112 Lectures on the Geology, Botany, fyc., of the 
Range, during ray last journey ; and as the Mackenzie was well 
supplied with water, I shall follow it up to its sources, which I 
expect to find about 80 or 100 miles to the westward of the spot 
where we first came on the river ; I might then be able to ascer¬ 
tain whether the western branches of the supposed water-shed 
go down to the southward to join the system of the Darling, or 
whether they turn to the northward, and form the sources of the 
largest rivers of the head of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Should 
the latter be the case, and should the country be sufficiently well 
watered, I would of course proceed to the westward, keeping the 
same latitude, and try to reach the waters of the north-west 
coast. But should want of water not allow me to continue my 
journey to the westward, or even to the northward, I will retrace 
my steps down the Mackenzie, and follow the track of my last 
journey up to the Burdekin, where it is joined by the Clarke, in 
latitude 19° 12'. 
I would follow the latter river, and I have no doubt of finding 
the heads of the Flinders, after having crossed either a table-land 
or a dividing range. I would then continue my journey to the 
Albert, and follow that River up to ascertain the latitude of its 
sources, and the nature of the country. 
Again, I would try a westerly course, to come successively to 
the heads of the Nicholson, the Van Alplien, the Abel Tasman, 
the Robinson, and the Macarthur, and from the latter River I 
would hope to reach the waters of the west coast, in about latitude 
17° to 18°. Should I succeed in this, I shall turn to the southward 
and work my way parallel to the north-west and west coast until 
I reach Swan River. 
This journey I hope to complete in two years, though I am 
aware that unforeseen difficulties may retard my progress. Be it 
as it may, I feel confident, after the kind reception I experienced 
on my arrival from my late expedition, that, borrowing the words 
of that beautiful lyric in which 1 have been honoured by the Aus¬ 
tralian Muses— 
a a nation's smiling welcome, will be my greeting home again I" 
I thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen, for the attention with 
which you have listened to this lecture, in which l have 
