THE PORT PHILLIP ASSOCIATION 195 



Any recognition of claims arising out of events subsequent to that 

 date would amount to a bounty by the Crown for a disregard of its 

 own authority. Under this aspect all the other petitions were dis- 

 missed from further consideration. It was therefore decided, not as 

 an admission of any right, but as a gratuitous act, only justifiable 

 under the express authority of the British Cabinet, that the Associa- 

 tion should be called upon to furnish the Government with a detailed 

 account of all expenses incurred prior to the date named. And 

 when this account had been approved, the Council recommended 

 that the Association should be allowed the amount, together with 

 all their outlay on the natives, as a remission in the purchase of 

 land at Port Phillip, which was to be set up at the usual price 

 of five shillings per acre. The Council reminded the Association 

 that if the remission conceded to them was less than appeared to be 

 contemplated by the Colonial Secretary in his correspondence with 

 Mr. Mercer, the assessment of their claim had been left to the local 

 authorities, because they possessed a better knowledge of the situation 

 and its surroundings than could be expected of the Minister. 



It is needless to say that the decision did not satisfy the dele- 

 gates. Again and again they returned to the charge, pleading hard 

 for what they contended the Colonial Secretary had promised them, 

 " priority of purchase at a moderate upset price," instead of a re- 

 mission on the cost of land purchased in open competition. But it 

 was all in vain. Governor Bourke, having firmly maintained his 

 position, advised Lord Glenelg on the 12th of November of the 

 decision come to, and pointed out that he believed the Association 

 really recognised that they had been treated with every consideration. 

 He thought it not unlikely that a renewed application would be 

 made in England, and in such case he urged the Minister to con- 

 firm the action of the Council, one of the reasons assigned being, 

 that while the decision had not " created any very bitter dis- 

 appointment to the company," it had been generally satisfactory 

 to the rest of the community. 



And so on the 26th of November the Executive Council fixed 

 the money value to be allowed as under : 



13* 



