Mr. Whitmore having replied on October 11th, that " he was too well aware of the full occupation of Mr. Stanley's time to urge an interview," there was nothing to do but to wait. It was a relief from official discouragement for Mr. Gouger to receive a cheery letter at this time from his brother Henry, who possessed considerable influence in India, and took a warm interest in Robert's colonial schemes: —
"7th October, 1833.
"Dear Robert,
"I have read attentively the pamphlets you sent me touching the formation of a colony at Spencer's Gulph. If carried into effect, I have no doubt the colony would receive considerable assistance from the emigration of men who have made a competence in India, who generally prefer retiring to a more temperate climate when their means admit of such a change. I know myself many who would prefer settling in Van Diemen's Land to returning to England, were they nob deterred by the state of society naturally consequent on a convict population. Should your scheme succeed, too, we shall not see the Indian ships returning to England, full, as they sometimes now are, with officers in the company's service, on leave to the Cape of Good Hope. These invalid gentlemen would generally prefer such a settlement as yours on the South Coast of Australia, where they could r.side without infringing the regulations, which do not allow them to reside to the westward of the Cape under forfeiture of pay. These, as well as your resident settlers from India, would be numerous, I have no doubt. Of the latter you can form some idea from the number now residing in Sydney and Van Diemen's Land, even in the face of such inconvenience as I have alluded to.
