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the support and encouragement, of not only the Local Government, hut that of the British Government, in carrying the objects into effect. “ The quantity of stock exported this year will he at least 20,000 breeding ewes ; and one of the leading stipulations will he, that none hut married men of good character, with their families, will he sent either as overseers or servants, so that hy no possibility any personal injury will he offered to the natives or their families ; and it is also intended, for the purpose of preserving due order and morals, that a minister or catechist shall he attached to the establishment at the expense of the Association.” Such was the first public announcement of the project of colonizing Port Phillip. It is easy to throw contempt upon the motives of men, and to merge assumptions of benevolence into mere selfishness. But let us look at the persons forming the sssociation ; enthusiasts they may he, hut they were no set of needy, unknown adventurers. They were men of station, education and influence. Several of them had been chivalrously identified with the interests of the aborigines, and given abundant illustration of their love for their darker brothers. Many believed in their benevolent intentions. Governors acknowleged their purity of motive. James Backhouse, the Quaker Missionary, the companion of the excellent George Washington Walker, thus gives his testimony—“ At the first settlement of Port Phillip, a party of bene volent people attempted making a treaty, &c.” Speaking of Batman in 1837, he writes : “ He continues to take a deep interest among the aborigines.” It is idle to say that the projectors of the settle ment were indifferent to their own welfare ; we contend only that they were sincere in their wish to deal fairly and kindly with the natives. The idea of making a treaty with naked savages has been treated as a capital joke. The poor creatures have long enough been regarded as something of baboons. It is enough, however, to state that they who know them best, and that in their wild condition, as Sturt, Mitchell, Kennedy, Robinson, Batman, and the Missionaries, had the highest appreciation of their good sense as well as good feeling. Though they understand not legal forms, they well knew the nature of the instru ment they were called upon to sign. They knew about boundaries, presentation of soil, and reception of material equivalents. The folly was on the part of the gentlemen, in supposing that Government would ratify such an arrangement. It is true they had a precedent. The
