130 A HISTOKY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



negotiations, and the ridicule which he unceasingly heaped upon 

 Batman's transaction of that character would appear to indicate 

 that he attached little importance to a title so acquired. In the 

 eyes of the Port Phillip Association, Fawkner and his party were of 

 course regarded as contumacious trespassers, and even before he 

 sailed from Launceston some of the more fiery of Batman's col- 

 leagues suggested that steps should be taken to set the natives 

 upon them to drive them out. The majority at once repudiated 

 any sympathy with such a barbarous and impolitic proceeding. 

 Wedge, who first heard of the suggestion on his return from Port 

 Phillip, immediately wrote an indignant protest, and declared that 

 he would rather retire from the Association at a loss than be 

 identified with any resort to force against the intruders. Batman, 

 Simpson and the other leading members were heartily with him, 

 and the two or three advocates of physical force were silenced if 

 not convinced. The result of a special meeting convened to con- 

 sider the subject was a memorandum of instructions to Mr. Batman 

 in the following terms : 



" It will be expedient to show Mr. Fawkner the chart, and also 

 the description in the grant from the natives to him, in order to 

 satisfy him that the land occupied by his people belongs to the 

 Association. 



" To offer him every assistance, through the natives, in procuring 

 other land for him, and also in removing his goods, etc., and also 

 in the erection of other buildings, and in cultivating even to a 

 larger extent than done by them ; to protect their present crops, 

 gardens, etc. 



" If the parties set us at defiance, it will then be expedient to 

 fence them off, so that they may not further trespass ; and by 

 annoying them in that manner compel them to leave, but on no 

 occasion to offer actual violence unless in self-defence. 



" It is presumed that when Mr. Batman arrives with such a 

 powerful force the parties will retire. They are as much interested 

 hi conciliating the natives as we are, and it will be desirable for 

 them to have a mutual understanding for them to pay a proportion 

 of the tribute, and also to enter into an agreement for mutual 

 protection." 



