190 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



constituted a subordinate colony, of which, perhaps, Western Port 

 might be considered a better location for the capital, its proximity to 

 Van Diemen's Land would render Hobart Town a more suitable 

 centre of control than Sydney, and greatly facilitate intercourse re- 

 presenting the Crown. 



The reference to Western Port as possibly preferable to the 

 Yarra for the site of the capital appears to have been of rather a 

 haphazard character, and can hardly have been in accordance with 

 the views of the other members of the Association. 



On the 10th of May the Colonial Secretary replied to the effect 

 that his instructions had already been despatched to the Governor 

 of New South Wales, and he could only hope that they would be 

 found " to embrace every provision which is required by a due 

 regard to the interests and reasonable expectations of the parties 

 by whom the settlement at Port Phillip has been made ". Here 

 again was something which the Association joyfully caught at as a 

 recognition of their claims to priority of possession. But the gleam 

 of encouragement which Mercer might have experienced from the 

 somewhat ambiguous phrase was dashed by the apparent intention 

 to transfer the negotiations to the other side of the world. After a 

 period of sober reflection he determined not to recognise that he 

 was beaten, and ventured to address the Minister again on the 29th 

 of June, ostensibly to ask for a copy of the instructions forwarded 

 to Sir Eichard Bourke. In doing this he seized the opportunity of 

 playing upon Glenelg's known sympathies with the aborigines by 

 dilating upon the extra charges which were being incurred by the 

 Association in satisfying their clamorous appetites, and the steps 

 which were being taken for the introduction and maintenance of an 

 efficient contingent of missionaries. 



The seed apparently again fell upon stony ground, for no bene- 

 ficial result ensued, and the copy of the instructions was formally 

 refused. 



It took Mercer nearly six months to make up his mind for 

 another effort, and during that period the Colonial Secretary, whose 

 hands were pretty full with the impending Canadian rebellion, was 

 allowed to forget Australia. But on the 14th of December Mercer 

 was good enough to bring it back to his recollection by forwarding 



