30 
On the 21st August, Stirling forwarded another communication 
to the Colonial Office, in which he gives the first hint of the possi- 
bility of the formation of an association for the purposes of coloni- 
sation. and a$ks whether, under such circumstances, the association 
could seine a proprietary charter upon the principles similar to those 
adopted in Pennsylvania and Georgia. The Colonial Office and the 
Admiral tv combined suggested that he should make further inquiries 
with regard to the question of an association, and that he did so is 
evident from a letter dated 22nd October, part of which reads: “But, 
notwithstanding this favourable inclination, objections are made 
against the enterprise at present, upon the following points. In the 
first place there is no information extant, under authority, either 
to. the precise intentions of the Government, or of the nature of that 
territory, nor do any preparations exist there for the reception of 
settlers. In the second place, His Majesty’s right to that country 
has never been declared, and as it is reported that the French Gov- 
ernment contemplates the formation of a settlement, in New Holland, 
the apprehension is entertained that an expedition proceeding there 
might find, on its arrival, the best positions occupied, and its aim 
defeated to the total ruin of the property engaged in it. . . . T take 
the liberty of suggesting that (the difficulties) may he obviated by 
despatching at once a ship of war to that quarter. Possession might 
thus be taken of the country, surveys commenced, and arrangements 
made for the reception of settlers.” The latter suggestion bore im- 
mediate fruit, as on the 5th November, the Admiralty was instructed 
by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to order the officer com- 
manding the naval forces at the (''are, to despatch one of the ships 
of war under his command, without loss of time, to the coast of New 
Holland, with directions to take formal possession in His Majesty’s 
name, and with the further direction that the spot should be at, 
or near, the Swan River, and that uninterrupted possession be main- 
tained until the arrival of further advices. 
These instructions were immediately put in hand, and Admiral 
Schomberg, the Commander-in-Clnef at the Cape, was instructed 
to detail 1I.M.S. “Tweed” for the purpose of carrying them out. A 
couple of days later it was found inadvisable to adopt that course, 
and the orders were revoked. At the same time, II.M.S. “Chal- 
lenger,” under Captain Fremantle, was despatched from London, 
and arrived at Coekburn Sound on the 2nd May, 1829. Formal pos- 
session was immediately taken by hoisting the British flag on Ar- 
thur’s Head. Although this action set at rest the question of actual 
possession,- there does not appear to have been, at that time, a definite 
decision to establish a colon v forthwith. Such step was, however, 
decided upon within the following month, and was accelerated by 
the fact that Captain Stirling’s suggestion to form a syndicate had 
taken definite shape in the meantime. 
On the 4th November, 1828, a syndicate composed of Mr. 
Thomas Peel, Sir Francis Vincent, Mr. Edward Schenley, and Col- 
