350 RECORDS OF THE ADSTRALIAX SinSEUM. 



A deputation consisting of the Hon. Alexandei' Macleay, Dr. W. 

 Dawson, and Mr. Lewis, was accordingly appointed to wait upon His 

 Excellency. 



The answer to tliis deputation was communicated to the Committee 

 by a letter from the Colonial Secretary (The Hon. Deas Thomson) that 

 His Excelleucy^^ : — 



" under the circumstances of His very probable, speedy departure from the 

 Colony, he did not feel himself fully authorised to alienate any poi'tion of 

 the Lands now attached to the Demesne of Government House for any 

 purpose whatever. ' ' 



As a set-off against this disappointment, however, the Colonial 

 Secretary informed the Committee^^ : — 



" He had received His Excellency's command to propose to their consideration 

 that portion of land lyinfj immetliately to the north of the Sydney 

 College'^*'." 



This offer was there and then accepted, with : — 

 "Their grateful sense of his attention to their wishes." 



It is interesting to note that this action on the part of Sir George 

 Gipps seems to have been brought about by a suggestion emanating from 

 Mr. S. A. Perry, Deputy Surveyoi-General, in terms of the following 

 letter, addressed by the latter to the former : — 



Surveyor-General's Office, 

 Sydney, 31st January, 1846. 



In attention to your letter of the 29th instant. No. 46/41 ; 1 have 

 the honor to transmit to you herewith a tracing of the portion of Land 

 situated at the corner of College Street, adjoining the allotment granted 

 to the Sydney College, and which forms no part of the land belonging to 

 Hyde Park, but from which it is distinguished as a reserve for (lovernment 

 . purposes, and is consequently available for the object to which your letter 

 refers. The area of the portion of land alluded to, as far as can be ascer- 

 tained without a very minute survey, is two acres, two roods, and twenty 

 perches, more or less. And I have further the honor to state that I am 

 not aware of there being any objection to the appropriation of one acre of 

 the Land for the purpose of erecting a Museum, reserving the remainder 

 to be applied at some future period, and for which the position of the 

 ground appears to me to be peculiarly eligible. 



I have the lienor to be, 



Sir, 

 Your most obedient servant, 



(Sgd.) S. A. Perry, D.S. 



Tiie area of the groun<l marked on i)lan may be granted as a site for a 

 Museum, and the remainder of tlu' land reserved, though without any 

 pledge or promises as to the future appropriation of it. 



(Sgd.) G. G. 

 February 3, 1846. 



»* Minutes, 18th November, 1845. 



''5 Minutes, 28th January, 1846. 



•■■'" Now the Sydney Grammar School. The site so occupied in 1,S3() formed part 

 of the then Racecourse. The College was utilised for University purposes pending 

 the opening of the latter in 1852. (l)alleii — University of Sydney. Its History and 

 Progress illustrated (4t<). Sydney, l".tl4.) ]>. 7.) 



Sir, 



