Anniversanj Address. 15 



committee wliich has been appoiuted for the purpose, taking 

 care, of course, that nothing is clone without its knowledge, 

 and that proper checks are imposed on the issue and disburse- 

 ment of the money voted. 



The committee has prudently decided that nothing shall be 

 attempted during the approaching Avinter, which would have 

 been too far spent ere the exploring party could have reached 

 its starting point ; but I trust that every pains Avill be taken 

 in the spring to organise and equip an expedition worthy of 

 this colony, and that by the commencement of the ensuing 

 summer it will be on its way, under a leader of approved 

 ability, to the depot selected upon Cooper's Creek as the basis of 

 its operations, so as to be ready to take advantage of the first 

 rains that may fall, to prosecute its researches. 



The precise direction of these must necessarily be left a 

 good deal to the discretion of the leader to be chosen. Were 

 not something more than a mere bush ride across the conti- 

 nent aimed at, it might be the easiest course to proceed at 

 once to the westward of Lake Torrens, where that daring 

 veteran Stuart, and my no less gallant friend the Governor 

 of South Australia, have already penetrated countr}^ which 

 seems to promise a passage to the north. ]My own opinion 

 has, however, always been in favor of directing the earlier 

 efforts of the expedition to ascertaining the exact eastern 

 limits of the Great Desert, with a ^dew to crossing as directly 

 as possible to the Gulf of Carpentaria, or to Arnheim's Land, 

 the great promontory by which the western shore of that 

 gulf is formed. 



These, gentlemen, are the special questions on which I am 

 chiefly desirous that your immediate attention should be 

 bestowed. 



You will not, I feel sure, suffer them to interfere Avith the 

 zealous discharge of your ordinary duties as members of the 

 Royal Society, but will, on the coutraiy, devote yourselves 



