The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-27 00:00:00

ME SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY' 27, F 1862.

REGORYS LAST EXPEDITION TO
THE NORTH- WEST COASI OF dUSTRALI.d.

(From the Melbourne Age.)
Perth, Nov. 18, 1861.
Sir,—Having had the satisfaction of personally
reporting to your excellency the safe arrival at Fre-
mantle, on the 9th inst., of the barque Dolphin,
with all the members of the exploring expedition
from N.W. Australia, I now have the honour to fur-
nish the following report of the general results of
the expedition for your excellency's information,
until such time as I am enabled to complete the

maps, journals, and other papers, containing more

fully the detailed operations of the expedition,
wh;ch are in course of preparation.

Leaving Champion Bay on May 2, we passed
North West Cape on the 7th, with light and vari-
able winds, and by the 10th arrived off Nickol Bay,
anchoring at night in thechannel between Delambre

and Hauy Island.
The following day we entered the bay with an
E.S.E wind, stemming a strong ebb tide from the
S.W., and dropped anchor near the centre of it. The
afternoon of this day and the four following ones
were occupied in examir ing the bay and its shores
for fresh water and a suitable landing-place for the
horses.

An eligible spot having been at length discovered
in the S.W. corner of the bay, in a sandy cove, be-
hind which, at a distance of a few hundred yards,

was a well of tolerably good water and abundance
of green grass, the ship was removed to within three
miles of it, and the landing of the horses commenced
the same day, which was done by swimming them
off, two at a time, under the stern of the ship's cut-
ter—a very tedious process—Capt. Dixon not liking
to bring the vessel, at that time, nearer to the shore,
not knowing the prevailing winds at this season of

the year.
On arriving at the shore with the first pair of
horses, a serious accident occurred to Mr. Hearson,
the second mate of the Dolphin, resulting from the
negligence of the farrier of the expedition, who
had, notwithstanding my repeated caution to keep
a snapper on all the locks of the guns, placed his in
the boat without one ; in consequence of which, on
it being lifted out, the hammer was caught by a
lurch of the boat, and discharged a ball through the
mate's hips, inflicting a dangerous wound ; I am
happy to say, however, that, although he has had
no professional aszAstance, a good constitution, and
a little knowledge I possessed of the treatment of
gun-shot wounds, has resulted in a perfect cure.
On account of strong easterly winds, and the
distance of the vessel from the shore, all the horses
were not landed till the 21st. Their shoeing,

weighing, and distributing packs, &c., gave us full
employ until the 24th, by which time the horses
bad sufficiently recovered the effects of the voyage
to be fit for service.

Since our arrival at Nickol Bay, several parties
of natives had visited us. Their conduct at first

was apparently friendly, but on one of them being
detected attempting to spear a horse, he was fired
at, without, however, receiving any injury, although
having a very narrow escape; since which an ami-
cable intercourse has been established with the tribe
immediately belonging to the vicinity of the bay,
and continued uninterrupted up to the time of our
departure.
Everything having been finally adjusted satis-
factorily, and Captain Dixon furnished with written
instructions for his guidance during the absence of
the expedition, we took our departure, provided
with two months' rations, on 12 pack-horses; the
party consisting of eight persons, being all moun-
ted; Mr. P. Walcott remaining with the ship in
charge of stores.

As our first object was to explore the country
between the coast and the Lyons River, our course
—having first been directed inland for 20 miles to
clear the marshes that extend for many miles to
the south-westward, from the head of Nickol Bay
—was turned to the S.W., to the meridian of Cape
Freston, with a view to cutting any rivers that
would lead us, with feed and water, to the south-
ward.

Passing over about 60 miles of a tolerably fair
open pasture country, intersected by numerous
small stream-beds, rising up in low stony ranges,
to the southward, we, on the 29th, in long. 116
deg. 4 min. E., lat. 21 deg., 18 min. S., struck a
river bed 200 yards wide, and of some depth, com-
ing from the southward and eastward, which was
subsequently named the Fortescue, after the Under
Secretary of State for the Colonies, under whose
auspices the expedition took its origin.
The Fortescue was followed up from the 30th of
May to the 11th juue,on a general course of E.S.E.,
for about 180 miles. For the first 70 miles the river
rau through a hilly country of metamorphic sand-
stone, steep banks and very stony country hemming
us in on either side. Water was plentiful in pools,
which, as the dry season was far advanced, were
now only running from one to another in places ;
there was also an ample supply of grass for our
horses, but the stony nature of the country told very
severely on them, more than half having their shoes
forcibly torn from their feet in the clefts of the rocks.
From 70 miles upwards the character of the river
and adjoining country materially altered; to the
south, for eight or 10 miles extended plains of
clayey loam, covered for many miles together with
luxuriant grass, terminating in a bold and massive
range of hills, through which we were unable to
find a pass until reaching beyond the 118th degree
of E. longitude. These hills were named the liam-
mersly Range, after one of the most liberal pro-
moters of the expedition. Springs were plentiful
in the val'ey of the river; the broad-leaved mela-
leuca or cajeput, and palms with wide spreading
leaves eight to 10 feet long, grew, with other tro-
pical plants, along the grassy flats bordering deep
reaches of water, in which were caught fish of seve-
ral pounds weight each.
As we ascended the river, the pools became

smaller, and at a greater distance apart, while the
grassy plains extended in some directions beyond
the range of vision, and in others were only inter-
rupted occasionally by low stony ridges, yielding a
few acacia bushes and triodia.
On the 12th, after more than one unsuccessful
attempt, we at length succeeded in finding a pass
through the Hammersly Range to the southward,
in long. 118 deg. 4 m. E., lat. 22 deg. 15 m. S., at
an elevation of 2,000 feet atove the sea, and again
found ourselves in extensive fertile plains, running
to the westward as far as the eye could reach. After
traversing these plains for some miles to the south-
ward we entered a tract of indifferent stony coun-

try, in which we had some difficulty in procuring
water, although grasses were abundant on the
banks of most of the ravines, and on some of the
less stony ridges.
BY the 21st June, the horses had become so much
distressed with long and harassing marches, short-
ness of water, and sore feet—all the spare shoes hav-
ing been
complete oatl expended and many
of them now almost
shoeless
to form a now found it absolutely necessary
6-Poteamp, in Jong. 117 deg, 10 m. E.,
lat. 22 deg.
58
8 sec. S., at which the weaker
horses could
be el 2
rested, while I proceeded with a
flying party to Cothe examination of the un-
explored country between this and the Lyons River.
On the 22d, accompanied
y Messrs. M. Brown,
J. Harding, and B. Brockman, with 7 horses, 8
day-s'rations, and 14 gallons of water,
camp :on a S.S.W. course.
I quitted the
I)oossible with the
Travelling at a
et
much greater speed than it w,
whole party; we were enabled to
much t through a
large belt of poor dry stony country
witiu
diffi-
culty, and at 30 miles fell in with a
coming from the E.S.E. The ordinary c river
this river was only 100 yards wide, with reanaenl of
he °
water in it, lined with canes, but during the period
f
of the summer rains the water occupies a width of
from 400 to 800 yards, with a depth of from 40 to
60 feet, inundating the plains, in some places, for
more than a wile on either bark.
From the large extent of fine pasture land on
this river, the limits of which are at present un-
known, and probably extend from Exmouth Gulf
to more than a hundred miles to the westward of
where we visited it, it is likely to become, in a
very 3 few years, an important district of this Pro-
vl ce- I have accordingly named it the "Ashbur-
ton," after the noble Lord. presiding over the
ee,;.
Royal Geographical
countenance Society, to whose friendly
present
I am much indebted in
carrying out my
From the Ashburton southward, the country be-

came more rugged and almost mountainous. Some
of the higher summits have been seen by me on my
former expedition to the Lyons River in 1858, at a
distance of 60 miles, and were appropriately named

