Page:The founding of South Australia.djvu/86

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THE FOUNDING OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

"The men who have undertaken to found the colony are not wild projectors; nor have they, we are confident, merely lent their names to a wild project. They are, most of them, public men with a high character to sustain; and they have not embarked in this important work without a sense of the heavy responsibility incurred in their engagement with the public. Here, then, is an opening such as never was presented before, to young men and heads of families in the middle class, who, with the sense to perceive the difficulties that beset their order in England, may have the courage to decide on being amongst the founders of a society in which no such difficulties can exist. To thousands who answer to this description we recommend the prospectus of the association."

Mr. Gouger's Journal for January in this year is the record of a bewildering amount of labour, almost inconceivable to any one but an enthusiast, who, having put his hand to the plough, will not turn his head for a moment to halt or to look back. There were, of course, as in all new associations, minor dissensions to be appeased, little ruggednesses to be smoothed over, prejudices to be overcome, and endless suggestions to be considered. In addition, there was an overwhelming amount of clerical labour to be performed; advertisements to be sent out, letters to editors of newspapers to be written, constant attendance to be given at the office of the association to answer inquiries and give detailed information about the colony and the immediate