inlay on
their safe arrival in Melbourne. (Applause.) He was the more glad to
offer his congratulations because he knew the arduous nature of the
journey which Messrs. Landsborough and McKinlay had accomplished. He was
little accustomed to appear or to speak in public, but he should have
been sorry to miss this opportunity of expressing his thanks to Mr.
Landsborough and Mr. McKinlay for the manner in which they had
endeavoured to come to the relief of the party of which Burke and Wills
were at the head. However successful they might have been in that
expedition they could have been of very little service to Burke and
Wills, for it would have been impossible to reach them in time to save
their lives. He had much pleasure in seconding the resolution and in
congratulating Messrs. Landsborough and McKinlay upon their safe arrival
in Victoria. (Cheers.)

The resolution was put and unanimously adopted amidst cheers, as were
also the resolutions subsequently proposed.

The chairman explained that Mr. Landsborough, having been out of town,
had not yet arrived at the meeting but was expected shortly. In the
meantime he called upon Mr. McKinlay to respond to the compliment which
had just been paid to himself and his brother explorer. He also requested
the meeting to excuse Mr. McKinlay from making any statement with respect
to his journey as he felt bound in the first place to communicate the
particulars to the Government by whom he had been sent out.

Mr. McKinlay, who was received with hearty and prolonged cheering,
briefly returned thanks for the kindness which had been shown him. His
journey had certainly been accomplished successfully, but it had been
undertaken under very favourable circumstances and, had such not been the
case, probably the result might have been very different. He felt himself
compelled to refrain from stating many particulars which the public would
be glad to learn, but they would no doubt be known in due course. At
present he could merely express his sincere thanks for the great kindness
with which he had been received that evening. (Cheers.)

Mr. Wyld, Mr. Poole, Mr. Kirby, and Mr. Davis, fellow travellers with Mr.
McKinlay, were severally introduced to the meeting by the chairman, and
each received a cordial welcome which they duly acknowledged.

Mr. Landsborough, who had in the meantime arrived, then came forward to
address the meeting and was greeted with cordial and enthusiastic
cheering. He