Page:The founding of South Australia.djvu/74

 the gentlemen composing the provisional committee of the South Australian Association think fit to admit, me as a fellow labourer. In which case, when Parliament meets, I hope to be able to take an active part in promoting the objects of the society. "I have the honour to be, &c.,&emsp;&esp; ". "."

It was the absorbing wish of Mr. Gouger to form, the provisional committee and to issue the prospectus before the end of the year, and he left no stone unturned with this view. The Journal continues:—

"December 14th.—Rowland and Matthew Hill called to talk upon the measure. The first of these has some difficulty in fixing his name to the prospectus as secretary in consequence of the Bruce Castle Establishment, but he nevertheless is desirous to have the office. Hanson read a paper at the rooms which he had written as a preface to the evidence as to the soil. This was adopted by the committee.

"December 17th.—Parkes wishes to take other and better rooms and to get up a larger subscription. Romilly fully approves the measure, but will speak to Grote upon the subject before he decidedly gives his name. Grote thinks the committee will be strong enough to come before the public when the acquiescence of Strutt, Warburton and Romilly shall have been obtained &hellip; In a conversation upon a church establishment, it was agreed that an attempt should be made to found a society for building a church, and to set this on

"December 19th.—Saw Hume with Pottinger. Hume approves entirely of the plan, and appeared pleased at having an opportunity of declaring how much he was in error upon the subject two or three years ago when