the new settlement, in such manner as the Agent of the Association in the colony may think best.

At the same time, I am to express to your Lordship the very earnest hope of the Association, that at the earliest possible moment arrangements may be made for placing the management of the affairs of the new settlement in its own hands, a matter which they have no hesitation in pressing upon your Lordship’s consideration, knowing it to be entirely in accordance with your own general views.

They have received with great satisfaction your Lordship’s assurances from time to time, of your readiness to promote this object so soon as circumstances will permit. In their judgment, so far as they can offer an opinion, the future revenue of the colony will at once be equal to sustaining such a charge, and its population seems likely to increase rapidly. They forbear for the present from adding more upon this subject, upon which they will venture to trouble your Lordship at a future day.

Reverting to the subject of the present temporary arrangements, I am desired to express the anxious wish of the Association that the appointments to local offices in the colony should be made not merely with scrupulous care as to individual fitness, as to which, they might fully rely upon your Lordship and His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, but in such a manner as to meet, as far as possible, the wishes and opinions of the colonists themselves. They think that the happiness and success of the colony depends in a very great measure upon this point, for reasons upon which it would be quite superfluous to enlarge, knowing as they do your Lordship’s opinion on the question, and having received already assurances of your readiness to contribute to the end in view so far as lies in your power.

They are aware that strictly the nomination to appointments in the colony rests with the Governor-in-Chief and local authorities, subject to the approval of the Home Government. Your Lordship’s recommendation, however, to His Excellency on this subject would no doubt receive every consideration from him.

The Association are aware of the intention of Captain Charles Simeon, a gentleman of high qualifications, brother to Mr. John Simeon, member for the Isle of Wight, and son of Sir Richard Simeon of Swainston, in the Isle of Wight, to settle permanently at Canterbury with his family at the end of the present or the beginning of the next year. They have received from the colonists now about to sail, an intimation of their wish that this gentleman should fill the office of resident or principal magistrate in the colony.

The Association are able confidently to recommend him for the office. He is a proprietor of land in the colony to a considerable extent. His service in the army—(from which on his marriage he lately sold out),—his habits, tone of mind, and general acquirements, eminently qualify him for such a position, his personal character and private fortune would add weight to the office—at the same time that he would be personally most acceptable to the colonists.

Believing that your Lordship will be ready to entertain this suggestion, you will no doubt desire to ascertain the views of the Association as to the provision to be made for the duties of the office in the interval, previous to Captain Simeon’s arrival in the colony. As to this, in order to avoid difficulty, it has occurred to them to submit to the Governor-in-Chief, with your Lordship’s recommendation, a proposal that Mr. Godley himself, the Agent of the Association, should be provisionally appointed.

Mr. Godley’s character in all points stands so high in this country, that it would be needless to add any testimony on the part of the Association to his high qualifications. I am desired to convey to your Lordship, in the strongest terms, their high sense of his judgment, honor, and fitness, in all respects, for an office of trust and importance.

Should this suggestion be adopted, they will communicate with Mr. Godley on the subject, and they doubt not that he will, at their instance, undertake to fill the office in the manner proposed provisionally, and in the interval previous to Captain Simeon’s arrival.

Having already stated to your Lordship the high opinion entertained by them of Mr. Godley, and the implicit confidence which they place in him, they do not hesitate to add a further wish on their part, that, as regards all the other local appointments, his judgment and recommendation may be accepted by the local authorities as the rule for selection, so far as possible, and to the utmost extent to which such a rule can be properly applied. I refer particularly to the appointment of unpaid magistrates, and those other subordinate offices to which I have already adverted; indeed it would be extremely satisfactory to the Association if the rule could for the present be extended to every part of the establishments in the colony.

The peculiar advantage which they seek thus to obtain, is to ensure an entire harmony and unity of operation through the whole body of the colonists, and as far as possible to satisfy them.