A Successful Exploration through the Interior of Australia, from ifdbourne
to the Gulf of Cmpentaria. Edited by William Wills. (Bentley.)—It is so short a time since we had occasion, while reviewing a small volume on the subject by Mr. Andrew Jackson, to express at some length our opinion respecting the mode of conduct and results of the Burke and Wills exploring expedition, that we are compelled to notice Mr. Wills's more ambitious work in a far more summary manner. It consists of a detailed narrative of the origin, progress, and close of the expedition, compiled principally from the letters and journals of the explorer, W. J. Wills ; and its editor is the father of that heroic and unfortunate man. The general conclusions arrived at by Mr. Wills as to the due apportionment of the blame which the miserable termination of the expedition must call forth, are, in the main, very similar to those which we have already expressed. He presses somewhat more heavily on Mr. Brake than we were, on the whole, disposed to do ; and he throws more blame upon the Exploration Committee—a conclusion in which, after reading the additional evidence that he has brought forward, we are not disinclined to coincide. We can scarcely find it in our hearts to quarrel with the paternal feeling which has led Mr. Wills to dwell at such length upon the previous career of his gallant son ; but we may be allowed to express a regret that he has given way to this natural impulse, since its indulgence has, in our opinion, somewhat detracted from the value of his book. We cannot, however, sympathize with the discontent which he expresses against the Geographical Society for having bestowed its gold medal upon the representatives of Mr. Burke. It is to the authorized leader of the expedition that this mark of honour was plainly due ; and Mr. Wills had no right to expect that the society would, in favour of his son, break through their invariable rule of never bestowing two medals on the same exploit. At the same time we are glad of an opportunity of repeating our conviction that his son was the only man holding a responsible position in con- nection with the expedition, to whose judgment and conduct no sort of imputation can possibly attach.
Previous page
