It may be observed, that this opinion was very shortly after absolutely demonstrated and confirmed by the public voice, as evinced in the fact that at the recent sale of Crown Lands every single lot fetched above the upset price, which upset price was the rent of corresponding lots averaged and fixed by the Committee.
I am also desired to remind you, that not one individual in twenty of the purchasers of land at the Sales or Grants authorized by Captain Elliot or Mr Johnston fulfilled the prescribed terms of those sales or Grants, that it thence followed that the greater number of those Sales and Grants might have been declared to be null and void, and the land again put up to public competition when its value had been greatly enhanced, as shown by the late Sales by Auction, that that enhancement is proved, as well by the result of those sales, as by the undeniable and notorious circumstance, that perhaps more than three fourths of the money laid out in this Colony has been expended since the publication of the Notifications already quoted in this letter; or in other words, since the Island became a bona fide possession of the British Crown; but the local Government willingly availed themselves of the discretion left to them (under the peremptory restrictions as to alienations) to disturb as little as was consistent with the general interests of society and the well-being of the Colony, the acts of former Authorities.