Nov. 9, 1857.] 
NORTH AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION. 
3 
Lastly, I come to the great geographical publication of the year. I hold in 
my hand the book which recounts the journeys and researches of my eminent 
friend Dr. Livingstone in Africa. This production marks an epoch in geogra- 
phical science. Whether we look to the candour and honesty of the man, to 
his clear-sightedness as a traveller, to the firmness of purpose with which he 
executed those high resolves upon which he was bent, we cannot but be proud, 
as Englishmen, that he should have been carried through such difficulties as he 
encountered, and have produced such a work as this. Though the modest 
traveller has stated in his preface that he would rather travel over Africa again 
than write a book, his story is here put forth in so artless, so clear, and yet so 
telling a manner, that I venture to say Dr. Livingstone’s style will be admired 
by many of those who might be supposed to become his critics. It is really 
refreshing to turn to these pages, and see how a traveller, who is bent only 
upon speaking the plain truth to Englishmen, wins your hearts, and how he 
so carries you with him as to give you a full conception of the African cha- 
racter. In congratulating you and all my countrymen upon the production of 
this remarkable work, let me congratulate Mr. Murray in particular in having 
had the good fortune to meet with such an author as Dr. Livingstone. 
The President then took the Diploma of Corresponding Member, which 
he had signed, and, addressing Dr. Livingstone, said : In the presence of this 
company of your associates, I beg to present to you this Diploma of the Royal 
Geographical Society. I hope you will accept it as a testimony of our unfeigned 
and sincere admiration of your conduct, and of the respect which, as geo- 
graphers, we shall ever entertain towards you for having realised that which 
no Englishman has ever accomplished — the traverse of the great continent of 
South Africa. 
The Diploma was then presented to Dr. Livingstone, amid the acclamations 
of the members. 
Dr. Livingstone : Really, Sir, I am in want of words to express my grati- 
tude and thankfulness for the very kind manner in which you have referred to 
my labours. I beg to return my heartfelt thanks to you, as the President of 
the Society, for the remarks you have made, and to the Fellows for the kind 
manner in which they have received those remarks. 
The Papers read were : — 
1. Additional Notes on the North Australian Expedition under Mr. A. C. 
Gregory . By Mr. Thomas Baines, f.r.g.s., Artist to the Expedi- 
tion. 
In the beginning of March 1855, through the recommendation of 
the Council of this Society, I was appointed Artist and Storekeeper 
to the North Australian Expedition, and joined Mr. Gregoiy, the 
commander, in Sydney on the 21st of May. As his reports have been 
read at previous meetings, it will only be necessary for me to notice 
briefly the leading points in the operations of the expedition up to 
the time that Mr. Gregory sent me with a detachment of the expe- 
dition in the Tom Tough schooner to procure fresh supplies from 
Timor. 
The expedition consisted of a total of 18 persons and 50 horses, 
and on the 12th of August we sailed from Moreton Bay, taking the 
inner passage to Torres Strait. During this part of our voyage we 
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