Youngera, November 8.

My dear sir,

Bad news from the expedition since I left them at McPherson’s.  I really do not know what to think of it.  I send you herewith a letter from Mr. Wills, descriptive of the whole affair, and give you authority to do with it according to your views.  I am right in the bush, and have just met with Captain Cadell, who is so kind as to take this to you, in order that you might have a chance of hearing both sides of the question.  Landells I spoke to last night; and, according to his statement, of course he is in the right.

I shall be in town in three or four weeks.  Excuse my writing.

Sincerely yours,

Neumayer.

Alfred Selwyn, Esquire, Government Geologist.

. . .

Menindie, October 16, 1860.

My dear professor,

I suppose you are by this time safe in town again.  Great things have occurred since you left; in fact, I have so much to tell you that I do not know where to begin.

That Mr. Landells has resigned, and gives over his things to-morrow, is news at which you will not be much surprised; but that Dr. Beckler has been foolish enough to follow his example, for no better reason than that he did not like the way in which Mr. Burke spoke to Mr. Landells, will I think rather astonish you.  I shall now give you a full account of the whole matter, so that you may be in a position to make any statement that you may deem necessary in explanation of the proceedings.

It will be necessary for me to remind you that when you left Kornpany, Mr. Landells was there with the camels, for the purpose of bringing on some of the heavy goods to lighten the waggons.  This he did, and reached the camp at Bilbarka on Tuesday, the 2nd instant, with about three tons, whilst Mr. Burke went round by the lower road with the waggons and horses; he was obliged to take the latter with him, greatly to their disadvantage, because Mr. Landells would not assume the responsibility of bringing them with the camels.  In bringing the things from Kornpany, one of Coppin’s camels fell, having at the time on his back a load of upwards of 4 hundred-weight.  The result of this fall was, according to Mr. Landells’ report, a dislocation of the shoulder, for which he said nothing could be done, so that the camel has been left behind a perfect cripple.  I have dashed the above words because I myself do not believe it to be a dislocation, but only a strain; but that’s merely my idea; Mr. L. ought to know best.  Certain it is that the poor brute hobbled nearly twenty miles after us on Thursday last, and I think that is rather a good pull for one with a dislocation of the shoulder joint.

On Thursday, the 4th instant, our own two waggons came up to McPherson’s, and in the evening Mr. Landells and I went down to the station to post some letters.  On the way, Mr. L. made many remarks about Mr. Burke and his arrangements that were quite uncalled for.  He told me, amongst other things, that Mr. B. had no right to interfere about the camels; that he had agreements with the committee of which he believed Mr. B. was ignorant; that everything was mismanaged; and, in fact, that if Mr. Burke had his way everything would go to the devil.