Wallingford Oct., 26th, 1864 My dear McLean, I conclude you will be returning from the Wairoa about this time I have nothing much to write you of and hope you have been successful in your Wairoa expedition. So the Assembly to meet. If Grey be able to get a Ministry of any kind together of course we may expect a dissolution. I doubt if Grey will be able to get even out of the whole of the Members of the Assembly enough to form a so called Ministry - The best chance for us appears to be that before Grey can mature his peace plans the natives will force him to fight either at Tauranga or Waikato or anywhere else. Anything wd. be better for the Colony that a Peace such as that he appears to threaten us with. Write me anything you may hear of probable proceedings in the approaching assembly. I shall not be able to get away in time to attend the opening but shall probably go a little later. For my own part I see little to be got by the present Session. Grey has the power and will use it in spite of us. All we can do is to protest and as far as possible stop all supplies and repudiate all obligations. In haste, Yours always, J. D. Ormond.