olay,
then Governor of the Mauritius, I was induced to forego the intention of
proceeding again direct to the north-west, and to bend my course in the
first instance to Swan River. There I could consult Sir James Stirling,
the Governor, who had been instructed on our departure from England to
afford us every assistance; and, according to the means which could then
be obtained, I might either proceed again by sea to the vicinity of the
Glenelg or the Fitzroy; or, if a proper vessel and equipments could not
be had, I might endeavour to pass the range to the north-east of that
colony, ascertain the direction of the streams which must be thrown off
by it to the interior, and trace the main river into which they fell (if
such there was) to its outlet.

PROCEED TO SWAN RIVER.

I accordingly embarked my party and the stores in my possession at Port
Louis on the 21st August 1838, and arrived on the 18th September at Swan
River, where I lost no time in communicating my views to Sir James
Stirling, who concurred in the plan for returning to the north-west; and
it was arranged that as soon as the colonial vessel Champion, then absent
on a voyage to St. George's Sound, should come back to the Swan, it
should be prepared for the conveyance to Camden Bay of myself and party,
reinforced by such additional persons as might feel disposed to proceed
there at their own cost for speculative purposes.

RETURN TO THE NORTH-WEST FRUSTRATED.

It was not however until the month of December following that the
Colonial schooner became disposable, and then new impediments arose from
her being found so much in want of repair as to be, in Sir James
Stirling's opinion, scarcely in a condition to proceed on such a voyage
as we contemplated, whilst the repairs required were of a nature which
could not be effected in the Colony. From these and other considerations,
more especially the danger and disappointment likely to be experienced
for want of proper equipment, which it was found very difficult to supply
at the Swan in an effective and satisfactory manner, the expedition to
the North-west was deemed unadvisable and for the present given up.

It is unnecessary here to dwell on the mortification I felt at being
obliged thus to abandon my long-cherished projects. The delays I had
already experienced were sufficiently vexatious, but I had endeavoured to
turn the time thus lost to some profit by endeavouring to acquaint myself
with the resources of t