From W. J. O'Donnell   16 October 1886

Cambridge Gulf¹

16th October 1886

Dear Baron

Your letters (2) only reached me yesterday;² the delay was owing to the fact of my letters having been sent after me to the Gold field. I in the mean time returning by a short route missed the mailman.

I am indeed pleased to hear that the specimens arrived in good condition, and I am still more pleased to know that you have honored me by naming one of them after me,³ and for so doing allow me to tender you my most sincere thanks. — In one of your letters was enclosed a letter from a Gentleman who is Town Clerk in Adelaide⁴ I am sorry that I could not comply with his wishes and forward him tracings of the Native drawings discovered by me in the Granite Country "Kimberly" I had already posted the drawings to J. A. Panton Esqr. of Melbourne⁵ — I am writing Mr. Panton by this mail and will beg of him to forward to Mr Worsnop copies of the tracings. I have also written Mr Worsnop explaining the matter. These drawings are but crude efforts of the Native and are not at all to be compared to those discovered by Capt. Grey in the sandstone ranges near the Glenelg River.⁶ Up to the present time I have not been able to start on the expedition to the heads of the Glenelg and Prince Regent Rivers⁷ — I hope to start some time late in December — during the trip I will devote a portion of my time to the Collection of plants and hope that my efforts may prove of some interest to you. I note what you say in response to the fruits as well as flowers of various plants and will attend to it. Your suggestion that I should preserve some names on my map during my next exploration I will also attend to.

The news lately from the aurifferous country is more encouraging⁸ Many nice parcels of gold find their way into here, one nice nugget I saw last week weighed thirty one ounces. A great many diggers are living in hopes of a permanent field being found when the rains set in — probably next month — Reefing will however be the mainstay of this Country, and I firmly believe that many rich ones will be discovered ere long — A great amount of hardship is occurring here to these men who have no means to carry them on. This will never be a poor man's diggings, and people should not come here without means.

I notice in the enclosed printed slip, that the printers have made a mistake in my initials.⁹ — Dear Baron I note that when you address your letters to me you place the letters F.R.G.S. after my name. Kindly allow me to inform you that I have not the honor to be a F.R.G.S. nor have I done anything up to the present time deserving of that honor.

Hoping that you are in the enjoyment of good health.

I remain

Sincerely Yours

W. J. O'Donnell