Page:The founding of South Australia.djvu/129

 to trade in land—it would be just as improper for the Governor to deal in land as it would be for the Master of the Mint to trade in bullion, the Master-general of the Ordnance to deal in stores, or for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to negotiate loans. To this Lefevre quite assented, he said he saw the great importance of such a provision, and it should not be forgotten. As to men, he asked me how I should like Torrens as Governor? I replied that he was, in my opinion, the most fit man I had ever seen for the appointment, and that he would receive the suffrages of the committee, if they should be appealed to.

"This conversation I reported to Torrens, who was waiting for me at the Golden Cross, and at 3 o'clock he had his interview with Lefevre. Between the time of my leaving and his going to Lefevre, Stanley had been talking to Lefevre about the measure. Lefevre says he begged Stanley to look tenderly at the plan, for that he took much interest in the matter. On this, Stanley said he was like his predecessors. Hay had founded Fernando Po, Twiss had founded Swan Paver, and he, Lefevre, wanted, he supposed, to found Spencer's Gulf. However, he would at once consider the matter, and he directed Lefevre to send all the papers about it to his house that evening, especially the paper as to the soil, which I had this morning given Lefevre. Lefevre, on the whole, led Torrens to believe that there was no insurmountable difficulty in the way, and said that on Wednesday at 2 o'clock he should be able to give a decided answer.

"April 9th.—Torrens again saw Lefevre. There is no longer any difficulty in the way, unless the question of money should be deemed one, and it is not yet sure how Stanley may proceed with a view to putting the committee in the way to getting this. I have before shown Lefevre how likely we were to be placed in a vicious circle—we cannot actually get money until we know decidedly how the Act of Parliament will run,