MR. CLIFTON, ETC. 383 



cated, also in writing, with his Excellency, Governor 

 Hutt, and the Surveyor-General, Mr. Roe ; the 



and such information respecting the supposed Port Grey, and 

 the country in its vicinity, together with a tracing of the partial 

 survey made by you in Champion Bay, lying in lat. 28° 47' S. 

 which is presumed to be identical with Port Grey, that I was in- 

 duced, after full consultation with his Excellency, to unite with 

 him in opinion, that it would be proper for me to depart from my 

 instructions, and to found', the colony under my charge on the 

 spot originally contemplated in Leschenault Inlet, instead of at 

 Port Grey, which determination I accordingly carried into effect 

 under the Governor's sanction. 



** It naturally was my most anxious wish, as it would have been 

 my duty, if it had been practicable, to visit myself the supposed 

 port, before I took, in conjunction with his Excellency, a step 

 involving so great a personal responsibility, and so seriously affect- 

 ing all the predetermined plans of the company, settlers, and 

 emigrants. I have since made every practical endeavour, but 

 without success, to obtain means of proceeding to the dis- 

 trict in question, in order to establish the fact by actual ob- 

 servation and research, whether that district does or does not 

 afford a proper site for the establishment of a new settlement on 

 an extensive scale, or is totally inapplicable for it, according to 

 the information which led to the decision come to. And as the 

 result of such examination involves measures which may prove of 

 very great importance to the local interests of this colony, and 

 even to the interests of the mother- country, I venture to submit 

 to your consideration, whether you would not deem that inquiry 

 of sufficient importance to justify your proceeding to Champion 

 Bay, in her Majesty's sloop. Beagle, under your command, to as- 

 certain fully the capabilities of the country in its immediate 

 vicinity, and to determine whether there be another harbour or 

 not at the place assigned to Port Grey on the map recently pub- 

 lished by Arrowsmith. 



" If your proceeding to that part of this coast should be within 

 the scope of the service assigned to you by the Lords Commis- 



