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SIR RODERICK I. MURCHISON’S ADDRESS. [May 24, 1858. 
well watered, are specially fitted for pasture, and therefore suitable 
for the permanent settlement of a civilized community. He also 
points out that no other part of Australia possesses so many naviga- 
ble rivers as the northern seabord, the Victoria having been ascended 
by the schooner Tom Tough to 100 miles above its mouth. 
Though necessarily hot, the climate is by no means injurious to 
European life, as proved by the fact that, although living there for 
nine months, the party did not lose a man, and scarcely any sickness 
prevailed. The thermometric tables kept from November to July 
indicate a range from 47° as a minimum to 106° as a maximum, 
with 84 days of rain. The grasses are described as so luxuriant as 
to grow from 6 to 10 or 12 feet in height ; large timber is scarce, 
though smaller and other trees bearing fruit are not rare. Eice 
was found indigenous in one spot by Dr. Mueller, and in another 
by Mr. Wilson, who ascertained that it was eaten by the natives. 
Fish are plentiful, but kangaroos are scarce. Not now advert- 
ing further to the descriptions of various other animals, including 
the curious walking fish, and noting that the dingo or native 
dog is larger than in other parts of Australia, I revert with satis- 
faction to the ascertained healthiness of the country as well as 
to the fruitfulness of the soil to support the suggestion which I 
made many years ago, and again brought to your notice at the last 
Anniversary — that, whether by the establishment of a penal settle- 
ment or a free colony, North Australia ought unquestionably to be 
occupied without further delay. 
On my own part I adhere to the opinion that, craving as we do any 
site to which we may transport felons (why not rebellious Sepoys?), 
there is no region on the globe which combines more advantages, 
with the gain of a high political object, than the north coast of 
Australia with its bays and streams. The convicts who might be 
first planted there, as I have previously shown, will be so completely 
cut off from all other parts of the seabord of Australia which are 
occupied or can be occupied for a long time to come, as to prevent 
the escape of criminals. Now, as few persons will deny that it is 
of great importance that our maritime power in the Indian Archi- 
pelago should be sustained by having a port on the coast of North 
Australia as a refuge for our ships, and as a “ point d’appui ” for naval 
operations in case of war, so I trust that after colonizing the other 
sides of this continent, England will no longer abstain from unfurling 
her flag on its northern shores, whether by forced or free labour. 
The reader who is interested in tracing the progress of discovery 
