(4.) The advantage of water carriage to their own doors and 
the non-existence of impediments to land carriage. 
These favourable reports so impressed General Darling that he 
forwarded, on April 21st, 1827, a despatch in which he strongly ad- 
vised the Home Government to establish a settlement at Swan River 
as quickly as possible. In this despatch he points out: “As Captain 
Stirling’s visit to Swan River may attract attention and the report 
find its way into the French papers, it appears desirable, should His 
Majesty’s Government entertain any intention of forming a settle- 
ment at that place, that no time should be lost in taking the neces- 
sary steps.” 
Stirling’s report and the Governor’s despatch appear to have 
been conveyed to England by Stirling in person, and were forwarded 
by the Colonial Office to the Admiralty for an opinion in regard 
to the formation of a settlement at Swan River. The Secretary to 
the Admiralty, whilst admitting the physical advantages detailed by 
Captain Stirling and Mr. Fraser, was of opinion that the anticipa- 
tions of commercial intercourse with India were fallacious, and that 
it Avas questionable whether it was advisable to form a settlement 
on the west while so many millions of acres of rich country remained 
unoccupied on the eastern side. The report concludes with this 
statement : “No other motive, I conceive, than the political one of 
preventing other nations, as the French or Americans, of possessing 
themselves of the south-west corner of New Holland, should induce 
us to anticipate them; and even in the event of its falling into the 
hands of the one or other of these Powers, it would be a long series 
of years before they could give our other colonies much annoyance.” 
After consideration of the various reports and opinions dealing 
with the question, the Secretary of State for the Polonies wrote lo 
Governor Darling on the 2.8th January, 1828, reviewing the adverse 
report from the Admiralty, and concluding: “Under these circum- 
stances, I am of opinion that it would be inexpedient, on the score 
of expense, to occupy this part of the coast, and that it is unneces- 
sary, with a view to any urgent interest to attempt, any new settle- 
ment. at present in that quarter I shall not fail, however, to 
apprise the East India Co, of the circumstances attending the dis- 
covery of 'Swan River in case they should consider it advisable to 
make any settlements there, but 1 am not aware of any sufficient 
motive to induce them to embark in an undertaking of this nature.” 
Two days later another despatch was forwarded in which it 
was hinted that the same causes would probably induce the Govern- 
men!; to withdraw the settlement which had been formed at King 
George’s Sound, but that if it were ’finally decided to maintain that 
settlement, then, in all probability, the decision not to found a col- 
ony at ‘Swan River would he reviewed. This decision was conveyed 
by the Colonial Office to Capt. Stirling, but it does not appear to 
