[Edward John Eyre, Australian Explorer, Governor of Jamaica, etc.] Autograph Signature E. Eyre with subscription

Signature and subscription (separated from a letter not present), 7 x 4cms, on sl. larger backing, aging but good condition, SEE IMAGE. Note: Signature and subscription matches the signature on an ALS sold (Googled). Their learned description concludes: Edward John Eyre, the renowned Australian explorer of southern Australia & New South Wales, and the first European to explore the coastline of the Great Australian Bight. Drawing upon his experiences overlanding sheep in the 1830's, Eyre (1815 - 1901) applied for the job of laying out an overland route to the west. In June 1840 the expedition started out but failed. Sending back all but Baxter & Wylie, Eyre set out from Fowlers Bay to cross the Great Australian Bight. After much hardship & losing Baxter, Eyre & Wylie ran into and were saved by a French whaler which gave them supplies to continue. This letter was written in the period following Eyre's governor ship of the colony of Jamaica, during which time he had brutally suppressed the Morant Bay Rebellion, using government troops to kill innocent men, women & children. Eyre returned to England (August 1866) where those who called him a murderer founded a committee calling for him to be put on trial; he was charged with murder twice, but the cases were never pursued. [Antipodean Books]