It would be slight praise to say that we know few books of travels surpassing 

 them in interest, and which furnish at every page proof of the high capa- 

 bilities of Major Mitchell for the arduous duty which he was selected to 

 undertake. We have chiefly referred to the progress that was made in dis- 

 covery in the interior, but every chapter abounds with interesting anecdotes 

 illustrative of the manners of the natives. In addition to these the scientfio 

 information is of the most valuable kind, more especially that having refe- 

 rence to the geological character of the country. At the end of the second 

 volume a chapter is devoted to an account of a cave in Wellington valley, in 

 which a great number of fossil remains were discovered embedded in breccia, 

 whose generic characters have been determined by Professor Owen. Major 

 Mitchell in the course of his travels discovered several new animals, espe- 

 cially one which he named the chasropus ecaudatus, and he also met with 

 the jerboa for the first time in Australia. A great variety of new plants were 

 discovered, which have been classed by Professor Lindley. 



" We shall only add, that these volumes are illustrated by a great number 

 and variety of plates, which are executed with great taste, and in a manner 

 far superior to those generally accompanying books of travels. Among 

 others, there is an entirely new adaptation to map engraving in a plan of the 

 lakes in the neighbourhood of Mount Arapiles. The ground is marked in 

 a similar manner to that recently used in engravings from medals, with the 

 view of shewing the inequality of the ground." — Morning Chronicle, 5th 

 Oct. 1838. 



" The total wildness of the vast regions traversed by Major Mitchell, 

 the dangerous character of many of the savage tribes by whom the country 

 is thinly peopled, the great personal hardships endured, particularly from 

 want of water, and the romance inseparable from all such expeditions, give 

 an interest to these volumes, altogether over and above the value which they 

 bear as an accession to our geographical knowledge. We do not ])ropose 

 to give an outline of any of the tliree expeditions, which we fear would 

 only weary, without either entertaining or informing, the reader. Our 

 friends will probably feel more obliged to us for the following abridge- 

 ment of a part of the second expedition, relating to the unfortunate fate 



of Mr. Richard Cunningham, the botanist of the party. 



« » * « » 



" T?ichard Cunningham must be added to the list of those talented and ad- 

 venturous sons of Britain who have fallen victims to their zeal for the 

 progress of scientific knowledge. The book which records his fate, we 

 again cordially recommend to the reading world." — Chambers' Edinburgh 

 Journal, 6t!i Oct. 18:38. 



" As we have already expressed decidedly, though briefly, our appro- 

 bation of Major Mitchell's volumes, we shall not now enter into a detailed 

 repetition of their merits. We cannot, however, pass in silence over the 

 Major's indefatigable activity in ascending every eminence, taking angles, 

 and reconnoitring the country; nor the systematic firmness and resolution 

 with which he forced his way through all the diilicuUies ojjposed to him 

 by the nature of the ground. He is evidently one who makes light of physical 

 hardships ; and the alacrity with which he was obeyed shows that he knew 

 how to inspire his followers with the same soldier-like feeling. Of the 

 imjjortance of his discoveries, it is impossible to entertain a doubt. It was 

 a fortunate and judicious determination on his part, to quit the deserts and 

 seek the continuation of tlie south-eastern mountain chains ; lie has thus found 

 a country of running waters and ])erpetu;il verdure. Nor will it be long- 

 before these discoveries are taken advantage of; the energy and enterprise 

 of the British in Australia rival the bold spirit of the Far West. Already 

 there is a .post established I)etween the new town of Melbourne, in Port 

 Phillip, and Sy<lney, a distance of 600 miles; and, what is still more 

 remarkable, a herd of cattle (about 060 head) from Yass plains, arrived in 

 April last at Adelaide, the capital of Soutii Australia, in thu gulph of St. 

 Vincent, distant about 700 miles from the frontiers of the colony of New 

 South Wales." — Alhemcum, Glh Oct. 1838. 



