APPENDIX. 169 



recalled. Some of my friends applied to me to accept 

 of the situation. I went to London, where several of my 

 friends interested themselves greatly in the matter, part 

 ticularly, I may mention, Dr Crombie of Phesdo. I 

 found there, that although the Commissioners had nomi- 

 nally the patronage, the appointment was really in the 

 gift of the Colonial Secretary. My friends made no in- 

 terest whatever with the government ; but on this part of 

 the business I shall not touch, lest I should draw on any- 

 think like political discussion. I shall merely say, tha- 

 after all the arrangements appeared to have been con- 

 cluded, an invisible hand suddenly checkmated the whole 

 concern. I had, however, on that occasion, the satisfac- 

 tion of receiving the most flattering testimonials from 

 some of the highest and noblest in the land from the 

 Earl of Leicester (better known as the celebrated Mr 

 Coke of Norfolk), the Duke of Richmond, the Earl of 

 Aberdeen, and the Viscount of Arbuthnott. The Earl of 

 Leicester's letter to me says " I can hardly conceive 

 any person so eminently qualified to take charge of an 

 infant agricultural colony as you are." These sentiments 

 are now corroborated by this expression of your approba- 

 tion. (Loud cheers.) No doubt it would have cost me 

 a severe pang to have left my native land, if not for ever, 

 at all events for a considerable number of years ; but I 

 felt that I had a grand field of enterprise before me 

 country twice as large as the British empire, with the 

 finest soil and climate in the world. I also bore in mind 



P 



