Dec. 8, 1856.] WILSON ON THE NORTH AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION. 231 



the lo-wer side of the plains was derived ; and next, to obtain a 

 more extended view of the plains westward, in both of which I was 

 successful. In approaching Duke Mount, I saw a hill that projected 

 farther into the plains a few miles distant. This hill I ascended, 

 and was then enabled to see the extreme western end of Murchison 

 Range, adding thereby 25 miles to my previous views on that side 

 of the plains. I was also enabled to trace to a considerable extent 

 a branch of the western river which Mr. Baines had seen, but did 

 not follow ; I have given the name of " Baines " to that branch, but 

 the river itself I claim as my own discovery, and have named it. 



The western end of the Murchison Eange terminates in extensive 

 plains. The most prominent hill in front of the range I have named 

 " Mount Victoria ;" it is not of itself worthy of such distinction, 

 but the circumstance of my having ascended it on the anniversary 

 of her Majesty's birthday, and obtained my most distant view of a 

 western branch of the river that bears her Majesty's name, induced 

 me so to name it. I enclose the leaf from my note-book on which I 

 drew a sketch of the hill, when about one mile distant on the E. 

 side. The Newcastle Range extends much farther than I have laid 

 it down, and the EUesmere Range I suppose to join the table-land to 

 the eastward. The river Fitzmaurice most probably has its source 

 in this range. 



Arctic Squadron. — Captain Sheeaed Osboen next informed the Meeting 

 that he had heard a few days since that Captain Penny, who wintered in 

 Northumberland Sound last year, had received information which corroborated 

 the intelligence brought home by Dr. Eae. Whalers generally kept dark the 

 •places they wintered in, as it was a question of money, but he knew pretty 

 well where Captain Penny wintered, and he naturally inquired how, at that 

 distance from where Dr. Eae obtained intelligence of the missing ships, 

 he could have acquired his information. It puzzled him very much ; the 

 more so as Captain Penny spoke of the wreck of a ship. It struck him, how- 

 ever, that what Captain Penny had heard of, was the wreck of one of our 

 deserted ships. He followed up the evidence as far as he could, and wrote to 

 Captain Cator, e.n., who had commanded a vessel in an Arctic voyage, and 

 who was now the conservator of the Humber at Hull, and consequently well 

 acquainted with the captains of whaling vessels. He sent to him a series of 

 questions, and asked him to procure answers. Through these inquiries he 

 traced out what he believed was a fact — that two more of the abandoned 

 ships had reached the shores of Davis Strait. Captain Penny observed that 

 the Esquimaux had a great deal of ship-wood and treenails. After some trouble 

 he found out that there were two ships near them, and that they were breaking 

 them up and getting the wood out. 



The Resolute. — The President next called attention to the fact that in a 

 very short time they might expect the arrival in this country of their old ship 

 the ' Kesolute,' as purchased, fitted out, and sent home to us by the American 

 Government. It was very desirable that all parties, who felt as lively an 

 interest as he did in the subject, should testify their deep sense of this act of 

 courtesy on the part of the American Government. 



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