" Capricorn Range."
By noon of the 25th we succeeded in working
our way through the ranges, and on ascending
nearly the last ridge that intervened between us
and the Lyons River, had the satisfaction of view-
ing the valley of that river spread out before us,
with Mount Augustus rearing its summit over all
surrounding objects, apparently not more than 10,
although nearly 30 miles distant. Mounts Samuel
and Phillips, and other summits, were visible in the
tar south, and a few of the higher peaks of the
Barlee Range were easily recognised to the west-
ward.
Having proceeded half a day's journey further
south, completing the sketch and triangulation of
the country to a junction with my former route up
the Lycns, we returned through a better line of
country more to the eastward, crossing the Ash-
burton 12 or 14 miles higher up than on our out-
ward track, where it still maintained the same
fertile appearance, and from the summit of some
of the ranges I was able to trace its course for
more than 20 miles farther eastward, undiminished
in the size of its channel.
Arriving at the depot camp on the 29th we found
the horses left there very much refreshed, but the
pitiable condition of their hoofs precluded my carry-
ing out the original intention of pursuing an easterly
course on our return to Nickol Bay.
As we had still by us 40 days' rations, it was a
matter of great disappointment to me that I was
prevented from undertaking any further examina-
tion of this part of the country, but the unexam-
pled wear and tear of horseshoes had quite upset
all my former arragements. The best course for
us to pursue appeared to be to get back as fast as
possible to the ship, and, providing a more ade-
quate supply of farriery, to try and include in our
second trip as much of the country now left unex-
plored as we possibly could.
In accordance with the foregoing views, we com-
menced a retrograde movement on the 30th, cutting
off the bends and objectionable portions of our out-
ward track, until reaching a spot in lat. 21 deg. 53
m., and long. 117 deg. 58 m., from which point I
decided upon attempting to pass through the ranges
northward, and come out on the seacoast some-
where about Depuch Island, and from thence follow
the coast line to Nickol Bay.

By the 6th July we had retraced our steps to
the point destined for a departure from the old
route. The return journey had not altogether been
without its use, as it afforded me an opportunity
of ascending several prominent peaks, some of
considerable elevation, enabling me to add many
cross-bearings to the triangulation I had been
carrying out, fixing the position, amongst others,
of a remarkable hill formerly seen by me from the
summit of Mount Augustus, at the distance of 120
miles to the N,N.E., and which now lay not many
miles to the eastward of our present track. Al-
though I could not find time to ascend this hill, I
should estimate its height above the sea, by compa-
rison with those measured by the aneroid barometer,
at not less than 3,800 or 4,000 feet. This distin-
guished eminence I have named Mount Bruce, after
the gallant commander of the troops.
Entering the ranges to the northward on the

9th, the country was of rather an inferior descrip-
tion for the first 20 miles. We then struck the
head of a stream that led us, by the 12th, into open
plains, in which it trended much to the westward,
and finally by noon on the 16th brought us to the
sea-coast, about 18 miles to the westward of De-
puch Island. This river was afterwards named the
Sherlock. _ _ _ _

In traversing the upper part of the Sherlock,
which proved very stony, we were compelled to
abandon a horse belonging to Mr. Brookman, on ac-
count of his hoofs being completely worn through.
He was left in the midst of feed and near water, in

the hope that he would stfficiently recover to be
again made useful on our next trip, but on return-
ing, 18 days later, he was found dead on the spot
on which he was left.
The country for the last 20 miles, on approach-

ing the sea, opened out into extensive grassy fiats,
occasionally inundated by the river, yielding, even
at this dry period of the year, a large quantity of
fine pasture. The arable portion of this locality
cannot be estimated at less than from 20,000 to
30,000 acres, well watered by permanent pools in
the bed of the river and its tributaries, several of
which join it from the rugged volcanic ranges that
border the last 40 or 50 miles of its left bank.
From the 16th to the 18th a westerly course was
pursued, parallel to the sea-coast, about 20 miles in-
land, skirting the northern face of a range of gra-
nite and volcanic hills ; the country to the north-
ward being generally open grassy plains, the soil
varying from strong clays to light sandy loaras ;
Cape Lambert forming the principal exception, con-
sisting of metamorphic sandstone and volcanic
dykes.
Early on the 19th we arrived at our old encamp-
ment at Nickol Bay, and found a party of natives
occupying the spot, busily engaged mending their
nets, one of the Dolphin's boats having just left ,
the shore with a load of wood, which the natives
had assisted in collecting. A rifle shot soon at-
tracted the attention of tue party in the boat, from
whom we had the satisfaction to learn that all had
gone on well during our absence; Captain Dixon
having been able through the activity of Mr.
Angell, the chief mate, to entirely fill np the
ship's tanks with water, in which they had been
considerably aided by the natives, who gladly
offered their services in consideration of receiving a
few pounds of damaged biscuit daily.
Mr. F. Walcott had also made good use of his
time, and accumulated many botanical specimens,
curiosities in natural history, a vocabulary of the
aboriginal language, with other ethnological and
meteorological information.
The distance travelled over on this first trip was
780 geographical miles.
Eight or nine days' rest served to refresh the
horses, and re-equip the party, during which time
I was enabled to make a running survey of a por-
tion of Nickol Bay, the anchorage, and several
landing coves, as also to roughly draught the out-
lines of our explanations.
The horses having all been shod with extra
strong shoes, we resumed our explorations, pro-
vided with 90 days' rations, and nearly two sets
per horse of spare shoes, one of the party being
dismounted by turns, as we were short one horse.j
Returning nearly on our old tracks as far as the
Sherlock River, we on the sth August commenced
the exploration of the new country ; taking a S.E.
course over open plains, yielding a fow patches of
good feed, but generally covered with triodia. At
18 miles we fell in with stony ranges, in which but
little water could be found, baffling us for some
days, and eventually obliging us to establish a
depot camp in lat. 21 deg. 14m. 28 sec. S., long.
118 deg. 3m. 30 sec. E.
Accompanied by Messrs. M. Brown and J. Har-
ding, lightly equipped, I succeeded, on the Bth, in
finding a pass through the hills to the eastward,
and at 30 miles struck on a considerable stream-
bed coming from the S.S.E. In this river we found
abundance of water and water-fowl, with feed suffi-
cient for our wants; the main portion of the party
were in consequence brought forward, and en-
camped upon it by the 13th.
Tis river was remarkable for the number and
width of its channels, occupying more than half a
mile from bank to bank.:*After emerging from the
ranges, it takes a N.N.W. course for some miles,
and probably discharges its waters into the sea,
either near Cape Thouin, or by some of the many
mangrove creeks shown on the charts, about long.
117 deg. 50m. E. This river was named the Yule.
On the 14th the Yule was followed up for 20
miles through open
from plains, varying in character
good pasture to stony and sandy soil, yield-
ing triodia and
a
the river stunted variety of red-gum trees ;
branching
into many channels, renderit.g
it very difficult
to decide
its which was the main one,
but it probably derives
principal waters from the
continuation of the Haelre
which was visible from the summit Range, a portion of
mmit.of the higher
hills, at a distance of about '7O miles.
During the two following
days, one of the in-
filler channels of the river ltd us to the S.E., the

