Wills.--Proceedings in the Royal
Geographical Society of London.--Letter from Sir Roderick Murchison
to Dr. Wills.--Dr. Wills's Reply.--'The Lost Explorers,' a poetical
tribute.--Concluding Observations.
APPENDICES.
ILLUSTRATIONS:
1. THE LAST HOURS OF MR. WILLS.
Painted by Scott. Melbourne. London: Richard Bentley, 1863.
Engraved by J. Saddle.
2. WILLIAM J. WILLS.
Painted by Scott. Melbourne. Engraved by J. Brown.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
CHAPTER 1.
Birth.
Infancy.
Boyhood and Early Education.
Youthful Traits of Character.
William John Wills was born at Totnes, in Devonshire, on the 5th of
January, 1834. He had, therefore, attained the full age of
twenty-seven at the time of his death. Even in infancy, his
countenance was interesting and expressive. He began to speak and
walk alone before he had completed his first year. His lively
disposition gave ample employment to his nurses, though I cannot
remember that he ever worried one, through peevishness or a
fractious temper. As soon as he could talk distinctly, he evinced
an aptitude to name things after his own fancy; and I may fairly
say, that he was never a child in the common acceptation of the
term, as he gave early indications of diligence and discretion
scarcely compatible with the helplessness and simplicity of such
tender years.
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