1570. Could your memory serve you sufficiently to write the purport
of that letter that is missing?--It would not.

1571. Nothing approaching to it?--I never thought for a moment of
keeping a copy of it, or of giving it to Hodgkinson to keep a copy.

1572. Have you no recollection of the general purport of it?--I
just mentioned that Mr. Burke had appointed me to take the party
out and take the command; that is about the heads of it.

1573. Have you any objection to write a letter similar to that one,
as nearly as you can remember it?--No. I write a very indifferent
hand.

1574. Which was the reason, it is to be presumed, why you got some
one to write the letter of the 19th?--Yes.

Hodgkinson arrived at Menindie on the 9th of January, 1861, and
immediately placed in Wright's hands the following letter:--

Melbourne, December 31st.

SIR,

Your despatch of the 19th instant, forwarded per Mr. Hodgkinson, was
laid before a meeting of the members of the Exploration Committee
held this day, when the following resolutions were carried
unanimously: