THE NATIVES. 
183 
of the Colony, and a Commissioner of Crown Lands, 
in the Geelong district. 
“ In offeringmy candid opinion, I submissively beg 
leave to state, that for the last three years, on all 
occasions, I have been a friend to the natives ; but 
from my general knowledge of their habits of idle- 
ness, extreme cunning, vice, and villany, that it is 
out of the power of all exertion that can be bestowed 
on them to do good by them ; and I further beg 
leave to state, that I can plainly see the general con- 
duct of the native growing worse, and, if possible, 
more useless, and daily more daring. One and all 
appear to consider that no punishment awaits them. 
This idea has latterly been instilled into their minds 
with, I should think, considerable pains, and also 
that the white men should be punished for the least 
offence. 
“ In reply to the latter part of your letter, I beg 
leave to bring to your notice that, at considerable 
risk, two years ago, I apprehended a native for the 
murder of one of Mr. Learmonth’s men, near 
Bunengang. He was committed to Sydney gaol, 
and at the expiration of a year he was returned to 
Melbourne to be liberated, and is now at large. In 
the case of Mr. Thomson’s, that I apprehended two, 
and both identified by the men who so fortunately 
escaped. It is a difficult thing to apprehend natives, 
and with great risk of life on both sides. On the 
Grange, and many parts of the country, it would be 
