before I start.  I do not expect to have time to go to Ballaarat before we leave.  I sent you by the last mail one or two small photographs of myself, and a locket for Bessy, which she asked me for some time ago.  I hope they arrived safely.  There was also a photograph of my father on paper.  I have to thank some one, name unknown, for the Totnes papers that I received by the last mail.  They appear to be well edited, and are decidedly a credit to the town.  I had heard of the paper before, but did not expect to find it so good as it is.  I suppose you have had a favourable view of the comet that has made its appearance lately.  It was visible here for about a week:  at first it was of a good size, but being so low down in the west, at sunset it could only be seen for a short time, and then it was comparatively dim, owing to the twilight.  Since then it has rapidly disappeared, moving in an east-south-easterly direction.  With you it was probably very fine.  With kind love, etc., etc.,

Believe me, my dear mother,

Your affectionate son,

William J. Wills.

CHAPTER 6.

THE EXPEDITION.

How the Expedition originated. 
Appointment of the Leader, Officers, and Party. 
Mr. Robert O’Hara Burke, Mr. G.J.  Landells, Mr. W.J.  Wills,
Dr. Herman Beckler, Dr. Ludwig Becker, etc. 
The Expedition starts from Melbourne on the 20th of August, 1860. 
Progress to Swan Hill. 
Discharge of Mr. Ferguson, the Foreman. 
Advance to Menindie. 
Resignation of Mr. Landells and Dr. Herman Beckler. 
Mr. Wills promoted to second in Command, and Mr. Wright to third.

The Exploring Expedition of 1860 originated thus.  A gentleman, whose name is still concealed, offered one thousand pounds as an inducement to the Government and other parties to come forward and raise funds for an exploration of the island continent, now known as Australia, but formerly as New Holland; the vast interior of which had been supposed to be a desert, an inland sea, or anything that a poetical imagination might suggest.  Attempts had been made, but always with insufficient means, and on too contracted a scale, to solve the problem.  It was now for Victoria to take up the question in earnest.  The 1000 pounds of the unknown contributor, increased to 2200 pounds by private subscriptions, with 6000 pounds voted by the colonial legislature, supplied in all a sum of above 9000 pounds for the prosecution of this great national enterprise.  Let Victoria, then, receive the honour so justly her due, for an undertaking only on a par with her characteristic spirit of advancement.  Any stranger who visits Melbourne, a place but of yesterday, must be struck by the magnificent scale and number of the public buildings.  Let him look at the Churches, Library, House of Parliament, University and Museum, Railways and Parks, Banks, Hotels, Theatres, Botanical Gardens, [Footnote:  Under the charge of that noble father of industry, Dr. Mueller.] etc., and then call to mind that all this is the growth of less than a quarter of a century, and that the existence of the colony dates from a period subsequent to the accession of our beloved Queen.