290 A HISTORY OP THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



the delight with which he plunged into opposition to the constituted 

 authorities. As far back as 1841 he was in Melbourne, having just 

 returned from England. He was asked to speak at one of the 

 Separation meetings then occasionally cropping up, and responded 

 so heartily, with such apparent knowledge, such glorification of the 

 State Governments in America, and such withering denunciation of 

 their Sydney oppressors that he carried all before him. When next 

 year the suggested new Constitution began to exercise the minds of 

 the Separation League, they unanimously resolved that they had in 

 Lang at least one man who could stand up for their interests. 



To that body then he addressed himself after his defeat in the 

 Council, advising them to urge their six representatives to join in a 

 direct petition to the Queen, which would show Her Majesty that 

 whatever divisions there might be in the Council, the members for 

 the district were of one mind. This was done, but not at the time 

 with much hope of the result. Had not the Throne and Parlia- 

 ment been bombarded with petitions and memorials, only to elicit 

 a non-committal acknowledgment? The petition was drawn up 

 by Dr. Lang and signed by the six on the 24th December, 1844, 

 Benjamin Boyd having been elected in the place of Dr. Thomson, 

 of Geelong. 



It was handed by them personally to Sir George Gipps, who on 

 the 12th of January following passed it on to the Secretary of State 

 without comment. Lord Stanley, with three years' experience of 

 colonial pertinacity, and perhaps less confidence in his own nos- 

 trums, was inclined to admit that grievances existed. On the 12th 

 of June he addressed a despatch to the Governor, in which he inti- 

 mated that Her Majesty was favourably inclined to the prayer of 

 the petition ; but as it involved very important issues, he directed 

 that the Executive in Sydney should confer personally with the 

 members signing that document and such other witnesses as they 

 might deem expedient, and then communicate their recommenda- 

 tions to him. If these were favourable to the petitioners, they were 

 to indicate their opinion of the proposed boundaries of the new 

 colony and the form of government which they would consider 

 suitable. The despatch did not reach Sydney until late in the year, 

 and some four months were occupied in pursuing the inquiries. 



