April 27, 1857.] NORTH AUSTEALIAN EXPEDITION, 341 



the last place we took, and the city which commands the entrance of the 

 canal northwards. The rebels are, or were until very lately, in possession of 

 Chin-ldang-foo. 



Sib Colin Campbell rose to say that Mr. Bowring, a young friend of his, 

 son of Sir John Bowring, mentioned to him, a morning or two ago, that, 

 within the last two years, two vessels had been sent up to Nanking by his 

 father to ascertain what the insurgents were about, their numbers, and the 

 manner in which they were occupying the country. That object was com- 

 pletely obtained, for he found the rebels at Nanking, but they had not come 

 down so far as Chin-kiang-foo. 



Sir John Davis. — Mr. Meadows, in 1853, saw the rebels there, and con- 

 ferred with them. 



Sir C. Campbell. — They were not in possession of Chin-kiang-foo, accord- 

 ing to Mr. Bowring, when he was there ; and without actual possession of that 

 point you do not command the canal. 



The Earl Albemarle. — It is the point of junction. 



Sir C. Campbell. — It is. He remembered, when he went up there in com- 

 mand of a regiment, imder Lord Saltoun, they were placed outside the town. One 

 of the officers found a house where there was a number of papers, and brought 

 the bundle to him as a curiosity ; and it turned out to be a despatch from the 

 officer who commanded the Chinese troops. It was translated by Mr. Thorn, 

 and described this officer's movements. It was addressed to the Emperor, and 

 it mentioned his route, his march downwards, in obedience to the orders of 

 the war department there, and stated that, instead of carrying out the farther 

 orders of his Majesty, he had stopped at this place, which he called " the very 

 throat between the north and south." He described that point, Chin-kiang- 

 foo, as the " throat." And the English were at that throat. 



Sir J. Davis. — Mr. Meadows, who was despatched by the British Pleni- 

 potentiary to communicate with the rebels, actually had his audience at 

 Chin-kiang-foo with the leaders, and describes it in his book. Possibly they 

 had abandoned the point since. 



Sir C. Campbell. — It appeared strange that they should be in force at 

 Nanking, and not in possession of Chin-kiang-foo. 



2. North Australian Expedition. 



The following letter, from the Commander of the expedition to 

 North Australia, was read by the Secretary : — 



Burnett District, 2nd December, 1856. 

 Sir, — I have the honour to inform you of the arrival of the North 

 Australian Expedition within the limits of the settled parts of New 

 South Wales. 



From the time of landing the horses at Point Pearce in September, 

 1855, to the 9th May, 1856, the party was employed in preliminary 

 details, and the exploration of the country to the south of the 

 Victoria Eiver, having penetrated the interior deserts to latitude 

 18° 20' south, and longitude 127° 30' east; a detail of which I forwarded 

 by the ' Tom Tough' schooner, vi& Copang, and which doubtless has 

 already come to hand. 



The schooner ♦ Tom Tough ' having been seriously damaged in 



