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friends Sir John and Lady Franklin, who, besides facilitating my views in every way, both
publicly and privately, with the most generous hospitality received myself and family into
their house, where Mrs. Gould and my eldest son, who had accompanied us, remained for
nearly ten months, while I pursued my researches in various parts of Van Diemen’s Land and
the continent of Australia; and it is only by those who, like myself, have had the advantage of
residing in the bosom of this amiable family, that the kindness of their nature and the goodness
of their hearts can be duly appreciated, and which can never be erased from my memory. |
must acknowledge not less gratefully the many acts of kindness rendered to me by Sir George
and Lady Gipps during my stay in Sydney. After exploring Van Diemen’s Land, the islands
in Bass's Straits, South Australia, and New South Wales, into the interior of which country I
penetrated to the distance of nearly four hundred miles from the coast-line, I despatched my
able assistant, Mr. Gilbert, to explore the western and northern portions of the country, and
returned to England in August 1840; I immediately commenced the work de novo, and the
result of my labours is now before the public. It fortunately happened at the commencement
and during the progress of the work, Her Majesty's ships the Beagle, under the command of
Captains Wickham and Stokes; the Britomart, under Captain Stanley; the Fly, under Captain
Blackwood, and the Pelorus under Captain Chambers were employed in surveying the
northern and north-western coasts of Australia; and the Erebus and Terror under Captain Sir
James C. Ross, in a voyage of discovery towards the south pole. While engaged in the
performance of their arduous duties, the officers of those vessels succeeded in procuring many
interesting novelties, which, with the greatest liberality, were communicated to me for the
present work, whereby its value has been much enhanced. This liberality will be found duly
acknowledged in the histories of the species, for the use of which I am indebted to the kindness
of B. Bynoe, Esq., Surgeon R.N., Lieut. Emery, R.N., Commander J. M. R. Ince, R.N.,
Edward Dring, Esq., Purser R.N., Dr. Robertson and Robert M‘Cormick, Esq., Surgeons
R.N., and John M‘Gillivray, Esq.

After spending two years in Western and Northern Australia, Mr. Gilbert returned to
England in September 1841, bringing with him the result of his labours, which proved of
sufficient value and importance to induce me to believe that much yet remained to be
discovered in those countries, and to direct him to return thither, which be accordingly did in
the ensuing spring; and after again visiting Swan River, and sedulously exploring the interior

so far as practicable, he proceeded to Sydney, and, unfortunately for himself, allowed his love

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