country improving, and grass more abundant,
granite rocks cropping out at intervals on the sur-
face of the plains, which had no visible limit to the

south-cast.
Pursuing a more easterly course on the 17th, we
again entered upon a hilly region, in which were
found many springs in the ravines, enabling us to
advance through the rugged country to long.
119 deg. 23 in. E., where we fell in with a river
containing a good supply of water; it was followed
down for 10 miles through a picturesque granite

country, and when left was trending towards
Breaker Inlet. It was named the Strelley.
Leaving the Strelley on the 20th on an easterly
course, many stream•beds were crossed, on which

was much grass, but the country still remained
hilly and stony. At night we encamped in a
romantic glen, hemmed in by cliffs 150 feet high,
under which were pools of water containing fish
resembling herrings, from which it received the
name of Glen Herring.
August 21.—The Glen Herring Creek carried
us 8 or 9 miles to the eastward, when it joined a
fine river 200 yards wide, coming from the south-
ward, through extensive grassy plains, the limits
of which could not be discovered in that direction.
This river, from its size and quantity of water in
its bed, would have afforded a good opportunity
of passing into the interior, but the season was now
too far advanced to admit of our making the at-
tempt, without interfering with the primary object
before us—that of penetrating far enough to decide
the question of the drainage of Central Australia.
Naming this stream the " Shaw," after the talented
Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society, we
pushed on to the eastward, up a considerable tribu-
tary, the remainder of this and the following day,
penetrating into an elevated table-land, the ascent
of which, on the 23d, proved very distressing to the
pack-horses, more especially as they had imme-
diately again to descend into deep rocky ravines,
leading to the:eastward ; but soon, however, emerged
into open plains, extending northward.
Passing over plains or along water-courses, we,
on the 26th, again found ourselves on the banks of
a fine steam running to the N.E., and encamped on
some fine grassy flats, in lat. 21 deg. 18 m. S., long.
120 deg. 30 m. E. This river was traced the next
day for 10 or 12 miles to the northward, receiving
many fine tributaries, forming altogether a river of
some importance, which, on account of the large
extent of valuable pastoral and agricultural country
afterwards found on its banks, I ultimately named
the " De Grey," in honour of the noble lord presid-
ing over the Royal Geographical Society at the
initiation of this expedition.

For the present, leaving this premising river on
an easterly course, through an elevated and in
some parts precipitous country, in which the
horses suffered severely, we arrived late in the
evening of the 29th on the banks of another river,
in a wide valley, surrounded by grassy plains,
equally promising with those on the De Grey; not,
however, before we had been compelled on two
occasions to leavo horses behind, and return for
them when water was found.

The scenery in the vicinity of this river was truly
pleasing; undulating plains of waving grass ex-
tended far away to the northward, while the banks
of the stream, which were here two hundred yards
wide, were overhung by a broad belt of cajeput
trees, the rich umbrageous foliage of which afforded
us a most agreeable shade during the many days we
afterwards followed the picturesque windings of
this fertilising stream, upon which was conferred
the name of " Oakover.”
The horses not being in a condition to prosecute
immediately an easterly march into the ranges, the
Oakover was followed upwards for two days, to
long. 121 deg. 3 min. 30 sec. E., lat. 21 deg. 23 min.
40 sec. S., when it turned too much to the SW. for
onr purpose. The next day, being Sunday, we re-
mained here for the benefit of our horses, enabling
me to obtain a set of lunar distances, which gave
our position four and a half miles to the eastward
of that by account, the chronometer furnished me
by the Acting Surveyor-General having proved per-
fectly useless ; it was one which I had known, from
many years' experience of it, to be the most defec-
tive belonging to the department.
September 2.—Resuming an easterly course for
16 miles—the first six across an open plain covered
with grass and triodia, and the remaining portion
through steep granite hills of 300 to 500 feet ele-
vation above the plain—beyond this to the east-
ward was a wide expanse of flat country, covered
with very remarkable ridges of water-worn red
sand, distributed in straight parallel lines, at the
distance of several hundred yards apart, the sand
being piled by the wind into acute ridges 30 to 60
feet high, their direction being uniformly N. 100
.deg. E.
The next morning we entered one of the valleys
leading to the E.S.E, and traced it up for 18 miles,
when no water being found, and the ridges con-
tinuing for at least 15 miles further, we were ob-
liged to commence a retreat, as several of the horses
again failed us. We did not get back to the last
waterhole till two the next day, leaving three
horses behind, unable to move; two of these were,
however, recovered the same night, by carrying
water to them; the third one, belonging to Mr.
Brown, we were obliged to abandon.
The deplorable condition of many of the horses
after this last repulse, was such as to render it ab-
solutely necessary to form a depot to refresh them ;
while, with six of the best, I made another attempt
on the 6th, accompanied by Messrs. Brown and
Harding, taking 16 days' rations and six gallons of
water.

