136 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



Government entertained upon this very important subject. When 

 the news reached Sir Eichard Bourke that his subordinate had 

 written to the Colonial Office, in this vindicatory style, of a raid 

 that had been made on the country under his rule, the official 

 mind was stirred to its depths, and on the 26th of August he 

 asserted himself in the following unmistakable 



PROCLAMATION. 



" Whereas it has been represented to me that divers of His 

 Majesty's subjects have taken possession of lands of the Crown, 

 within the limits of this Colony, under the pretence of a treaty, 

 bargain or contract for the purchase thereof with the aboriginal 

 natives. Now, therefore, I, the Governor, in virtue and in the 

 exercise of the power and authority in me vested, do hereby 

 proclaim and notify to all His Majesty's subjects, and others 

 whom it may concern, that every such treaty, bargain and con- 

 tract with the aboriginal natives as aforesaid, for the possessioa, 

 title or claim to any lands lying and being within the limits cf 

 the Government of the Colony of New South Wales, as the samt 

 are laid down and defined by His Majesty's Commission, that is 

 to say, from the Northern Cape, or extremity of the coast, called 

 Cape York, in latitude 10 37" south, to the southern extremity 

 of the said territory of New South Wales, or Wilson's Promontory 

 in latitude 39 12" south, and embracing all the country inland as 

 far as the 129 of east longitude, reckoning from the Meridian of 

 Greenwich, including all the islands adjacent in the Pacific Ocean, 

 within the latitude aforesaid, and including also Norfolk Island, 

 is void as against the rights of the Crown ; and that all persons 

 who shall be found in possession of any such lands as aforesaid, 

 without the license or authority of His Majesty's Government for 

 such purpose first had and obtained, will be considered as tres- 

 passers and liable to be dealt with in like manner as other intruders 

 upon the vacant lands of the Crown within the said Colony. 



" Given under my hand and seal at Government House Sydney 



this 26th day of August, 1835. 



" RICHARD BOURKE. 



" By His Excellency's command, Alex. McLeay. 



"GOD SAVE THE KINS." 



