42 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 



tracks, try to find where the passage across the lake was, and, if Mr, 

 Babbage's tracks were not found, turn back due west, zigzagging the 

 country between Stuart's Creek and the Elizabeth, till I had either 

 reached the latter place or, finding Mr. Babbage's tracks, had run him 

 down. This plan was carried out so far as my arrival on my return 

 from the North-West to within 20 miles of Stuart's Creek, Avhen I cut 

 Mr. Babbage's track on the afternoon of the 4th November ; overtook 

 him in 24 hours, and delivered the Government order verbally to him 

 * • • I cannot see what is the use of ' summering out,' unless. 

 a man is so far advanced that it would occupy a considerable portion 

 of the next season to regain his position. • • • • j could get back 

 easily ; and, what is more, I could (accidents excepted) run out again 

 to my furthest permanent water, the Strangways Spring, in 17 days, 

 from the time of leaving Port Adelaide ; or, as a more fair way of 

 estimating it, 10 days from Mount Serle Police Station would give me 

 exactly the same advantages, in point of position, as I should have 

 possessed had I summered out. • • • • By staying out, therefore, 

 I should have gained nothing but 10 days, whilst I put the colony to 

 expense, idled away my own time, risked the health of my men, and, 

 in all probability, rendered it necessary for them to return to the- 

 settlement to recruit when the best season for pushing into the in- 

 terior had again come round ••••." 



Parliamentary Paper, 1859, No. 37. " Crown Lands Office,^ 

 January 4th, 1859. Sir — The duty to which you were specially ap- 

 pointed by the Government in connection with the northern expedi- 

 tion having terminated, I have the honor to inform you that the Govern- 

 ment are satisfied with the energy and vigor you have on this, as on 

 former occasions, displayed when in employed in exploring new 

 country. The 'discovery by you of well- watered pastoral country 

 beyond the liriiits attained by Mr. Stuart and Mr. Babbage in a 

 northerly direction, but especially your valuable discovery of a practi- 

 cable route from the northern runs into the new country, over what 

 was hitherto considered to be the bed of Lake Torrens, have, whilst 

 adding to your reputation as a bushman, fully justified the Govern- 

 ment in entrusting to you the execution of the service of emergency 

 which had arisen. In appreciation of these services I have the honor 

 to inform you that the Government have authorised the Treasurer 

 to pay you the sum of £100 out of the exploration funds. In convey- 

 ing to you the approval of the Government for the way in which you 

 have carried out the duty entrusted to you, it is also incumbent upon 

 me to inform you that the Government disapprove of the terms in 

 which you write of your predecessor in the command of the expedition 

 in the despatches which you addressed to me from the Elizabeth. The 

 Government are quite willing to make every allowance for the circum- 

 stances under which the despatches were written ; but they are, never- 

 theless, compelled formally to convey to you their disavowal of the 

 sentiments expressed by you. — I have, &c'., Francis S. Dutton, Com- 

 missioner. Major Warburton, Commissioner of Police, late command- 

 ing Northern Exploring Expedition." 



