 It appears that just as Burton had overplayed his hand after the first trip Speke now did the same.Now the RGS asked that a public debate should be held between Speke and Burton to try and settle the Nile.A debate was planned between Speke and Burton before the geographical section of the British Association in Bath on 16 September 1864, but Speke had died the previous afternoon from a self-inflicted gunshot wound while shooting at Neston Park in Wiltshire.