at his lodgings, and this I have agreed to do. He tells me that Edward Wakefield is coming to town, and that in his opinion he must be conciliated—this is all very well, but the business must not be sacrificed to him.
"April 6th.—To-day I saw Torrens and gave him the letter I had for him. It was merely to say that the business had been dismissed from the Treasury. He informed me that he saw Hay on Friday, who told him that nothing had to be determined now, but to fix on the Under-Secretary who was to sit in the commission.
"I have had a long conversation with Westall. He proposes to sell me six engravings of South Australia for £15 each. I have consented to purchase them, and shall at once issue a prospectus about them.[1]
"April 7th.—Called at the Colonial Office on Hay with Torrens, but could not see him. Torrens wrote a note asking him to lay before Lord Aberdeen the papers immediately. The division against the Government last night, causes much dread that ministers will resign before our matter is concluded.
"April 8th.—The ministers have resigned, and consequently another delay must be incurred. During four administrations at the Colonial Office have we been working this measure. Lord Goderich, Stanley, Rice, Aberdeen, and now another.
Letter from Hay to Torrens.
"Sir,
"I have laid before the Earl of Aberdeen your letter of the 7th instant, in which you state the names of two gentlemen who are willing to act as solicitor and as treasurer to the South Australian Company, and you request to be informed whether those gentlemen whose names were submitted in your letter of the 13th- ↑ Several of Westall's original sketches are now in the library of the Royal Colonial Institute, London.
