158 PORT LINCOXN MISREPRESENTED. 
impossibility of their being able to effect sales in the 
event of their wishing to leave, would perhaps more 
than counterbalance the advantages of having the 
country to themselves. Purchased in the days of 
wild and foolish speculation, and when a rage ex- 
isted for buying land and laying out townships, no 
place has been more misrepresented or misunder- 
stood than Port Lincoln. Many gross and glaring 
misstatements have been put forth of its character 
and capabilities, by those who were actuated by 
interested motives, and many unintentional misre- 
presentations have been made and perpetuated by 
others, whose judgment or information has led them 
into error, so that the public generally, and espe- 
cially the English public, have had no means of dis- 
criminating between the widely conflicting accounts 
that have been given. Amongst the persons from 
whom this small settlement has suffered disparage- 
ment there are none, perhaps, more blameable than 
those who have put forth statements which ascribe to 
it advantages and qualities that it does not possess ; 
for just in proportion as the expectation of intend- 
ing settlers have been raised by exaggeration or un- 
truths has been their disappointment and disgust, 
when the facts themselves have stared them in the 
face. 
The day of hallucination has now passed away, 
but out of the reaction which has succeeded it, 
has arisen a disposition to deprive Port Lincoln 
of even the merits to which it really has a legi- 
