MR. SHILLINGLAW TO THE HON. THE CHIEF SECRETARY.
To the Honourable Graham Berry, Premier of Victoria.
Sir,
The documents now submitted to you may fairly be called the First Annals of this colony. They are important as being official records, and they set at rest some points which have hitherto been in dispute or doubt regarding the settlement attempted by Governor Collins at Port Phillip Heads three quarters of a century ago.
As you have thought these early historical MSS. worthy of national publication, I have compressed in the form of a Prefatory Note a few facts necessary to the illustration of their character and value, and showing how they were brought to light.
I take leave to add that when future writers of Australian history come to tell the story of that marvellous national career which in less than fifty years has transformed a coast whaling-station and a few turf huts on the banks of an unnamed river into the noble Province of Victoria, they will not fail to recognize the public spirit which has induced you to preserve these memorials of an earlier attempt at its colonization, which, happily for us all, came to nought.
I have the honour to be,
Your very obedient servant,
Melbourne, 28th October 1878.
