ed by you during the inquiry under this
Commission.

SEAL OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA.

WITNESS our trusty and well-beloved SIR HENRY BARKLY, Knight
Commander of the Most Noble Order of the Bath, Captain-General, and
Governor-in-Chief of our Colony of Victoria, and Vice-Admiral of
the same, at Melbourne, this twelfth day of November, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-one, and in the twenty-fifth year of our
Reign.

HENRY BARKLY.

By His Excellency's command,

(Signed) R. HEALES.

. . .

APPENDIX C.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY SIR HENRY BARKLY, KNIGHT COMMANDER OF THE MOST
HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH, CAPTAIN-GENERAL AND GOVERNOR-IN-CHIEF
OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA, AND VICE-ADMIRAL OF THE SAME, ETC., ETC.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:--

In conformity with the terms of Her Majesty's commission, we
have made inquiry into the circumstances connected with the
sufferings and death of Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills,
the Victorian explorers.

We have endeavoured to ascertain the true causes of this lamentable
result of the expedition, and have investigated the circumstances
under which the depot at Cooper's Creek was abandoned by Mr.
William Brahe. We have sought to determine upon whom rests the
grave responsibility of there not having been a sufficient supply
of provisions and clothing secured for the recruiting of the
explorers on their return, and for their support until they could
reach the settlements; and we have generally inquired into the
organization and conduct of the expedition.

Our investigations have been confined to the above matters, the
Government having already taken into consideration the claims on
the colony of the surviving members of the expedition, etc.

We have examined all persons willing to give evidence who
professed, or whom we supposed to possess, knowledge upon the
various subjects of our inquiries: and we now, after mature
consideration, submit to your Excellency the following Report:--

The expedition, having been provided and equipped in the most
ample and liberal manner, and having reached Menindie, on the
Darling, without experiencing any difficulties, was most
injudiciously divided at that point by Mr. Burke.

It was an error of judgment on the part of Mr. Burke to appoint Mr.
Wright to an important command in the expedition, without a
previous personal knowledge of him; although, doubtless, a pressing
urgency had arisen for the appointment, from the sudden
res