10 INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNOR. 
more than £300. and the price of ten horses. At a meeting 
held some time ago, on this very subject, about half that sum 
was subscribed. — His Excellency the Governor has kindly pro- 
mised to give jSIOO. and two horses — and I think we may very 
soon make up the remainder ; and thus may set out an expedi- 
tion which may explore the as yet unknown interior of this vast 
continent, which may be the means, by discovery, of conferring 
a lasting benefit on the colony — and hand down to posterity the 
name of the person who undertakes it. ,r 
On the same day I received a note from the 
private secretary, stating that the Governor wished 
to see me, and upon calling on His Excellency 
I had a long and interesting interview on the subject 
of the expedition, in the course of which arrangements 
were proposed and a plan of operations entered 
into. I found in His Excellency every thing that 
was kind and obliging. Sincerely desirous to con- 
fer a benefit upon the colony over which he pre- 
sided, he was most anxious that the expedition 
should be fitted out in as complete and efficient a 
manner as possible, and to effect this every assistance 
in his power was most frankly and freely offered. 
In addition to the sanction and patronage of the 
government and the contribution of £100. towards 
defraying the expenses, His Excellency most kindly 
offered me the selection of any two horses I pleased, 
from among those belonging to the police, and 
stated, that if I wished for the services of any of the 
men in the public employment they should be per- 
mitted to accompany me on the journey. The 
Colonial cutter, Water witch, was also most liberally 
