lviii Appendix. 



scientific gentlemen connected with the Philosophical Institute of Victoria, 

 and an extended exploration of the interior was considered desirable. It 

 was seen, however, that it would be necessary to postpone that scheme for 

 a year, until they could have the advantage of learning the results of Mr. 

 Gregory's exertions. According to what they had heard, the unexplored 

 tract in the centre of this country was 1,600 miles in length by 800 miles in 

 breadth : and, considering the vastness of this great region, they need not 

 be surprised at the scientific interest attached to its exploration, nor at the 

 amount of care necessary to send a party through it. The Geographical 

 Society of London had taken up this subject with considerable interest, and 

 had even despatched an exploring expedition here. It was said that the 

 cost of this was something like £20,000. The result of that attempt had 

 convinced him of the inexpediency of employing vessels in expeditions of 

 this kind. In this case the steamer which was to convey supplies to the 

 party missed them altogether, and necessitated their return into the settled 

 districts . He thought that land expeditions were best. New South Wales and 

 South Australia had done much in the question of exploration of the inte- 

 rior, and the wealthy colony of Victoria, although not so much interested in 

 it, should be in the van in all that concerned the future welfare of the 

 Australias. It was a matter of surprise elsewhere that the energy of the 

 English population here should be content with the examination of the mere 

 borders of their adopted country. It was true that Mr. Gregory doubted 

 the power of any exploring party to pass through the central desert . In 

 this opinion he did not concur. No great rivers flowed from this region, but 

 many Australian rivers were lost in lakes, and marshes in the interior, and 

 it was quite possible that a large river might be discovered on the west 

 coast. He thought that Eyre's Creek might be a branch from some large 

 river which Captain Sturt had failed to discover ; what reason could lead 

 any one to infer that the interior districts of Australia are not watered by 

 heavy periodical rains? Sir Thomas Mitchell and Dr. Leichhardt desired to 

 penetrate Australia from east to west, and they planned a line from Moreton 

 Bay to Port Essington at the same time, but no immediate effort was made 

 by the Government of the colony, and Leichhardt took the necessary steps 

 and carried out the plan himself, without Government assistance. On his 

 return to Sydney, Sir Thomas Mitchell took the command of an exploring 

 expedition, and discovered a large river believed to penetrate to the 

 centre of Victoria. That river was afterwards found to turn 

 suddenly and unexpectedly to the south. It was, however, the 

 proper spot for the establishment of a depot for an exploring party 

 towards the centre. If his theory, that Eyre Creek was merely a continua- 

 tion of a large river to the north, was found to be correct there was no doubt 

 that the solution of the problem of vast importance — the penetration of this 

 country from east to west — would have been attained by Victoria. He 

 begged to propose the resolution he had read. 



Mr. Jas. Bonwick seconded the resolution. The great question first to 

 consider was, the propriety of exploration of the interior of Australia. Of 

 that there was no doubt ; and next came the question of the route to be 

 tried. The first which was proposed was the route from east to west, in 

 pursuance of which many good points might be selected. The difficulties of 

 the undertaking were certainly great, but, a? Dr. Wilkie thought it was 

 not a justifiable assumption to suppose that the interior was all desert, they 

 might not be insuperable. It was said that the centre of Arabia was a 

 desert; — true, but Arabia had no such fertile borders as Australia. And 

 again, flocks had penetrated 800 miles towards the interior, their owners 

 found the land good. Of South Africa it was generally supposed by the 

 natives that the interior was a desert. There was a desert to be crossed, 

 but Dr. Livingstone creased it, and they were all familiar with his success. 

 Captain Sturt was of opinion that something might even yet be done towards 



