Volume 19: Sir Edward Macarthur letters, 1840?-21 December 1854

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the present, I have therefore attempted to do nothing since the commence-ment of the Elections, excepting to write an Article for the United Service Journal, which may have the effect of qualifying the unpar donable Blunders committed by the Quarterly in the Article Number which I sent to you. These things require so much time – so much vigilance and such intriguing amongst those who influence opinion, that I quite tire of so thankless a vocation. Be assured the Colonists must confide in some one Person who has the interest of the

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Colony at Heart, and understands its Affairs. Such a Person having a Fund made up by Subscriptions from the Colony might do much – And then again how much in return, how many impossibilities would be required of him?

I had a visit to day from Mr. Simes whom I did not see but from whom I have received the enclosure. It would have been well perhaps if the Kelso with your Wool had been in time for this Sale – Why is your Wool put on board a Ship, so late in departing? The only inconvenience just now happens

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to be the delay and uncertainty created to myself but in respect to a period of Sale – this seems to me one I should not choose. I would rather not sell until after the Election. The average of our own clip if sold at this Sale would have probably been 1^s9^d – giving the usual amount upon the entire Clip – I am compelled to write rather hastily – In a few days I shall send a Case of Books by Captain Mallard. Eliza Homfray is in Town with my God daughter She and Her Mother and Mrs. Lee are quite well. With affectionate Love to our dear Mother & to all the Members of our Family Circle believe me your affect Br

Edw. Macarthur

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No. 9

My dear James,

A few days since I had the plea-sure to receive your affectionate Letter of the 10th. of January assuring me of the health of our dear Mother and of every Member of the Family Circle.

Since the receipt of that Letter I have been put in possession of a corrected Report of the Bishop of Australia's Speech transmitted to me in a Packet by Mr. Mereweather. Pray thank him for it, and for the Letter which came with the Packet. I am also much obliged to the Bishop for his Letter which at an other time I may answer more fully than at the present moment I could well do.

He has taken a much more sagacious view of the Boundary Question in my humble opinion than was done at your Public Meeting. What will the

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People of England think of Colonists who claim a Territory possessing a Coast Line 1300 Miles in extent. If the Petition had merely attended to the inconvenience of any Partition, it would have been well, because it was a subject for the Mother Country and not for the Colonists to consider. If they are left in Possession of Territory sufficient for their pur-poses, and are not disturbed in the Possession of the Lands which they at present occupy there is surely no cause to complain. The Partition when this object is regarded and provided for is a subject not of Colonial but Imperial Policy. The Petition should have done no more than calmly to have shown show the impolicy of dividing the Territory, if impolitic it be not knowing what course might have been adopted this Session by Government. I thought it better upon the receipt of the Report of the debate in Council upon the Petition to the Queen, to publish both, in the