154 
UNJUST OPINIONS 
With respect to the first point, I consider that an 
intimate knowledge of the peculiar habits, laws, and 
traditions, by which this people are governed, is ab- 
solutely necessary, before any just opinion can be 
formed as to how far the means hitherto pursued, 
have been suitable, or adapted to counteract the 
influence of custom and the force of prejudice. 
Until this knowledge is attained, we have no right 
to brand them as either irreclaimable, or unteach- 
able. My own impression, after long experience, 
and an attentive consideration of the subject, is, 
that in the present anomalous state of our relations 
with the Aborigines, our measures are neither com- 
prehensive enough for, nor is our system sufficiently 
adapted to, the singular circumstances they are in, 
considering the case of some collisions with the natives on the 
Ovens River, and after a full consideration of the various cir- 
cumstances connected with the occurrence. In a despatch to 
Governor Sir G. Gipps, dated 5th October, 1841, Lord Stanley 
says, “ Contrasting the accounts of the Aborigines given by Mr. 
Docker with those given by Mr. Mackay, and the different terms 
on which those gentlemen appear to be with them in the same 
vicinity, I cannot divest myself of the apprehension that the 
fault in this case lies with the colonists rather than with the 
natives. It was natural, that conduct so harsh and^ intempe- 
rate as that of the Messrs. Mackay should be signally visited on 
them, and probably also on wholly unoffending persons, by a 
race of uninstructed and ignorant savages. At the same time 
the case of Mr. Docker affords a most satisfactory instance of 
natives entering into permanent service with white men, and 
working, as they appear to do, steadily for wages.” 
