[Journals Of Two Expeditions Of Discovery In North-West And Western Australia, Vol. 2 (of 2) by George Grey]@TWC D-Link bookJournals Of Two Expeditions Of Discovery In North-West And Western Australia, Vol. 2 (of 2) CHAPTER 5 19/19
By noon of the 22nd we had arrived within 12 miles of Perth without remarking the least trace of the supposed absentee, when we were met by Mr.Hunt the constable with the pleasing intelligence that Mr.Walker had reached Perth on the 9th instant.
In the evening we arrived at the same place, and found that Mr.Spofforth had brought in his charge the day before. ... CONCLUSION OF THE EXPEDITION. If Mr.Roe's party had been delayed only a few hours there is every probability that from the debilitated state in which the men were found they would all have perished. I deeply regretted the death of poor Frederic Smith, who had come out from England expressly for the purpose of joining me, led solely by the spirit of enterprise, and not with any view of settling.
He was the most youthful of the party, being only 18 years of age, and thence was less capable than the others of bearing up against long-continued want and fatigue, and the excessive heat of the climate, under which he gradually wasted away until death terminated his sufferings.
When aroused by danger or stimulated by a sense of duty he was as bold as a lion, whilst his manner to me was ever gentleness itself, as indeed it was to all.* (*Footnote.
He was the eldest son of Octavius Smith, Esquire, of Thames Bank, and grandson of the late William Smith, Esquire, long known in political life as Member for Norwich.) Upon the final return of the expedition a desire was expressed by some gentlemen of the colony of Western Australia to remove Mr.Smith's remains to Perth; but upon mature reflection I declined their friendly proposal, preferring rather to let him rest close by the spot where he died, having given the name of my ill-fated friend to a river which hides itself in the sandy plains near where he fell so early a sacrifice to his gallant and enterprising spirit..
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