Sir,

In reply to your letter of yesterday, containing an application for
Lieutenant Woods to be allowed to accompany you on the expedition which
you command, in order to fix your position in a correct and proper
manner:

I have the honour to inform you that it was the desire of the Exploration
Committee I should furnish that assistance to Mr. Walker, and, having
only one officer that I can spare for that duty, I must withhold my
consent until I see Mr. Walker and you are nearer your departure. And
further, as I understood from Mr. Gregory that Captain Alison was engaged
for the purpose of carrying out that important part of the duty, you will
be so good as to explain your reasons for want of confidence in him.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

(Signed) W.H. Norman, Commander.*

W. Landsborough, Esquire.

(*Footnote. I answered this letter; but, having sent a copy of it with
other papers from Carpentaria to Brisbane, I cannot at present present it
for publication.)

...

(COPY.)