EXPLORATION OF NORTHERN AUSTRALIA.
Sin—Two articles have appeared in your influential paper advocating the merits of M. Haug, as the original proposer of the expedition to explore Northern Australia from the Victoria River to the Gulf of Carpentaria. In- stead of his being the author of the plan about to be executed, as it is hoped, under the experienced command of Captains Stokes and, Sturt, M. Haug's proposition was to start from Perth in Western Australia, to proceed from thence to Shark's Bay and ascend the Gascoyne River to its sources, &c., and cross the whole continent to the Murray or Darling; a plan pronounced by the highest authorities as perfectly impracticable. A look at the map, will at once show the difference between the proposal of M. Haug and of the Geographical Society. It will be unnecessary to Say more on this subject, at present, than to beg of you the favour of the insertion of these lines, and to
believe me, Sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, F.R.G.S.
[This letter was one of those in type last week, but omitted under the pressure of other matter. Some of the facts stated in it are correct; but how widely the total effect differs from the entire truth may be seen on comparing this letter with what the Duke of Newcastle said to the Australian deputation: It is quite true that the plan proposed by M. Haug is not identical with the plan now adopted by her Majesty's Government ; but those who are acquaint- ed with the whole history of the subject know that the proposition to explore the Northern portion of Australia originated with M. Haug; that his plan em- braced a large portion of the scope and objects included in the present plan ; that his original proposition was subject to revision by gentlemen connected with Australia, with science, or with office, and necessarily underwent modi- fications; and that although there might be technical difficulties in placing a foreigner in command over an expedition despatched by the British Go- vernment, he has in point of fact been recognized by all the authorities to whom the plan has been submitted, as its original proposer. That he has received every due consideration from the very highest of those authorities we learn, this week, from the lips of the Colonial Minister. It is true that M. Haug was not mentioned in the last report at the meeting of the Geo- graphical Society ; but that omission created considerable surprise amongst those who were cognizant of the facts. It would as little do to dissociate M. Haug from the original suggestion of the expedition, as it would to deny connexion between Colonel Thompson and Mr. Cobden with Sir Robert Peel's Bill for the remission of the Corn-duties.—En.]
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