THE FOUNDING OF MELBOURNE 101 



a solicitor of Hobart Town, who had been Attorney-General of the 

 Colony, but had been dismissed from his office by Governor Arthur 

 for what was regarded locally as an infringement of the etiquette 

 of his profession, though that opinion was controverted by pro- 

 minent members of the English Bar when the case came before 

 them. In January, 1827, Messrs. Gellibrand and Batman addressed 

 a letter to Sir Ralph Darling, Governor of New South Wales, in 

 which, referring to the projected settlement at Western Port, they 

 applied for a grant of land proportionate to the property they 

 intended to take there. This was stated to be about 1,500 to 2,000 

 well-bred sheep and some thirty head of superior cattle and horses, 

 to the total value of from 4,000 to 5,000, the whole to be under 

 the personal management of Mr. John Batman, who would per- 

 manently reside there. In the following March the Governor 

 replied that, as the retention of a settlement at Western Port was 

 not yet absolutely decided on, it was not in his power to comply 

 with their request. The tentative Government occupancy soon 

 came to an end, having meanwhile, in the usual wooden official 

 manner of the period, successfully blocked all attempts at legitimate 

 private colonisation. So the would-be colonists had to possess 

 their souls in patience, and five or six years passed by while they 

 organised their plans, counted their resources and discussed the 

 vexed question of jurisdiction. Some were of the opinion that the 

 district which they desired to occupy was not under the rule of the 

 Sydney officials, and that it was competent therefore to make their 

 arrangements direct with the aboriginal owners. Others considered 

 the proper course would be to make direct application to the British 

 Government, though the tedious delays and the unsatisfactory re- 

 sults to those who had done so made that view unpopular. With 

 yet others the idea prevailed that the coveted country ought to be 

 under the dominion of the Tasmanian authorities, by reason of its 

 proximity and the greater facilities for supervision. This view was 

 undoubtedly held by Governor Arthur, between whom and the 

 Governor of New South Wales there existed a feeling of somewhat 

 irritable rivalry. Though debarred from giving any official coun- 

 tenance to the contemplated expedition, it has been generally 

 supposed that the Governor took at least a lively interest in it, 