September 6—Entering the waste of sand more
to the southward, we penetrated over 30 miles,
when the want of water and the low condition of
the horses, compelled us again to fall back, leaving
behind a portion of onr equipment:and two horses,
none of which were afterwards recovered, as they
were at too great a distance from water to be
reached without risking further losses; and had it
not been for the activity of Mr. M. Brown, who
performed, in one day, a march of 32 geographical
miles, over a heavy sand and under a hot sun, to
bripg aid from the depot camp, we probably should
haVelost two or three more; we were, therefore, for-
tunate in getting four of them into camp by the
evening of the 9th. The horses lost were the pro-
perty of-Mr. S. P. Phillips and Mr. D. M'Pherson.
The reduced number of horses and their increas-
ing inability to carry loads, had now dismounted
half the party, and 24 Lours was the longest time
that the strongest horses were capable of carrying
a rider without water. I was, therefore, with great
reluctance, compelled to relinquish the attempt to
proceed further eastward, although everything in-
dicated the existence of a large river within 40 or
50 miles, which, from the gradual depression of the
country that had been observed in the last few days'
journey, its geographical position, and the vast beds
of erratic sands blown by the S.E. trade winds
across the plains that had baffled our attempts in
that direction, tended strongly to support the opi-
nion that has long been entertained—that in this
position would be found a large river, carrying off
a great portion of the waters of Central Australia,
the discovery of which would solve one of the most
important questions that now remains unanswered,
in connection with the physical geography of
this continent, and upon which so many conflict-
ing opinions have been hazarded by some of the
most eminent geographers—a question, the solu-
tion of which has been to me one of the prin-
cipal incentives to undertake the present expedi-
tion. Nothing., therefore, but the extreme proba-
bility that any further attempts would not only end
in losses, but also seriously compromise the safety
of the party, could outweigh my anxiety to accom-
plish this most interesting part of our undertaking.
' Having, however, carefully weighed all the circum-
stances of our position, I eventually decided upon
falling back, and attempting to fill up as much as
possible of the blank that remained between this
and Nickol Bay. With this view, we returned on
the 11th to a pool in a tributary to the Oakover,
named the "Davis," and the day following to the
latter river, having been obliged to shoot a horse
belonging to Mr. J. S. Davis, which had received
injuries that rendered it unlikely to recover if left
behind.
The most promising field now left open to us for
discovery, appearing to be to the northward, we
commenced the descent of the Oakover on Sept. 12,

following its windings in a north-westerly direction,
through a grassy country, tolerably well wooded
near the banks of the river, up to the 18th, where
it formed a junction with the De Grey, in lat. 20
deg. 41 m. 30 sec. S., long. 12 deg, 21 m. E. From
the junction the united channels of these two streams
formed a fine river, from 2 )0 to 400 yards wide, con-
taining pools and reaches of water, some of consider-
able depth, in which were abundance of fish of seve-
ral varieties, amongst them eels, which I had not
before seen in. any of the rivers in Western Australia.
The De cirey was followed dlwnwards in a
west-north-west direction 75 miles, receiving se-
veral streams from the southward, amongst them
the Shaw and the Strelley. From the confluence
of the latter, in long. 119 deg. 5 m., and let. 2') deg.
16m., it turned northward, and 16 miles further

disembogued by two channels, one into Breaker
Inlet, and the other towards the west side of Spit
Point ; the greater portion of the country from the
bend northwards being an alluvial delta, much of
which is fertile, and yielding a large quantity of
luxuriant grass. _

Several days having been employed in examining
the country to the east and west of the Inlet, we
returned to the junction of the trelley, and on the
Ist October commenced ascending it to the south-
ward. Four days, through open plains of rather
inferior pasture, brought us to the foot of the granite
hills, in lat. 21 deg. S., from which point we took
a westerly course through the hills to the gorge of
the Yule, making our camp of 13th August by the
sth October. The country passed over between the
Strelley and the Yale being intersected by several
stream beds, flowing to the N.N.W., some of them
more than 100 yards wide, with good grass on their
banks and in some of the valleys.
At the Yule we left hid in a rock a pack-saddle
and 601 b weight of horse-shoes and nails, as another
horse had given in, and was hardly able to come on
even without a load. Our time not admitting of
our waiting long enough on this river to restore the
strength of the over-worked animals, we continued
our route towards Nickol Bay, nearly on our out-
ward track, to ensure finding water, reaching the
Sherlock by the 11th, having been obliged to leave
another horse behind, near abundance of both feed
and water. It was one sent by Mr. T. Burges.
On the Sherlock we were met by a party of 10
or 12 natives, who came boldly up to us, which was
the first time that any of them had done so since
our leaving the bay. From them, by the help of
Mr. Walcott's vocabulary, we obtained several mat-
ters of information relative to the vicinity, but their

soon compelled
inveterate habits of thieving very
us to keep them out of our camp, which they resen-
ted by setting fire to the long grass, to try to burn
us out.

Resuming our homeward movement on the 13th,
we, by easy stages, travelling only early in the
morning and late at night, arrived without much
difficulty in the bay. On the morning of the 17th,
finding all going on well, the watering of the ship
having been kept up to ensure an ample supply for
our horses on the return voyage, as it would have
been useless and dangerous to attempt the passage
of them overland in their present condition, more
particularly as this was the driest period of the year.
The distance travelled on this trip was 985 geo-
graphicalmiles, making a total of 1,765, or 2,040
statute miles.
Giving the horses a day or two to rest before
swimming them off to the ship, I availed myself of
the delay to examine the N.E. shore of Nickol Bay,
with a view to the selection of a suitable site for a
settlement, Mr. Walcott having reported a good
anchorage in that quarter. I accordingly, on the
19th October, stated in the life-boat with Captain
Dixon, and ran across to Cape Lambert, taking
soundings, and landing at several places to procure
f possible, the existence
bearings, and ascertain, i
of fresh water, The result, however, was unfavour-
able, although more than one excellent anchorage
was found, yet no water was procured, the coast
being rocky, and intersected by many mangrove
creeks.

A portion of the land shown on the Admiralty
charts as belonging to Cape Lambert, we found to
be an island, which I have accordingly named after
the captain of the Dolphin,
The weather having proved unfavourable, we did
not succeed in returning to the ship until noon
on the 21st, when we weighed and stood in for
the landing cove, for the purpose of shortening
the distance we should have to swim the horses off.
Light winds, however, prevented our getting in near
enough that night, but the following morning the
Dolphin was anchored in 11 feet water, It, mile off
a point from which we towed off 8 horses the same
afternoon.

