, with the free exercise
of its own legislation. The movement at first gained little favour; as
in the infant state of the district, it was thought premature, if not
preposterous. But that immortal colonial agitator, the Rev. Dr. Lang,
declaring himself an advocate for separation; and forcibly aiding the
scheme with his pen, and indefatigable exertions, the party continued to
gather strength until it had assumed a bold attitude, reiterating its
demands to the throne. To give the reader some notion of the subject,
we will endeavour to transcribe such of the conversation at Rosehall as
will serve to enlighten him.

"I shall want you, Mr. Ferguson, now you are here," said the proprietor
of the place, "to affix your signature to a petition to the Queen,
praying for the separation of these districts from New South Wales."

"I am not yet convinced," replied William, "that the district will be
benefited by being separated."

"I don't think," replied the other, "it will take much argument to
convince you, or any other rational being, that separation would not
only be beneficial, but is absolutely necessary for the welfare of
Moreton Bay. In the first place, we are not adequately represented in
the Assembly; and, in the next, five to six hundred miles is too great a
distance to be removed from the seat of government. Even if the ministry
had the desire to do us justice, their unacquaintance with our wants
would prevent their inclinations from being of any service to us;
though I am not disposed to think, from our past experience, that any
Sydney batch of legislators, would be at all inclined to give us any
consideration. The revenue derivable from the districts, is annually
swept into the Sydney treasury; and I would ask, with what return? Why
absolutely nothing! They amount in this district alone, I have no
hesitation in saying, to considerably over L150,000; while, with the
exception of a few salaries, paid to some almost useless officials, and
a few hundreds voted occasionally for our roads, just to remind us that
we are not entirely forgotten, we get no return. Look at our towns in
the country; whenever the exchequer is in need of a little ready money,
they put up sufficient land in our district to replenish their coffers,
and to make the inhabitants feel the desire and necessity for more. It
has always been the policy of our rulers to keep the demand for land in
excess of the supply, by which means they create a spirited