Reports of Committees. lxv 



condition that £2,000 should be raised by private subscriptions 

 within twelve months. 



' This offer having been made through his Honor the Chief Justice, 

 Sir William Stawell, a public meeting was called by him, to invite 

 the co-operation of the public in raising the required amount, in 

 order to secure the £1,000 thus generously offered. 



His Honor the Chief Justice presided at this meeting, and a Com- 

 mittee was appointed, of which he was Chairman, to carry out the 

 proposed object. 



This Committee, although appointed without reference to the Ex- 

 ploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute, contained the 

 names of some of the members of that Committee, and it was soon 

 ftfu«i that the combined strength of both Committees would be 

 necessary to ensure success in an undertaking of so much importance. 

 Accordingly, both Committees harmoniously worked together in pro- 

 moting their common object, and eventually their labors have been 

 crowned with complete success. 



Many commercial and other circumstances combined to enhance 

 the difficulty of procuring subscriptions in Melbourne. 



A limited number of otherwise very intelligent persons expressed 

 their fears that the discovery of new country would injure this 

 colony, and for this reason they withheld then subscriptions. 



Many declined to subscribe because they regarded exploration as a 

 matter of national rather than of private obligation, and were of 

 opinion that any private effort would be useless and unsuccessful. 

 A very general feeling was, however, everywhere expressed as to the 

 great importance of exploration, and the duty of Victoria, as the 

 wealthiest of the Australian colonies, to take her share in the work. 



When eleven months had nearly elapsed, the total amount sub- 

 scribed scarcely reached £'900, and at this time very great fears were 

 entertained that our efforts would be unavailing. It was then re- 

 solved to make a renewed appeal to the colonists in general, and the 

 squatters more particularly, in the hope that the contributions from 

 the more distant localities might make up the deficiency. This hope 

 was not disappointed. 



The following letter was prepared, and kindly lithographed by the 

 Surveyor-General, in his office, and through the favor of Messrs. 

 Vaughan and Wild it was at once despatched to all the resident 

 squatters throughout the colony, and to many even beyond the river 

 Murray, as also to many of the citizens of Melbourne and pro- 

 prietors of freeholds in the country : — 



"Melbourne, 5th August, 1859. 



" Sir, — The great importance of the object must be our apology 

 for anxiously soliciting your . kind co-operation in the contemplated 

 exploration of Central Australia. 



" We deem it unnecessary to urge the incalculable advantages that 

 i 



