Letter from Mr. Wedge, at Port Phillip, to the Colonial Secre tary, accompanying the petition : “ Sir,—In reference to the petition of William Buckley for a free pardon, which I have the honor to transmit herewith, I beg to hear testimony to the essential service he has rendered in becoming the means of communication with the natives, and I have no hesitation in saying that through him there is every probability of making permanent the friendly intercourse that was commenced by Mr. Batman in his recent excursion (already detailed by that gentleman to the government) with the Aborigines ; and from the fact of his having saved the lives of the eight men who were left here by Mr. Batman, together with the circumstance of his having made a voluntary offer of becoming in future the medium of communication with the Aborigines. I beg most earnestly to recommend his petition to the favorable consideration of His Excellency the Lieuteuant-Governor ; and in doing so, I feel that I scarcely need advert to the danger that would ensue to the lives of those who may in future reside here, by his being driven to despair by the refusal of his petition, which would probably induce him to join the natives again; and in which event there is no calculating on the mischief that might ensue by the hostile feelings that he would have it in his power to instil into the breasts of the natives. I doubt not, as an act of humanity toward those who may come to sojourn in this settlement, the above circumstance will have weight in the consideration His Excellency will bestow on the prayer of the petition. If I might he allowed, I would respectfully suggest that it should at once be conceded to him, and his free pardon sent by the next vessel that will he despatched to this place. Buckley is a most interesting character; from his long residence amongst the natives, he has acquired a great influence over them, as well as all their habits and language ; in fact, he had nearly forgot his native tongue, and it was some days before he could express him self in it. The two men who absconded with him left him before he joined the natives ; and he has never heard of them since ; he supposes they were killed by them. Buckley is gigantic in size, measuring six feet five inches and seven-eighths without shoes, and of good proportions ; and I have no doubt he is
