the desert,
it was thought desirable to start contingent expeditions from the
neighbouring colonies, as well as from Victoria, in search of them. The
people of Melbourne had assembled that evening to congratulate those
distinguished gentlemen, Messrs. Landsborough and McKinlay, upon their
safe return from their expeditions. They most cheerfully volunteered
their services to the respective Governments under which they lived to
proceed in search of Burke and Wills, and everyone was aware to some
extent of the result of their labours. They had been most successful
explorers. They proceeded in cheerfulness to encounter the dangers of the
desert, such as in the eye of every individual unaccustomed to bush
travelling seemed insurmountable. (Hear, hear.) They had all heard
something of Mr. Landsborough's expedition from the statement which he
had made before the Royal Society, and they knew something also of the
expedition undertaken by Mr. McKinlay. The immense difficulties which
each had experienced placed both gentlemen side by side as great and
successful explorers. (Cheers.) Having briefly directed attention to the
circumstances under which the meeting had assembled, he would detain them
very little longer. He was sure that they had done their duty as
inhabitants of Victoria in meeting to welcome back again to this colony
the gentlemen who had been sent out in search of those who first crossed
the continent of Australia and brought into conspicuous notice the great
enterprise, which was first initiated by the colony of Victoria, of
exploring the whole of this vast continent. (Applause.)

The Reverend Dr. Cairns, who was called upon to move the first
resolution, remarked that this was a magnificent meeting, and that he had
seldom been more delighted in the course of a long life. (Applause.) When
Mr. McKinlay was received by the Royal Society he (Dr. Cairns) made the
very natural remark that he supposed he would receive a welcome from the
public of Melbourne (hear, hear) that, however cordial might be the
welcome extended to him and to Mr. Landsborough by private committees or
private societies, the community at large had a right to express their
feelings, and in the most public manner to give a welcome to those
successful explorers. (Applause.) He thought then, as he thought now,
that in making that remark he not only expressed his own feelings but the
feelings of the community in general. A very ill-natured notice of his