Appendix I. 503 



pronounce on some points connected with Mi-. Burke's management of 

 the expedition. The fact is, that after a careful consideration of all the 

 circumstances of the case, we incline to the conclusion that Mr. Burke 

 did not possess the qualifications necessary for the successful leadership 

 of such an enterprise ; and that, consequently, some blame must rest 

 with the Exploration Committee, who selected a comparatively unfit per- 

 son for a position of such responsibility and importance. We appreciate 

 and admire, as enthusiastically as Mr. Jackson himself can possibly do, the 

 courage and self-devotion displayed by Mr, Burke ; but we cannot forget 

 that gallantry and daring are not the only qualities required in the 

 leader of an exploring expedition through an unknown and difficult 

 country. The choice of the Committee was, we believe, mainly dictated 

 b}^ the consideration that Mr. Burke had, while employed in the police - 

 force of the colony, shown himself to be possessed of a considerable talent 

 for organization, and of no little aptitude for command. They appear 

 not to have attached sufficient importance to the not less material fact, 

 that he knew nothing of bush-travelling, and had no practical ex- 

 perience of the preparations and precautions necessary for the successful 

 prosecution of such a journey as that with which he was entrusted. 

 IMr. Jackson calls upon us to observe that it was to the rapidity of Mr. 

 Burke's progress that his ultimate success is due ; and the observation 

 is, to a great extent, justified by facts. It appears to us, however, that 

 most, if not all, of the errors of judgment of which he was guilty, dur- 

 ing the progress of the expedition, are directly traceable to the same 

 quality of mind which rendered him so prompt in action. The Com- 

 missioners hit the blot in his character when they pronounced that * his 

 zeal was greater than his prudence.' The examination of his proceed- 

 ings which we have already made affords, we think, ample grounds for 

 this conclusion. "We have, however, met with one passage in the re- 

 cords of the expedition which exhibits Mr. Burke's constitutional hasti- 

 ness of temper and want of judgment in so strong a light, that we can- 

 not refrain from placing it before the reader. It occurs in King's 

 narrative of the attempt made by himself, Burke, and Wills, to reach 

 the settled districts of South Australia, after they had found the depot 

 at Cooper's Creek deserted. Mr. Wills had gone back to the depot, and 

 Burke and King were awaiting his return. King proceeds as follows : — 



