Page:The founding of South Australia.djvu/28

This page has been validated.
22
THE FOUNDING OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
"On the 16th September I left. Paris with Colonel Minuisir, a Spaniard, brother-in-law to General Torrijos, late Minister of War in Spain, and Comte Linati, a Frenchman, for Lyons."

While Mr. Gouger was in Lyons he found time to write to his brother Alfred, to whom he explained, more fully than in his diary, the object of his mission to Spain, and an extract from that letter will enable the reader better to understand the further extracts from the diary:—

"Lyons, Sept. 30th, 1830.

"My dear Alfred,

"Before this letter reaches you I shall have been in Spain, and most probably have seen an enemy's camp.

"You will perceive by the arms on the top of this sheet[1] that we are now somewhat above a conspiracy. We have chargés d'affaires at London and Paris, which conspirators seldom avow. If, however, you know not what name to give us as a party, I hope our deeds will soon show that we are worthy of a better name. We may soon be 'legitimate warriors.' Shame on man! that success should determine the goodness of a cause; succeeding, we are the saviours of a country; defeated, we are traitors, and ignominy is heaped upon us. When will men think rightly? However, be our party fortunate or otherwise, there is some satisfaction in knowing that some of the finest-minded men in the world are engaged with us; that the cause is that of liberty for the oppressed twelve millions of Spaniards, and that the sympathy of all who wish well to a good cause will be with us. I have never regretted for one moment the step I have taken. I am convinced that it is a card worth playing, and, although a dangerous one, it is not the less deserving of being played. I cannot,
  1. The letter was written on official paper.