The remaining 6 horses and the equipment of
the Expedition having been safely shipped by 4
p.m. on the 23d, we finally got under weigh, with
a westerly wind, and stood out to sea through the
passage between Hauy and Delambre Islands, in 9
fathoms water. From this time to the 3d of Nov.,
contrary winds carried us to long. 101 E. and lat.
31 deg. S., where we met favourable winds, which
brought us in sight of Mount Williman by the Bth,
and the following day came to anchor in Gage's
Roads, after a passage of 17 days.
It had been my intention to have 'called at
Champion Bay, and land the gentlemen and horses
belonging to that district; but having been driven
so far to the westward, I deemed it advisable to
land the whole party at Fremantle, and make ar-
rangements to forward the horses belonging to the
northern settlers overland, by Mr. Maitland Brown,
enabling me at once to terminate the charter party
of the Dolphin.
Adopting the course which I have found most
convenient on similar occasions, I now proceed to
offer a few remarks on the general feature, produc-
tions and natural capabilities, &c., of the country
traversed by the expedition, which could not, with-
out disadvantage, have been introduced into the
foregoing narrative.
Commencing with its geographical and geologi-
cal peculiarities, that portion of the country that came
under observation consists of a succession of ter-
races, rising inland for nearly 200 miles, more or
less broken up by volcanic hills towards the coast.
The first belt averages from 10 to 40 miles in width
from the sea, and is a nearly level plain, slightly
ascending to the southwards, with an elevation of
from 40 to 100 feet, the soil generally being either
light loam or strong clays, according as it is the re-
sult of the disintegration of the granite rocks that
occasionally protrude above its surface, or of volca-
nic rocks of black scoria that frequently interrupt
the general level. Hills of this nature also consti-
tute the greater portion of the more elevated islands
off the coast, Cape Lambert, and the promontory
that shelters the western side of Nickel Bay. The
generality of these rocks do not, however, yield so
rich a soil as might be expected from their origin ;
this is owing to the absence of actual lava, the erup-
tive heat having only been sufficient to convert the
superincumbent primary and tertiary rocks into a
vitreous scoria, having a specific gravity of 3.2, and
is highly indestructible in its texture.
Proceeding inland for the next 50 or 60 miles is a
granite country that has been originally cropped
with horizontal sandstones, and has an elevation of
about 1,000 feet ; this range terminates to the south-
ward in level plains of good soil, the produce of the
next series of more elevated country, while towards
the northern edges the granite and sandstones have
undergone great changes through the action of nu-
merous trap dykes that have greatly disturbed its
surface, producing metamorphic rocks, some resem-
bling jasper, and others highly cellular and scoriace-
ous.

In about latitude 22 degrees on the meridian of
Nickol
Bay, we come upon another and more ele-
vated range,
trending away to the S.E , having an
altitude of 2,500 feet above the sea. This, unlike
the last section, has a southern escarpment of 500
or 600
dergone little change, and has an average
feet, and consists of horizontal sandstones
and conglomerates, which have comparatively un-
dergone
breadth
of eight or 10 miles, the southern flank being bor-
dered by fertile valleys of strong loamy clays
merging gradually to the southward into strong
ridges and hills, some having au elevation of nearly
4,000 feet, the culminating point being attained at
Mount Bruce in lat. 22 deg. 30 m.
From this point the country gradually falls to the
Ashburton, the bed of which river, in the same
meridian as the bay, is about 1,600 feet above the

sea, and the adjoining ranges not above 2,200 feet,
or about the same as the country on the Gas-
coigne, Lyons, and Upper Murchison.
On minerals, I was unable to discover any traces,
except iron. Quarts reefs occasionally traverse the
country in a N.N.E. and S.S.W. direction, or nearly
the same as the mineral lodes at Champion Bay,
but I could not find any instance in which this rock
offered much to indicate the probable existence of
gold, it being far surpassed in this respect by the
rocks on the Upper Murchison. Coal does not ap-
pear likely to be found within the limits of the
country passed over, unless to wards the eastern-most
point attained by the expedition.
With regard to the harbours on the coast, I can
only speak of Nickol Bay and the anchorage under
Rosemary and the adjacent islands. The former I
consider only second to King George's Sound, as it
can be entered in all weathers, either from the
' north or north-east, and there is reason to believe
that a safe passage exists between Legendre and
Dolphin Islands, leading into Mermaid Straits,
where there appears to be an excellent harbour at
all seasons of the year.
The soundings towards the eastern and western
shores of Nickol Bay, taken at low water, shows
sufficient depth for vessels of considerable tonnage
to lie within a cable's length of the shore, the
bottom being fine sand and soft mud. Towards
the head of the bay the water is much shallower,
not carrying more than two fathoms two miles from
the shore. No reefs are known to exist in this bay
except quite close in to the lend.
In making the running survey of the western
promontory, I found that all to the north of Slop-
ing Head was an island, having a boat channel, be-
tween from half a mile to a mile wide, to the outer
portion; I therefore gave it the name of Dolphin
Island.

The tides are tolerably regular, and average 16
feet, but at the spring they rise 21 feet, on which
occasions the whole of the western promontory,
including the high lands for several miles to the
westward, are entirely cut off by the sea, the other
opening being under Enderby Island—a circum-
stance that greatly detracts from the value of these
otherwise fine harbours, as it would require two
miles of causeway to connect the best landing place
where water is to be found with the mainland.

The average declination of the needle through-
out this district I found to be one degree east, the
result of many amplitudes and azimuths; there is,
however, in the vicinity of many of the volcanichills
great local attraction.

Of the climate I can only say that during the
five months we remained on the coast we never
experienced the same inconvenience from it that
we frequently have done within the limits of the
settled districts of the colony ; the weather was,
however, principally fine, and the sky clear dur-
ing our stay, only two showers having occurred,
3ne at the latter end of May and the other in June;
the meteorological register kept at Nickol Bay
shows the following results, from observations taken
at all hours of the day and night :

Thermometer,
May
June
July
August
September
October

Maximum.
80
76
78
80
83
92

Minimum.
65
63
56
54
65
70

.....
Under the peculiar circumstances of the thermo-
meter being placed on a sand-bank in the sun dur-
ing the hot days in October, it rose to 178 deg. of
Fahrenheit, whilst the lowest it ever fell to was up
the hills in July, when it was 2 deg. below freezing
just before sunrise.
The winds continued to blow almost uninterrupt-
edly from the E. and S.E. during the first four
months, veering to the S.S.E. and S. and occasion-
ally to the N.B. Latterly the wind was alternately
S.E. in the morning, and N.W. or westerly in the
afternoon; the sky becoming frequently overcast,
and every appearance of the near approach of the
rainy season, which it has been observed by former
navigators and explorers to do about the beginning
of November and continue to March.

Amongst the natural productions, I would first
briefly refer to the beds of pearl oysters, as they are
likely to become of immediate commercial impor-
tance, considerable numterd ha iv been gathered
by the crew of the Dolphin at their leisure time,
the aggregate value of which, I am told, is between
£5OO and £6OO, besides pearls, one of which has
been valued by competent persons at £25. The
limits of the bed are as yet undefined, but there is
good reason to believe, from the position of it, that,
with proper apparatus, ships could soon be loaded
with them.
Sandalwood was found in small quantities, very
highly scented, but too widely scattered to become
of much importance as an article of export.
Of indigenous fruits, &c., we observed the adan-
sonia, or gouty stemmed tree of Sir George Grey
(nearly allied to the boabab or monkey bread-fruit
of Southern Africa.) Sweet and water melons, simi-
lar to those formerly seen by me on Lyon's River,
but of much larger size ; a small gourd ; a wild fig,
well tasted, and a sweet plum, very palatable, were
found in tolerable abundance.
I have already spoken of the palms which grow on
the banks of the Fortescue ; they are very handsome,
and grow to the height of 40 feet, but not having
brought in any specimens, it has not been yet iden-
tified as to its variety.
Tobacco does not grow so luxuriantly here as on

