Confidential. My Dear McLean, I only write you a line to say that I am preparing a despatch in which I shall recommend a large Council for Nate. affairs to be nominated by the Crown, some of the members to be paid and some unpaid. That this council shd. be directed to prepare regulations and submit them to the Crown - that the Govt. in Council shd. have power to issue Crown Grants and create and prepare settlements etc.etc. That in certain places spotted by Europeans lands should be sold by auction for the benefit of the natives but that in all cases Govt. alone should negotiate the purchase of land. I have got opinions from the Bishop, Martin, Swainson, Buddle, Kisling, Burrows and Smith, together with bills prepared by my advisers and by Lenell. I send also letters from Daldy some petitions and I expect one from Carleton addressed to the Sec. of State about direct purchase. I propose to send the whole including those most opposed to me and to urge the case through - I wish I could have had your opinion but cannot defer the Despatch as I ought to have an answer by next Session of the Assembly. Taranaki is petitioning again and Carrington supplies more ''lucubrations'' - Paris writes admirably and gives me entire satisfaction. I am delighted at your success at Napier which is worthy of yourself. FitzGerald dines with me today and I shall hear more about you. Featherstone's speech will be a useful document to me as out of his own mouth I shall be able to make the case much clearer than I could otherwise have done. I fear he has lost his temper and that the party scarcely deserves to be characterized as the wisest or the most charitable in N.Z.;; I write in great haste. Do, as you always do, what is best, and having done it get on to Taranaki. I rejoice in your letters, so write when you can. Yours sincerely, T. Gore Browne. 12 Sept. 1859