Mr. Burke, on the resignation of Mr. Landells, immediately promoted my son to the post he had vacated, which appointment the committee confirmed.  Here there was perfect union and reciprocal understanding.  Neither had petty jealousies or reserved views.  The success of the expedition was their object, and personal glory their aim.  The leader had every confidence in his second, and the second was proud of his leader.  But Mr. Burke committed an error in the selection of Mr. Wright for the third position in command, without any previous knowledge or experience of his capabilities.  In this he acted from his impulsive nature, and the consequences bore heavily on his own and my son’s fate.  To the misconduct of Mr. Wright, in the words of the report of the Committee of Inquiry, “are mainly attributable the whole of the disasters of the expedition, with the exception of the death of Gray.”  In appearance and acquirements, there was nothing to recommend him.  The gentleman suggested by Mr. Burke as a substitute for Dr. Beckler, most unjustly, according to general opinion, desired to supplant my son.  This the majority of the committee refused to accede to, and Mr. Nicholson, the chief secretary, agreed with their decision.  Others, including myself, offered to go; and a dispute, or rather a discussion arose on the matter, which produced delay, so that no one was sent at all.  Another fatal mistake.  It will be a source of sorrow and strong regret to me as long as I exist, that I did not, of my own will, push on to Menindie, where I might have been instrumental in saving one for whom I would willingly have risked my life.  But no one then foresaw or expected the errors which caused the surviving travelers to perish on their return.

But the actual cause of what might appear to be neglect on the part of the committee, in procrastinating the medical appointment, or other matters that were delayed, arose from the want of funds.  The sum subscribed had been expended, and when Mr. Hodgkinson arrived at Melbourne, with Wright’s despatch (written, however, by Hodgkinson), asking for cash, and a confirmation of his appointment as third in command, the committee had no balance at their disposal.  His Excellency, Sir Henry Barkly, to prevent any misfortune on that ground, came forward on his personal guarantee, and became responsible until Parliament should again meet.  The funds asked for by Wright, and even more, were granted; but I believe it would puzzle the committee, to this day, to find what became of them.  One of the avowed objects was to purchase sheep; this, at least, was neglected.  Hodgkinson fulfilled his mission zealously, and returned to Wright within as short a time as possible.  But Wright lingered inactively at Menindie, allowed the proper time for following out the track of Mr. Burke to glide away and disgracefully broke faith with one who had too generously trusted him.