind.

CHAPTER 4.

My Son is appointed to the Magnetic Observatory at Melbourne, under Professor Neumayer.  His Rapid Advance in the Study of Magnetism and Mineralogy.  Letters to his Relatives at Home, descriptive of his Pursuits, Wishes, and Sentiments.  First suggestions of his Probable Employment on the Exploring Expedition.