1868.] 



Exjiloration, of Central Australia. 



361 



upon it, shall be borne by the mother couiitiT in conjunction with the 

 various Australian colonies. So sooUj therefore, as an arrangement to that 

 effect may have been arrived at, trustees should be appointed, residing in 

 the colonies, who would act as a Committee of administration, such Com- 

 mittee to consist of not more than five members. All funds would be 

 placed at their disposal, and all money transactions in connexion with the 

 expedition would be made under their supervision and subject to their 

 approval. 



The objects of the expedition having been attained, and the time arrived 

 when the same is to be broken up, the residue of the stock and stores — 

 horses, camels, equipment, instruments, provisions, &c. — would be handed 

 over to the Committee of Trustees, to be disposed of as they might think fit. 



All observations, journals, maps, natural-history collections, drawings, 

 and photographs, without exception, would likewise be handed over to the 

 Committee of Trustees on the completion of the expedition, in order that 

 the same may be turned to account in furtherance of the interests of science, 

 and of the various countries that have taken a part in this great undertak- 

 ing. Members of the expedition would not be permitted to make private 

 collections, and none of the results would be made public, unless by special 

 authority of the Committee of Trustees. 



Such are the objects and leading principles of an expedition which I hope 

 to be able in person to carry out ; and I trust it will not be deemed pre- 

 sumptuous on my part if I add a few words in support of my claims to be 

 entrusted with the conduct of so noble an enterprise. I have been con- 

 nected with Australia, with brief interruptions, ever since the year 1852, and 

 the greater part of that long interval of time has been employed by me in 

 studying the physical character of that great continent. In 1858 I suc- 

 ceeded in establishing an Observatory at Melbourne for the advancement 

 of our knowledge of terrestrial physics, and my labours and publications 

 on the observations made up to the time of my resignation and retirement 

 from that institution in 1863, will in a very short time come to a conclu- 

 sion. The magnetical and other observations collected during my travels 

 through Victoria, part of New South Wales, and of South Austraha, com- 

 prising an area of nine degrees of longitude and six degrees of latitude, are 

 now in course of publication on behalf of the colony of Victoria. As soon 

 as this is accomplished, I purpose again to devote my energies to further 

 inquiries respecting the physical geography of Australia, but on this occa- 

 sion likewise as an explorer. In this determination I am prompted by no 

 other motives than the advancement of science, and my attachment towards 

 a rising country — an attachment not unnatural, after a connexion extend- 

 ing over a period of so many years. 



It is on these grounds that I solicit the powerful support of this Society 

 in this great national undertaking, which, I am persuaded, v>dll, if success- 

 fully carried out, conduce equally to the advancement of the interests of 

 science and to the material welfare of Australia. Men may differ as to the 



