168 APPENDIX. 



of Leicester sheep and Durham cattle. They have been 

 eminently successful, and the improvement which has 

 been effected by crossing these with the native breed of 

 the country, it is unnecessary for me to dilate upon, as 

 you are the best judges. (Loud cheers.) I hail this 

 meeting as a tribute of regard to the memory of my fa- 

 ther, and also as an omen of the high estimation in which 

 agriculture is held by all classes of persons through the 

 country ; for there are here assembled not only country 

 gentlemen and practical farmers, but also those connect- 

 ed with the great trading and manufacturing interests. 

 (Cheers.) There is one other subject which I feel it 

 right to touch upon. You are all aware that a few 

 months ago, it was more than probable, I should have 

 been called upon to fill a high and important situation 

 in a distant part of the world. The history of that affair 

 is this. In 1835, a company of persons received a grant 

 of land in New Holland, extending to no less than 300,000 

 square miles, for the purpose of founding a colony. This 

 colony was established on different principles from any 

 other, inasmuch as neither slave nor convict labour was 

 allowed, but the whole labour was performed by free la- 

 bourers and voluntary emigrants. The Commissioners 

 for the management of this colony first appointed as Go- 

 vernor, Captain Hindmarsh of the Royal Navy ; but it was 

 soon found that, although a gallant officer, he was per- 

 fectly incapable of taking charge of an infant agricultu- 

 ral colony. Accordingly, about Christmas last, he was 



