been repeated. The
government of Sorell was rather patriarchal than despotic; and compared
with the mass of newly arrived emigrants he was the old inhabitant. Many
who had never seen official men, but at an awful distance, were charmed
with the affability and kindness of the governor, and his recall seemed
the withdrawal of a liberal patron:--

"AT A PUBLIC MEETING of the Landholders, Merchants, and Free Inhabitants
of Van Diemen's Land, by public advertisement assembled, at the Court
House, in Hobart Town, the 30th day of October, 1823, JOHN BEAMONT,
Esq., Provost Marshal of Van Diemen's Land, in the chair;

"Resolved--(Moved by Edward Abbott, Esq. junior, seconded by James
Gordon, Esq.)--That in the present state of this colony, that union of
wisdom and experience, which his Honor Lieutenant Governor Sorell has on
every occasion so strikingly exhibited, is most essential to our general
and individual interests. It becomes therefore of the very utmost
importance to us, that in any contemplated changes, as to this colony,
Lieutenant Governor Sorell may not be removed from his present
government; inasmuch as no successor, whom it may be the pleasure of his
Majesty to appoint, can be possibly expected to bestow all that general
and individual attention to our wants and wishes, and to be able,
satisfactorily and advantageously, to encounter any difficulties which
may occur, without a considerable lapse of time, and much probable
encreased inconvenience; while from the steady, calm, decided, and
experienced judgment of his Honor Lieutenant Governor Sorell, we have
every reason to hope for the most prosperous continuation of his present
successful administration.

"2nd. Resolved--(Moved by A. F. Kemp, Esq., seconded by F. Dawes,
Esq.)--That a most dutiful Address be presented to his Majesty, grounded
upon the preceding resolution; and that a committee of fifteen gentlemen
be appointed to prepare the same, and to carry into effect the object of
the present meeting, in such manner as shall appear most proper and
expedient.

"3rd. Resolved--(Moved by T. G. Gregson, Esq., seconded by W. A.
Bethune, Esq.)--That the Address, when signed, be forwarded with the
least possible delay to Edward Barnard, Esq., our colonial agent in
London, requesting that gentleman to adopt the necessary measures for
forthwith submitting it to his Majesty's most gracious consideration,
and to use his utmost endeavours to obtain the object of the sam