The youth, who has learnt here by applied science to measure the altitude of stars, the courses of the planets and their satellites, may plunge, depending on the guidance of his faithful instruments, at once from settled homes into the field of exploration, and may reap the lasting laurels of his learning on his native soil. How glorious, then, if ere long our meeting shall narrate all the successes and achievements of the explores sent from hence; if the volumes of the Institute still, first of all, unfold the maps of mountain chains, of watercourses, of pasture-tracts, where nosy the eye is wandering over the vacant chart; or if the vivid sketches of the artist more eloquently still shall bring before our view the dreary desert, the wild romantic glens, and the scenes of nomadic life!

That as yet the pages of our volumes do not embrace the records of fresh geographic research, initiated here, is much deplored by all of us. Prudence demands, however, that for executing the extensive plan sketched out for the Victorian Expedition, the aid of Camels and Dromedaries should be employed. Ere long, however, we are confident, the expedition thus strengthened will be organised. All augurs thus far well.

Important geographical discoveries, as well in the north-western interior of South Australia as in the regions stretching north-east of Sharks' Bay, have recently not only diminished the distances between the points explored, but have also disclosed, unexpectedly, such features of the Australian interior as in all likelihood will render the work of the Victorian explorers much less hazardous and more hopeful than before. By the additional liberal support of Government, the means shall be afforded to the travellers of extending their operations over a space of time probably sufficient for connecting all the main points of former surveys of the interior.

Royal Society of Victoria