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

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Parramatta, Camden, and Sydney, I remain My dear Brothers

Very affectionately Yours Edward Macarthur

P.S. Mr. Sturt had again spoken to me on the subject of the Remittance from one of the women at Camden to her Friends in his Village, but until I learn from you some thing on the subject I can do nothing.

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[address pane] James Macarthur Esqre Camden New South Wales

By the Fanny

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London September 18th. 1841

My dear Brothers

A summons from Lord Stanley, whom I had addressed on the subject of the Affairs of New South Wales, brought me the evening before last from Cholmondeley Castle to London, and yesterday I saw His Lordship at the Colonial Office.

All that the colonists can in reason expect with regard to Territory Lord Stanley is disposed to concede. He will grant the request of the Council, by guaranteeing to the Colony the Territory from Cape Howe to the 28th degree of South Latitude. The Northern District will however for the present remain undefined beyond that 28th degree. On the South the two Districts of Maneroo, and Murrumbidgee will be conceded to the Colony – But Lord Stanley appeared not to have decided as to the allocation of Gipps Land – whether it should be annexed to Sydney or to Melbourne. Upon my pointing out that for every immediate purpose the latter had

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had ample Territory and that it was shut out from Gipps Land by Mountains hitherto untraversed from the Southern Side – he intimated that perhaps the Determination of Government as respected Gipps Land might remain dependent on the Relations which in the natural progress of Settlement might arise whether between Melbourne and Gipps Land or Sydney and Gipps Land. This appeared to me an equitable arrangement.

Port Phillip is not to be independent of the Government of Sydney. It is to have a Municipal Council with Powers to levy Taxes for local purposes. Lord Stanley wished to know how the amount expended on Immigration at Sydney and Port Phillip was to be adjusted. Until there be an entire separation between the two Colonies, I fear there will be interminable differences on this Point.

By a Parliamentary Paper and the Report in the "Times" both of which I now forward, you will see how severely Lord John Russell has reproved Sir George Gipps for the number of Bounty Orders which had been issued. By insinuation the Commercial and other embarrassments of the Colony are

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are in part attributed to this Cause – another instance of the confusion of ideas, if unfigured, which prevails here on most Colonial Subjects.

How can the facilities which have been afforded for relieving the Colony from the pressure which the Deficiency of Labourers had created, have in any degree aggravated its Embarrass--ments? In my opinion the amount of Bounty Orders, and the consequent Influx of Labourers will prove the Salvation of the Colony. The Council ought to show this by an appeal to Facts, and also by proving that every misapplication of Funds arising from the sale of unimproved Land for depasturage, will create Colonial distress. There seems a Disposition on the part of the new Government to think that the Local Government is profuse in its Expenditure. Show that Expenditure has relatively diminished when compared with the number of convicts in the Colony.

Believe me My dear Brothers

very affectionately yours Edward Macarthur