xliv Presidents Address 



Another most important matter when I last addressed 

 you, occupied the attention of the leading members of our 

 Society, and has continued to engross much of their time and 

 consideration throughout the year. I mean the exploration 

 of the interior. When I then alluded to the glorious race 

 across the continent between the expeditions fitted out in 

 this and the adjacent colony of South Australia, we little 

 dreamt, alas ! that the victors were on the point of returning 

 from it, to find the depot forsaken by the comrades they had 

 left there, whilst the well equipped party despatched months 

 previously to reinforce them, baffled by scarcity of water, 

 by disease, and by the hostility of the natives, was about 

 abandoning altogether the attempt to reach the spot. I will 

 not harrow your feelings by describing the melancholy 

 results of these unforeseen mischances. How bravely Burke 

 struggled to the last gasp to accomplish his mission by 

 regaining the settlements ; how nobly he was seconded by 

 Wills in all his efforts ; how faithfully King, who by God's 

 providence stands here to-night the sole survivor, adhered 

 to both in the hour of direst extremity — these are recollec- 

 tions indelibly engraven on all our memories. 



I proceed to a less painful theme. The Continent has 

 been crossed — the mystery solved — the victory, dearly 

 purchased though it be, is ours. It remains but to do 

 honour to the ashes of the victors, and to evince our 

 admiration for then devotedness by rearing a monument 

 worthy alike of their heroic exploit, and of the- community 

 whose gratitude it is destined to commemorate. 



Brief and imperfect as were the notes they left of their 

 journey, they form a most important addition to our 

 previous geographical knowledge, as shewing the narrow 

 limits of Sturt's Stony Desert, and the existence of good and 

 well-watered country beyond it, stretching to the very 

 verge of the Gulf of Carpentaria. 



