themselves signed.
the letter.
There is not time to do so by 5 this Mail, but I shall send by another early opportunity to Your Lordship an Estimate showing, in round numbers, what sums of money have been expended on building this Colony since the publication of the intention of Her Majesty's Government not to recognize Grants or sales of land made previous to the exchange of the Ratifications of the Treaty, and what before such publication; also a statement showing the number of persons who strictly complied with the terms on which land was granted to them by Captain Elliot, or Mr Johnston; The upset price of the Crown Lands sold at the last sales was in round numbers One Thousand three Hundred Pounds Sterling annual rent, and they fetched by Public Outcry Two Thousand Pounds Sterling which is of itself a convincing proof of the erroneous view of the matter taken in the letter which I now submit.
I must confess, that that letter surprised me, for although I am decidedly of opinion, that the promise to which allusion is made in the last passage of the reply, is politic, equitable, both as regards the Crown and the individuals; yet, I do not hesitate to declare my conviction, both from my personal observation and from the inquiries I have previously instituted that in no Colony round