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WRONGS OF 
sion taken away from them — their amusements, 
their enjoyments, their possessions, their freedom — 
and all that they receive in return is obloquy, and 
contempt, and degradation, and oppression.* 
What are they to do under such circumstances, 
or how support a life so bereft of its wonted sup- 
* The following are extracts from an address to a jury, when 
trying some aboriginal natives, by Judge Willis. They at least 
shew some of the blessings the Aborigines experience from being 
made British subjects, and placed under British laws : — 
“ I have, on a recent occasion, stated my opinion, which I 
still entertain, that the proprietor of a run, or, in other words, 
one who holds a lease or license from the Crown to depasture 
certain Crown lands, may take all lawful means to prevent either 
natives or others from entering or remaining upon it.” 
“The aboriginals of Van Diemen’s Land were strictly com- 
manded, by Governor Arthur’s proclamation of the 15th of April 
1828 (a proclamation of which His Majesty King George the 
Fourth, through the Bight honourable the then Secretary of 
State, by a dispatch of the 2nd of February, 1829, under the 
circumstances, signified his approval,) “ to retire and depart 
from, and for no reason, and no pretence, save as therein pro- 
vided, (viz. travelling annually to the sea coast in quest of shell- 
fish, under certain regulations,) to re-enter the settled districts 
of Van Diemen’s Land, or any portions of land cultivated and 
occupied by any person whomsoever, under the authority of Her 
Majesty’s Government, on pain of forcible expulsion therefrom, 
and such consequences as might be necessarily attendant on it, 
and all magistrates and other persons by them authorized and 
deputed, were required to conform themselves to the directions 
and instructions of this proclamation, in effecting the retirement 
and expulsion of the Aborigines from the settled districts of that 
territory.” 
