Company, to which plan, however. Lord Goderich, after a correspondence of many months, saw reason to decline acceding.
"In June, 1883, Mr. Stanley being Secretary of State for the Colonial Department, I renewed the negotiation with Mr. Wolryche Whitmore, and the proposition being in the main approved by Mr. Stanley, the South Australian Association was formed for the purpose of assisting in carrying the measure. To this association I acted as Hon. Sec, and the object and plan, meeting at length with Mr. Stanley's complete approval, during Mr. Rice's administration at the Colonial Department, the sanction of the Legislature was given to it. On the secession of the gentlemen selected by Mr. Rice and Mr. Whitmore as commissioners, Lord Aberdeen directed Colonel Torrens and myself to form the commission which your Lordship has just appointed.
"During the long period in which I have been thus engaged, not only have my exertions been wholly unrequited, but I have expended a considerable sum of money, and refused some lucrative offers, that I might persevere in the prosecution of the subject. I allude to this to show that, as far as services go, I may urge some claims on your Lordship's consideration. On the point of ability for the office to which I aspire, besides the testimony of the gentlemen mentioned above, I may refer your Lordship to the correspondence of the South Australian Association with the Colonial Office; and for my bearing in life and general fitness for the office, not only can I refer to the gentlemen who formed the committee of the South Australian Association, but to a memorial which I have been given to understand the body of persons going to the colony forwarded last autumn through Mr. Whitmore and Mr. Rice, of the purport of which I was ignorant until several weeks after its presentation.
"R. Gouger."
