A comprehensive collection of Parliamentary Papers pertaining to the explorations in South Australia of Benjamin Herschel Babbage (1815-1878)

BABBAGE, Benjamin Herschel

A propos de cet article

Babbage was 'engineer, scientist and explorer . son of Charles Babbage, Cambridge professor of mathematics [and the first computer pioneer], and his wife Georgina, sister of W.W. Whitmore, a founder of South Australia. In 1856 Babbage was sent north to search for gold as far as the Flinders Ranges. He found none, but discovered the MacDonnell River, Blanchewater and Mount Hopeful. He was the first to dispel the current idea of the impassability of the Lake Torrens "horseshoe" . [In late 1857 he was] appointed leader of a northern expedition. Babbage left in February 1858 to explore the country between Lakes Torrens and Gairdner, and further to the north and west. His concept of exploration was based on thorough survey, mapping and examination of the country, ideals with which Francis Dutton, commissioner of crown lands, agreed in his instructions and early correspondence. With cumbrous and ingenious equipment Babbage carried out the first part, hampered by bad terrain and lack of water. But he had no sense of urgency and was thus completely out of tune with the current concept of opening up new country for quick exploitation. His slowness led to public and parliamentary clamour, to which Dutton later succumbed and sent Peter Egerton Warburton to supersede him. Meanwhile Babbage had moved north from the Elizabeth River, discovered Hermit Hill and delineated the western shores of Lake Eyre South. There Warburton relieved him on 5 November. Based on his experiences of 1856, Babbage also believed in a gap in the "horseshoe" and at Hermit Hill confirmed his belief. He had actually crossed the gap, but Warburton was the first to traverse it completely. On grounds of unfair treatment Babbage successfully petitioned for a parliamentary inquiry. In 1858-59 voluminous evidence was taken but no report issued. [He then withdrew from public life until 1866.] In 1870-72 Charles Todd employed Babbage as an assistant in planning and plotting the Overland Telegraph line, and as a supervisor of contractors. His achievements as an explorer were notable but the accompanying controversy tended unduly to overshadow them and his attainments in other fields' ('Australian Dictionary of Biography'). Indeed, 'the reports from the expedition were . a significant prelude to Stuart's successful crossing of the continent from south to north' in 1861-62 (The Davidson Collection, Third Sale, July 2007, lot 565). This lengthy preamble should help explain the connection between the following eleven foolscap folio Parliamentary Papers relating to Benjamin Babbage, published in Adelaide by the Government Printer in 1858 and 1859. (1) Northern Exploration. Reports, &c, of Explorations into the Interior, by Messrs. Babbage, Warburton, Geharty, and Parry. SAPP25/1858; 51 pages plus 2 large folding maps. (2) Northern Exploration. Further Correspondence respecting the Exploring Party under Command of Mr. Babbage. SAPP25*/1858; 6 pages. (3) Cost of Northern Exploration. SAPP36/1858; 1 page. (4) Northern Exploration. Correspondence between the Hon. the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the Commissioner of Police [Major Peter Egerton Warburton], relative to the Progress of the Northern Exploring Parties. SAPP127/1858; 4 pages. (5) Northern Explorations. Reports from Messrs Babbage and Warburton, and Police-Trooper Burtt, on Exploration into the North and North-Western Interior of South Australia. SAPP151/1858; 19 pages plus 3 maps (2 folding). (6) Petition of B.H. Babbage. SAPP154/1858; 1 page. (7) Northern Exploration. Letter, with Enclosure, from Major Warburton, relative to Exploration in the Neighborhood of Lake Torrens. SAPP159/1858; 3 pages. (8) Northern Exploration. Correspondence between the Honourable the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Major Warburton, relative to the Northern Exploration. SAPP166/1858; 6 pages. (9) Cost of Northern Explorations. SAPP20/1859; 1 page. (10) Minutes of Evidence taken by the Select Committee appointed to enquire into and report on th.

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Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: A comprehensive collection of Parliamentary Papers pertaining to the explorations in South Australia of Benjamin Herschel Babbage (1815-1878)
• Catalogues du vendeur:
  • Exploration
  • Australia
  • South Australia