the Lyons River, but the natives collect it, and after
preparation, chew it ; but we did not on any occa-
sion observe them to smoke.
Many beautiful flowers were also collected, which
will be forwarded to some of the most eminent bo-
tanists, to be described and classified.
It now only remains for me to give an opinion on
the capabilities of the country for colonisation. It
wonld be almost impossible to particularise the po-
sitions or define the limits of country adapted for
grazing purposes, beyomi. the reference already
made to thew. The total amount of land available
for this purpose within the limit of our route I
should estimate at not less than two or three mil-
lions of acres, and of this I may safely say 200,000
are suitable for agricultural purposes, the greater
portion of which lies on the two flanks of the Ha-
mersley Range, on the banks of the Ve Grey and
its tributaries, and on the lower Sherlock.
Of the fitness of this district for the growth of
wool, which, on account of its being an intertropical
country, it is generally supposed it would be un-
suitable, I would remark that its elevation above
the sea appears likely to obviate the objection,
and render it probable that sheep may not de-
generate in the same way they are found to do
in other tropical countries ; at any rate, flocks are
now being pushed over on the same latitude in
Queensland, and we do not hear of the wool-grower
complaining that such is the case there.
As to its fitness for the growth of cereals, it is
quite possible that wheat and barley may not come
to the same degree of perfection they do in the more
temperate latitudes of Australia, but there is no rea-
son to doubt its capability of growing sufficient
grain for the support of a numerous population.
What it appears more highly qualified for than
' anything else is the growth of cotton—a question
which at the present juncture cannot be lost sight
of. From my personal observation of the cultiva-
tion of this plant in Egypt, and the attention I
have recently paid to this subject while in Europe,
I feel confident that a very considerable portion of
the arable lands on the De Grey and Sherlock are
precisely the soils adapted for the production of this
valuable commodity. As, however, I purpose to
make this the subject of a more lengthy paper at a
future period I will not now venture to enlarge
upon it.
As the number and disposition of the aborigines
is likely to have some effect on the first settle-
ment of a district, I would give it as my opinion
that these people will not prove particularly
troublesome to the settlers, if properly and fairly
treated. They are not numerous, and appear very
willing to take employ under Europeans, and will
no doubt soon be made as useful as in the other dis-
tricts. In stature they rather exceed the usual stan-
dard, some of them measuring two or three inches
over six feet.
In, bringing my report to a close, I vould wish to
observe, that although the results )f the expedition
have fallen short of my sanguine hopes with regard
to geographical discovery, and will, I am afraid, in
some degree disappoint the anticipations of the

eminent geographers who have lent their valuable
aid in promoting the undertaking, yet I cannot but
hope that the large amount of additional fertile
country it has brought to our knowledge will com-
pensate in some degree for the deficiency. I am
however unable to refrain from expressing my opi-
nion that had not so many concurrent circumstances
combined to retard the departure of the expedition
until so late in the season, and it had arrived on the
coast at the time originally reeommmded by the
Geographical Society, it would, in all probability,
have resulted in the full accomplishment of the ob-
ject they had in view.

It now devolves upon me to perform the pleasing
duty of recording my entire satisfaction with the
manner in which the whole of the members of the
expedition put forward their best energies in the
performance of their respective functions. To Mr.
Turner I am indebted for the care bestowed on the
management of the store department, which came
under his immediate charge. To Messrs. Brockman
and Hall, J. M'Court, and James, are due my ac-
knowledgments for the cheerful alacrity with which
they performed the duties allotted to them.

Of Messrs. Maitland Brown and J. Harding I
cannot speak too highly. Accompanying me on
all the extra services upon which I was engaged,
they had to endure privations of no ordinary de-
scription, which they met with a spirit of steady
fortitude deserving of the highest praise. Of the
valuable services rendered to the expedition and
to science by Mr. P. Walcott I have already had
occasion to refer, and I sincerely hope that his
talents and zeal in the pursuits of botany and na-
tural history may meet a more substantial reward
than the thanks which are justly due to him and
those gentlemen who have given their time and
talents gratuitously in the service of their fellow-
colonists.

To Captain Dixon and the officers and crew of
the Dolphin every praise is due for the assistance
which on all occasions they promptly afforded in
aiding the expedition, and for which I gladly avail
myself of the present opportunity to return my best
thanks.

In conclusion permit me to tender to your Excel-
lency my acknowledgment for the readiness with
which you have acceded to my various suggestions
in carrying out the arrangements of the expedition
since the passing of the vote of money in aid by the
Local Legislatnre,—l have the honour to be, your
Excellency's most obedient servant,

F. T. GREGORY,
Commander N. 'W. A. E.
His Excellency Governor Kennedy, &c., &c.

LAW INTELLIG.ENCE,—(Feb. 26.)

COURT OF CHANCERY.
IN BANKRUPTCY-IN RE SCOTT RUSSELL.

The Solicitor-General, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rox-
burgh, and Mr. Garth (of the common law bar) ap-
peared in support of a petition against the adjudi-
cation of Mr. John Scott Russell, of No. 20, Great
George-street, Westminster, and of Millwall, ship-
bqilder, pronounced by Mr. Commissioner Goul-
burn on the 22d inst. ; Sir Hugh Cairns and Mr.
Bagley, for the petitioning creditor, appeared to
support the Commissioner's judgment; Mr. Cotton
appeared for the official assignee.

The Solicitor-General stated that the decision of
the Commissioner was disputed on two grounds—
namely, that there had been no act of bankruptcy ;
and, secondly, that there was no valid petitioning
creditor's debt. Mr. Scott Russell was under con-
tract to build the Great Eastern steamship, and he
made a sub-contract with Mr. Lester (the petition-
ing creditor) for the performance of works to the
upper deck for £5,500, and time was to be an im-
portant ingredient in the contract. The sub-con-
tract was not performed in time, but all the money
except £5OO was paid. There were other cross
demands between Mr. Scott Russell and Mr. Lister
for materials, labour, &c. After the happening of
the accident to the Great Eastern disputes arose
between the company and Mr. Scott Russell, and an
action was brought by the latter, and finally the
matter was referred to arbitration, in which an
award was made in favour of Mr. Scott Russell for
£lB,OOO, but that sum was given after striking out
all items relating to the works Mr. Lester had un-
dertaken to perform, amounting to £2,000. Mr.
Scott Russell was obliged to appeal to the Court of
Queen's Bench to enforce the award, and he pro-
ceeded for the £lB,OOO. Mr. Lester pressed Mr.
Scott Russell for the payment of the balanee due to
him, and on the latter demurring to pay more while
there was the claim unsettled between the company
and their contractor, an action was brought by Mr.
Lester, and that action was itself a subject of arbi-
tration, which arbitration was proceeding, but no
arbitrator had been appointed.
The Lords Justices required the question to be
argued whether in such a state of things the credi-
tor had a right to proceed in bankruptcy, which was
accordingly done.
Sir Hugh Cairns and Mr. Bagley addressed the
Court on the point, after which
The Lords Justices ordered the remainder of the
case to stand over until next Wednesday. The
advertisement is stayed until after the petition is
disposed of.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—CARLISLE, Feb. 25,

