302 A/ppendix 1. 



blame from Mr. Burke's shoulders to those of the Exploration Committee, 

 by observing that the Committee knew of Wright's appointment by 

 Dec. 3, and so had plenty of time, if they had had any objection to him, 

 to replace him by some one else. What objection could the Committee 

 possibly have to a man whose name they had never heard before that 

 moment? Clearly they are not to blame for relying upon the judg- 

 ment of the leader whom they had selected, and confirming his appoint- 

 ment of a man who he assured them ' was well qualified for the post, 

 and bore the very highest character.' WTiatever blame may attach to 

 the selection of Mr. Wright for a post of trust must rest entirely upon 

 Mr. Burke. The Commissioners next proceed to blame Mr. Burke for 

 finally departing from Cooper's Creek before the arrival of the depot 

 party from Menindie, and for undertaking so extended a journey with an 

 insufiicient supply of provisions. On both these points there is something 

 to be said in Mr. Burke's favour. As regards the first, his conduct was 

 the natural result of his misplaced confidence in Wright, combined with 

 the consideration that the success of his journey depended in great mea- 

 sure upon the rapidity with which it was prosecuted. With respect to 

 the second, we must remember that on an expedition of this kind, when 

 the carrying power is limited, and every ounce of weight has to be con- 

 sidered, it is almost as important to exclude everything that is superflu- 

 ous as it is to leave behind nothing that is strictly necessary. It seems 

 probable, however, that Mr. Burke was guilty of an error in judgment, 

 in underrating the time which the journey from Cooper's Creek to Car- 

 pentaria was likely to require. Finally, the Commissioners draw atten- 

 tion to the fact that it does not appear that Burke kept any regular 

 journal, or that he gave written instructions to his officers. ' Had he,' 

 they observe on this point — and we fully concur in their remark — 

 * performed these essential portions of the duties of a leader, many of the 

 calamities of the expedition might have been averted, and little or no 

 room would have been left for doubt in judging of the conduct of those 

 subordinates, who pleaded unsatisfactory and contradictory verbal orders 

 and statements.' 



" We are unable, the reader will perceive, to concur in Mr. Jackson's 

 repeatedly expressed opinion, that there are no grounds whatever for 

 any of the censures which the Commissioners found it their duty to 



