William Campbell

“ Stuart then struck due east for about ten or fifteen miles, and, finally journeying due north, reached the seashore at Van Diemen’s Gulf on July 24th, having been out then nearly six months. What must have been the feelings of his indomitable spirit, when, after all his toils, after having been twice driven back by the dense scrub, he at length stood on the Arnheim hills, and looked out on the blue waters of the Indian Ocean, it is impossible to tell. ”

“ Perhaps much of the success of the Adelaide expedition has been owing to the extensive knowledge and long experience of the bush possessed by Mr. Stuart, together with the compact nature of his party: whereas Burke, unflinchingly brave and heroic, and undoubtedly successful, as testified by the very bare and barren fact that he did succeed in penetrating to the tidal flow of the Albert River on the north coast, knew nothing of a bush life, having passed his previous career in the Austrian military service. ”

“ If the Adelaide people gave way to ecstasies of delight on Stuart’s safe return, neither did they omit to pay every respect and honour to the remains of the less fortunate leader, as Howitt and his party came down the same route, where a few days subsequently followed the Australian explorer. ”

“ So sad a close to such brilliant hopes may well mar the satisfaction of the Victorians at being the first to achieve the task, long proposed in vain to Australian explorers, the more so since it is incontestible that the sacrifice of so many valuable lives, the loss of much of this splendid equipage, and the scanty information gained at so tremendous a cost, was owing to the expedition being deficient in discipline, unanimity, and observance of orders. ”

“ Indomitable perseverance has at length won the day, and the renowned explorer, John Macdouall Stuart, succeeded on a third attempt in making his way from the settlements of South Australia right across the Continent to the Indian Ocean. ”

“ No sooner had Howitt returned to Melbourne with King, the sole survivor of the once noble and amply fitted Victorian expedition, than Government resolved to despatch him again to Cooper’s Creek, to bring in the remains of Burke and Wills. ”

“ The individuals who composed thin ill-fated party, consisted of Robert O'Hara; Burke, the leader; Landells, in charge of the camels; Wills, a surveyor and astronomer; Beckler, surgeon and geologist, and thirteen others, of whom three were Sepoys.
Starting from Melbourne in August, 1860, it was the intention of the party to proceed in a body to Cooper's Creek, about a third of the way across the continent, here a depôt was to be formed, and left in charge of two or three of the expedition whilst the others were to make their way to the Gulf. ”

“ Long before they had reached Cooper's Creek, Burke and Lsndells quarrelled; the latter abandoned the expedition, and, taking with him Beckler the surgeon and several of the camels, returned to Melbourne. Nothing daunted, though shorn of more than half his strength, Burke, with three companions—-Wills the astronomer and the two men King and Gray—started from the depôt at Cooper's Creek, on the 16th December, with six camels, several horses, and three months' provision, to undertake the gigantic task before him. ”

“ I want iron to fight the French, and as for gold, I get it from England. But if you are able to convert mice and rats into calves and oxen, you are my man. The former make great havoc in my military stores ”

“ Meantime the more wealthy colony of Victoria started a magnificently equipped expedition, consisting of eighteen officers and men, upwards of twenty camels (which had been brought from India, at a great expense) , and a vast equipage of horses and waggons, carrying provisions for twelve months, amounting to about twenty tons. ”