Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/607

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MATERIAL PROCURESS OF VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. 579 Crown amongst the settlers according to their respective means of improv- ing them, and of impartially considering their claims in the disposal of assigned servants. ... In all these matters I have felt the full weight of responsibility in contending with the extreme practical difficulties which have almost daily presented themselves, and which I never could have successfully withstood but from the support I have uniformly received. . . . I shall ever most highly appreciate the encouragement I have received, the strength which my government has derived from it, and the gratifying testimonies I have received of feelings towards myself personally since I received the intelligence of His Majesty's intention to appoint my successor. ... If my labours have been great, so has been my reward. I have witnessed the most extraordinary rise perhaps ever known within so short a period in the value of property. The foundation is now firmly laid, enterprise and the desire to improve have full scope, and their results will be, I anticipate, increasingly developed every year. . . . Having presided over the Legislative Council from the period of its constitution, now ten years ago, I cannot take my leave of you without the most lively emotions, and whilst I am most deeply sensible of your invariable kindness and forbearance towards myself, permit me to request for my successor a continuance of that support which you have so cheerfully and zealously, during so long a period, extended to me. " Gentlemen, with the most sincere wishes for your future prosperity and happiness, I now bid you farewell." The material progress had indeed been great. His relative, Mr. Montagu, the Colonial Secretary, compiled tables which showed that during Arthur's rule the revenue had risen from iS16,866 to ^£106,639; the imports from £62,000 to £583,146; the exports from £14,500 to £320,679. The number of mills had been increased from 5 to 47 ; of colonial vessels from 1 to 71 ; of churches from 4 to 18; and the population had grown from 12,000 to 40,000 in 1836.8^ »* ** History of Tasmania." West. VoL i., p. 177. lA. 2