470 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. XVH. 
which they are to hold not on the good will of those 
governed but on the caprice of an irresponsible bureau 
at a distance of 16,000 miles. 
The list of likely men for the appointment was 
eagerly discussed. It was hoped that some man like 
Captain Grey, the Governor of South Australia, who 
had published to the world an admirable Essay on the 
true humanity to be observed in bringing savage na- 
tions under BritisK law, might be selected. Although 
the details of Captain Grey's proposed system are 
adapted only to the less-nurtured savage of Australia, 
in its leading principles the Essay is a most statesman- 
like view of the necessary course to be pursued with 
any variety of savage tribe.* 
With a Governor mildly yet firmly gathering the 
whole native population under the undoubted pale of 
British law by such a system ; with a well-regulated 
church of high-minded missionaries like Mr. Hadfield, 
whose main object should be to unite the two races in 
one flock as under one law ; and with a full, vigorous, 
and unimpeded revival of the system of Native Reserves 
and honour to the fading chieftainship ; it seemed just 
possible that the union of all classes of White men in 
a wisely organized and strenuous effort might yet save 
the aboriginal population. 
Captain Fitzroy's name was sometimes mentioned. 
But that officer was known to be so thoroughly j)re- 
judiced in favour of the narrow philanthropy of the 
* Report upon the best Means of promoting the Civilization of 
the Aboriginal Inhabitants of Australia, by G. Grey, Captain 83rd 
Regiment, commanding Australian Expedition. This paper was 
recommended by Lord John Russell to the attention of Governor 
Hob.son, in December 1840 ; and was printed at page 43 of Corre- 
spondence relative to New Zealand, in pursuance of an Order of the 
House of Commons, on the 11th of May 1841. 
