stuart was in poor health, almost blind, and had a crippled right hand after the sixth trip. with chambers dead, he no longer had a job. the government tried not to pay him the £2,000 reward, saying that they had paid for the cost of the expedition. after public pressure, they gave in, but invested the money and only gave stuart a small amount each year. he was drinking a lot of alcohol and none of his friends would give him any help. the government then wanted £500 for the lease of the land they had given him at chambers creek. stuart sold it to james chambers' brother, john chambers, for only £200, losing money on the deal.