map, journey through France, Italy and Switzerland, 1840-41. Vol. 2. Pt. 1. The letters. Scientific reconnaissance in New South Wales -- To the Moreton Bay district -- Pt. 2. Maps. New South Wales in Leichhardt's time -- Surroundings of Sydney in 1842 -- Journeys from Newcastle, 1842 -- Journeys in the Hunter/Goulburn valley -- Journey to the Wide Bay District and back to Port Stephens, 1843-4 -- vol. 3. Major exploration -- The Grand Plan applied.

Ludwig Leichhardt was an important scientific explorer of Australia. His letters narrate his life from his student years in the mid-1830s until 1848 when he disappeared in the Australian interior. His main interest was natural philosophy, particularly biology, geology and geography, but he also recorded many aspects of the surrounding world, describing social life in early Victorian England and commenting on some of the leading teachers and philosophers of that time. He left Europe and sailed to Australia in 1841. Volume 2 describes his scientific reconnaissance in eastern Australia undertaken alone over two years. Volume 3 is concerned with his major explorations: the expedition to Port Essington in northern Australia and his two attempts to cross the continent from east to west. His last party disappared without a trace in 1848.