32 
tion, because we find that when the decision had been arrived at, and 
the arrangements completed, the Commissioners of the Treasury were 
asked to provide the necessary financial assistance on that ground 
alone. In a despatch from the Colonial Office to the Treasury, dated 
31st December, 1 <328, we find the statement that: “Intimation having 
been received that the French Government are prepared to colonise 
some part of the west coast of New Holland, and especially that 
portion adjoining to the river lately explored by Captain Stirling, 
the Secretary of State has thought it expedient to send out that officer 
to form a small settlement in that quarter to which such persons 
may advantageously resort as may be desirous of establishing them- 
selves in a climate as favourable as New South Wales, and a. soil as 
premising, without the disadvantages which attach to a penal colony." 
Additional evidence of the fact may also be found in the despatch 
forwarded to Governor Darling of New South Wales on the 12th 
.January, 1829. After drawing the Governor's attention to a previous 
despatch of January, 1828, in which he was informed of the grounds 
which induced the Government at that time to relinquish all idea 
of colonising the west coast of New Holland, the Secretary of State 
goes on to say, “Circumstances have since occurred to render the oc- 
cupation of that position desirable.’ 7 
This completes, so far as 1 am aware, the documentary evidence 
concerning the reasons which induced the British Government to 
establish a colony in Western Australia. From that evidence it 
seems to me to he abundantly clear that practically the only reason 
was the fear of French annexation, though it is doubtful whether that 
fear would have been sufficiently strong to cause the Government 
to come to a decision had there not been the offer of the syndicate. 
This proved that there were, in England, men of financial stability 
who were confident that a new colony on the west coast could be 
made successful. We may perhaps add to these reasons a further 
motive which seems to underlie all the correspondence, namely, the 
knowledge that existed in the minds of the members of the Govern- 
ment that one or two small settlements on the eastern side of this 
great island could not, according to the canons of international law, 
be deemed to be sufficient to enable Great Britain to successfully 
maintain a claim to the whole of the continent. 
