of that office shall not commit them to any political cause, I can feel no objection to redeem the pledge I gave you in London should his Lordship think proper to appoint me. The Act of Parliament, will regulate the procedure of the commissioners, and can have little to do with party politics.
"I feel a deep interest in the success of the measure, and trust a fair experiment will be made of it, although I feel perfectly indifferent as to the gentlemen who may take an active part in it providing they are suitable persons; and I can assure you, I shall be glad to give place to any one who shall be considered more competent by his Lordship.
"I am, my dear Sir,
"Yours very truly,
"Geo, Fife Angas."
The importance of this letter cannot be overestimated. Mr. George Fife Angas was a man of sterling Christian character, of great wealth, and of wide influence. For the previous four years he had been carefully watching the progress of the movement in favour of colonisation in South Australia, and at one time had taken an active part in the deliberations of the provisional committees. On him was to devolve the solution of the monetary difficulty that stood in the way of everything, and would, but for his assistance, have rendered the Act of Parliament inoperative.
"January 30th.—Stuart Wortley has resigned acting as Under Secretary for the Colonies, and Mr. W. Ewart Gladstone supplies his place. He is M.P. for Newark.
"February 7th.—In the afternoon Torrens saw Hay