CROWN COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Willes.)
Robert Robinson, blacksmith, 50 ; William Ro-
binson, blacksmith, 22 ; and Hugh Earl, blacksmith,
40, were placed at the bar upon the charge of the
wilful murder of Edward Atkinson, water-washer,
on the 14th of January last, at Brocklewath.
Mr. Overend, Q C., and Mr. Maule appeared for
the prosecution ; Mr. Campbell Foster and Mr. W.
C. Gully for the prisoners.
It appeared from the opening statement of the
learned counsel for the prosecution and from the
evidence of the witnesses called that the prisoners
were engaged in catching salmon (poaching), and
that the person called Edward Atkinson was at-
tempting to apprehend them for what they were
doing. By an Act of Parliament passed last year
(the 24th and 25th of Victoria, cap. 96) there was
a provision that if any person should attempt to
take fish in any private property in which any per-
son had a right of fishery it was an illegal act ;
and the Act further provides that if any person
was so found doing any person had a right to ap-
prehend him and take him into custody. The
learned counsel said that these three men were en-
gaged in attempting to take fish at a spot which
was the private property of a person who has a
right of fishery ; and that the person who was
killed was lawfully going there to take them into
custody, and at the time he was attempting to ap-
prehend them he was killed by them, which by the
law was wilful murder on their part. It appeared
that the Earl of Carlisle is Lord of the Manor of
Cumwhitton, and has there the manor and
the fishery in the river Eden at a place
called Brocklewath, and it appeared that this
Brocklewath is a place to which salmon resort very
much to spawn. On the 13th of January the de-
ceased, Atkinson, who had been a watcher for a
long time, with another watcher called Bowman. a
policeman named Cowman, and a labourer named
Irwir, went in the direction of Brocklewath for the
rpiuvrepdo
at
Bro
se
of watching
wi eath daubrniuntgt
one
e,heelok in night.
e tThehemyeranr. -
ing. There is a little island in the river there; and
h
their object being to conceal themselves, Atkinson
took off his stockings and carried first one and then
another across the small stream which separated it
from the river bank. They concealed themselves
among the willows till between six and half-past
six in the morning, when they heard a dog bark in
the direction of a house occupied by a farmer named
James Milburn, which is situated about 60 yards
from the river side. Waiting for a short time they
heard footsteps in the main stream, and presently
they saw a man in the river, evidently fishing.
They kept quiet, and presently he came nearer to
them, and went on fishing by the side of the island.
The men went side by side with him for some 20
yards, and then, for some reason or another he sud •
denly gave a whistle. Immediately on his doing
so the deceased, Atkinson, jumped into the water
and seized him, and then called to Bowman,
"Come in, Bob, and help me." Accordingly B o w-
man went in, and Atkinson said, " Put the twitch
on him." A twitch is a small handle of wood, with
a piece of string attached to it, which is put round
the arm and secures a person more effectually.
Accordingly Bowman and he were engaged in put-
ting the twitch on when the man said, " There is
no occasion to do that ; I will go quietly." Cow-
man was told by Atkinson that he need not come
into the water; and while he was going along the
island he thought he heard, a little further up, the
noise of some persons approaching. He went for.
ward and met two persons with sticks in their
hands an 3. with arms uplifted in a threatening atti-
tude. Cowman said, " Don't commit a breach of the
peace, I am a police officer." However, instcad of
desisting, the smaller of the two, who would be
L identified as the younger Robinson, struck him on
the shoulder, and after that the other struck him a

severe blow and knocked him down. He then re-
ceived more blows, but he did not know- from
and they loft him insen,ibi'.% It, oppc -gyred that
blow was made at Irvin, but his foot slipped,
and he went down ; but he had an oliportuniiy
of seeing the man, and his evidence was ma-
terial. Bowman suddenly saw two men coming
upon them in the direction where Cowman had
been, who struck him a severe blow which knocked
him down into the water. The next thing Bow-
man recollected was that he found himself crawling
out of the water on to the land. The last thing he
recollected abut Atkinson was that these two men
were close upon him, and one of them, without a
stick, had got his arms round him. So that it
would appear that the man, instead of going quietly,
immediately atter his companions came, turned
round upon Atkinson. _lrwin had escaped, but he
saw men going in that dire,
etion, and, although he
did not see, he heard heavy blows upon something—'
whether on Bowman or Atkinso,
he could not tell.
Bowman was the first man who ca-
me to his senses.
He went forward and met Cowman; and these two,
not seeing or hearing anything of their CemPaniens'
thought they had gone off somewhere,
and went
away towards Corby. Irwin then got nil, went
along the island, and found Atkinson lying, by the
river side, the upper part of his dress was dry- 11.
had been dragged out of the water for some 43;5"
tance, and left on the shore in a state of insensibi.'
lity, with his clothes pulled over his face. After a,
little time Milburn showed himself in one of the'
fields. Irwin called out and told him there was a
man in a bad condition, upon whioh Milburn got
a cart and horse and conveyed him up to his house
and placed him upon a sofa. He was attended by'
a medical man, but he died about 1 o'clock. At the
spot where Atkinson was found lying there were
evident marks of a person having been dragged out
of the water, and the suggestion on the part of the
prosecution was that he received his injuries while
standing in the water, that he never got absolute
down in the water, but had been dragged out and
left lying on the side. Close to the place where the
man was apprehended in the water were found a
pole and a net, with a salmon in the net, and this
might be the reason why the whistle was given.
About the place were found marks of two pair
of shoes and a pair of clogs, and these marks
were traced across the fields and up a lane
in the direction of Cumwhitton, where the peisonera
were apprehended and identified. It appearedtha!
a short time after the affray the prisoners had paesee
Milburn's house, and old Robinson said, " I 0321
afraid we have kilt or done for old Atkinson." 111
using that expression he acknowledged himself a.
party to the act. The younger Robinson was taken
into custody said that they were using his father
very badly before they went int:, the water to get
him away. That was an admission that he We 4
present, and the father recognized the statement al
true by saying, " You can see the ;.narks on my heiT
and on my cheek.' The fishery where this tong;
place was the private property of Lord Carlisle, Llthc;
the prisoners were unlawfully there atten:riting„t,
take fish. Atkinson and the others were faa,7411"4;
according to the Act of Parliament, attempting*
take this man into custody. On the part of tho
prosecution it was contended that if persons cony
blued together to use violence, and resist to the ut'
most any person who should lawfully attempt
take them into custody, and inflict serious injury'
which resulted in death, the offence was murder
If it were not so, police officers and others lawfully
taking persons into custody would have no peotev
tion. It was for the jury to say whether these three
men combined to resist in that way. If they
into conflict, and blows were given, no doubt lo
would be manslaughter ; but if they went for Oil
purpose of resisting any person interfering 'Nita
them, if they carried out that purpose and inflietem
blows which resulted in death, then murder must "-
the verdict.
It was elicited in the cross-examination of the,
witnesses that Milburn was tenant to a gentle
named Clark, a considerable landowner, whe,,,°'-
estate was on one bank of the river, and that oire
Clark claimed a right to fish in respect of his lane't
and Milburn, as his tenant, had asserted that
and fished, and his claim to do so had been allowea's
The island in question where the deceased `can
killed was a part of Milburn's farm, whose' h°l;ed
was close by. The watchers had not been appeietl+l3o
conservators of the river under the provisions
Fishery Act of last session
At the close of the case. for the prosecution thee
learned counsel for the prisoners sub.nitted that theer'ci
was no case. The watchers, not being appeihtbe
conservators according to the requirements of t 0
33d section of the new Salmon Fishery Act, nolo
right to apprehend persons infringing its provisionlt'
Then, the 24th section of the General Larceny I°,
of last session did not apply, as the dwelling-ho he
and lands adjoining were in the occupation of til.4
tenant, giving a license to fish by authority of Pi
landlord, and Mr. Clark, the landlord, claim' d ;
private right of fishing at that place, which ousteif
the jurisdiction of the justices to inflict any finch()
the parties so acting were brought before the
justices, and was not an offence within that seetl.ty
of the statute. There was, therefore, no author of
to apprehend the prisoners under the provisionea
the last mentioned statute, and their atteniPi to
apprehension was illegal, and they had a right

