prevalent among them, as to Sir R. Murchison's expressed opinion of the
existence of gold in the colony is altogether erroneous. This of course
was well known to geographers, and I have constantly asserted my personal
knowledge of the truth as confirmed by Mr. Woodward's letter, and have
been always flatly and often rudely contradicted. As I was present at the
delivery of Sir R. Murchison's address in 1844, I could have no doubt on
the subject, but popular errors are not easily dispelled, especially when
“the wish is father to the thought.”
Yours etc.,
C. G. NICOLAY.
Fremantle, Jan. 6., Jan. 6.