# Journals of Several Expeditions Made in Western Australia, During the Years 1829, 1830, 1831, and 1832/Copy of a Letter from Sir J. Stirling to Mr. J. Cross

From Journals of Several Expeditions Made in Western Australia, During the Years 1829, 1830, 1831, and 1832
No. 7.
Woodbridge, near Guildford,
May 18th, 1833.
Sir,
With reference to your Note of the 9th instant, in which you express a wish to be informed as to the measures which it is proposed to adopt in regard to the settlement in Western Australia, I beg leave to say, that any information which it is in my power to afford you, or any other person, interested in the subject, is very much at your service; but it is necessary to observe, that as I am not in the exercise of any official authority in this country, any statement I may make on such matters must be considered as emanating from a private source.
The view which the colonial department takes of the colony in question, I believe to be this:—that, although it was originally entered upon with the intention of meeting the wishes of several individuals desirous of establishing themselves in that country, His Majesty's Government is not indisposed to afford the settlement every reasonable and proper degree of protection and countenance. It is therefore proposed to provide for it certain civil and military establishments, upon a scale inexpensive, but, in my opinion, sufficient for the administration of government and law, and for the protection of the settlers. The civil establishment will be more efficient, but not more costly than that which has existed hitherto; the military force will be doubled, or, at least, extended to two companies. The expense of supporting these institutions will be, for the present, supported by the Crown, but the continuance of this practice cannot be expected to extend beyond the period when the growing means of the settlement shall enable it to bear the charge of its own establishments.
Every description of expenditure unprovided for by vote of Parliament, or unconnected with the two branches of service aforesaid, will have to be borne by a colonial fund. To this, as a commencement, the Secretary o ​State has recommended the appropriation of a considerable sum, now in course of payment, as due to the Crown for provisions, &c. supplied to individuals; and it will be for the colonial legislature to keep it up by the imposition of such duties as it is customary to collect in other British colonies. The first charge on this fund will be the equipment of a mounted corps for protecting, and, at the same time, controlling the aborigines. The subsequent charges will be for the construction of roads and public works; the erection and support of schools; relief to destitute persons; and such other appropriations as may seem most conducive to the general welfare. The Legislative Council, at present existing, will be extended, so as to comprise a portion of settlers unconnected with the government. The land regulations under which assignments were made to the earlier settlers, will be modified for their benefit, and the same assistance which has been given as to passage money by the emigration committee, to labourers proceeding to Van Diemen's and Sydney, will be extended to Western Australia, so soon as she can offer the same security which has been required from the other colonies. The appropriation of a ship of war to services exclusively connected with the new colony cannot be afforded; but it will be visited at proper intervals by ships belonging to the station, and for the purpose of enforcing the port regulations, the colonial vessel will probably be armed.
The foregoing sketch includes an outline of the arrangements which I have reason to think will be adopted in the future management of the colony. In making these several concessions, the Government considers it will have accomplished all that the settlers ought to expect. In the advancement of their particular pursuits, in the cultivation of the soil, and in the conversion of its natural resources into a productive state, the colonists could not derive any solid or permanent benefit from the assistance of government, and in all such matters they must therefore rely upon their own means and industry. They will be protected by a local government; they will enjoy the benefit of English laws; their interests will be superintended by a Legislature composed in part ​of persons taken from their own body; and, with these advantages, if private capital and enterprise cannot accomplish all that remains to be done to render the settlement prosperous, it will not owe its failure to any want of attention to its interests on the part of government.
I am, Sir, your very obedient servant,
James Stirling.
To Mr. J. Cross.
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