resist the assault made upon them: et;
His Lordship said that when it came belar,ho
Court which had power to determine the right rpo,
objection to the jurisdiction was gone. The °tot
tions raised by Mr. Foster might materially 9'",-0r
the question whether it was a case of murds,i of
manslaughter; men were not to be conviete"/i,
murder upon fine points of law; but there wage.
dente to go to the jury on the charge of Pislaughter,
Mr. Foster then addressed the jury for the, 'tbe
soners, contending that the common object 0,"- co
prisoners was to fish for salmon, and the evia to
failed to show that they had any common objec'er
resist all persons who might molest them P„,aerf
tremity and at all risks. As to the elder prisical
evidence failed to show that he had talon -00
part in the attack upon Atkinson ; and as tic) 00
other two prisoners, there was no direct eviaeoat
that they had struck Atkinson, bat evidenea;;dly
Bowman had used a baton, and had struck sc'ao,
when knocked down by the two younger pris°l3;ell
and when close to Atkinson, and could not tell
whom he had hit ; and Atkinson himself was arli/ 0
with a kind of short flail, which he called his btd°
having a loose piece of wood swinging bY a
sgwesitnegdintgh atthiisn
itnhsetrustmruegngt
iron swivel at the end of it, and it was °1!1;
in the water it was not improbable that, 1,.
head in tbv,
fight, the swivel had struck his own
lerooufn
the blow which had produced concussion of
.ta_i
brain, which resulted in his death, had been thrly,
received and was not struck by any of the P,t.
round hi
strong el-,0
soners. At any rate, it was a mutter left in doeu"
which would not warrant a conviction.
His Lordship having summed up,
The jury retired, and after an absence o=,
hours returned into court and requested his low
ship to read a part of the evidence as to the
ro,
hishead, and that
pression used by the elder Robinson to
'• I'm afraid we have kilt Atkinson." His loresoo
having done so, they shortly after found east
prisoners guilty of manslaughter, recommena
the elder Robinson to mercy. 1%3
His lordship sentenced the elder Robinson t 0 the
tl
months' imprisonment with hard labour, and do
other two prisoners to 10 years' penal servit
each.
Throughout the day the court was derlsebiltcrowded, and the case was not concluded till eiga,
o'clock, when the business of the assizes terniin_gateew,
Mr. Justice Mellor went early today to •D'
castle to open the commission.

BIRTHS. St'
BENNET. —On the 24th inst. at Rou h Hall, 13,111.11100°
Edmund's, the lady of Philip gam
Bennet late Royal
Guards Blue, of a son and heir. '
LEVETT.—On the 24th inst. at 13 Ch qh Iv-street' Vci:
Jane Levett, of a daughter. ' c'
a
MARSHALL,--ROenv.thGe.
is,24lathrshinasllt,.,ufata Pdayurtohnt
t.Vicarage] tb
, iv'
ge • 0 •
STRADLING.-- On the 22d inst., at Roseville, Cliiit`).o3sl
den, near Bridgwater, the wife of Commander Str"
Indian Navy, of a son.
MARRIAGES. Weld Cute
pel, the 25th inst., a i,.1%T to
pel, .':'outhgate, Lieutenant Richard Bradshaw, iiraigert
Emma Loveday, fourth daughter of the late I. ` •
Esq., of Arno's-grove, Southgate. Gabileld
GABRIEL—MYERS.—On the 26th inst , Maurice and
of 27, Harley-street, Cavendish-square -to Esther, nad ().
daughter of the late Woolf Myers of dhelmsfoi,ict. '
Mrs, Myers, of 13, Kent terrace, 'Regent's-Pari''

• DEATHS. ~-, user L'
. BADDELEY.—On the 25th inst , Lieut.-Col John. -cr'l-
Baddeley,al°
BALFOITR.—On. the 23d inst., at Newton Don, Kelso,
Hon. Mrs. Balfour. ifister;
CAYLEY.—At his house, 11, Dean's-yard, NirestD)vidit3o
Edward Stillingfleet Cayley, M.P. for the North ,-'
of Yorkshire, aged 60. atlar'
LANCASTER,—On the 25th inst., at 16, Connaughtt, iNgl
Commander Henry Lancaster, R.N , aged 71. -``: ta'
a midshipman on board the Victory,' at Trafalg6“
one of the few survivors of Lord Nelson's officers' „ Ijott,
Lorr.—On the 25th inst , at Deal, Kent, Miss Jall',,idel
only sister of Mr. Deputy Lott, of Bow-lane, Cheat
aged 50. sod' er
NICHOLAS.—On the 24th inst ,at Somerton Court,
it
Esopenirte3T,
vi
ANai VoiytuillilEiinya.e7s j
~(!snnei cit,th,thloheel,ias2ys3:
wife,
Eir
rcn: 1:h.
at
i.
aged
........,../--;
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-,7V14(5'
LONDON ' Printed
.and Published b MITRDO --,,,,- 11.24
of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN OffleeLch of
Y
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the 'An°
Niddlegez,—Thursday, February 27, 18U'
eeTdhare.da6ssß;
eacinindajyr,olf3,;