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Parramatta 29th Jany 1823
After the most serious consideration of what Your Excellency was pleased to say yesterday, on the subject of the land, ordered by Lord Bathurst, to be granted to me, at the Cow Pastures, I have not been able to repress feelings of the severest mortification & disappointment, that there should still exist any obstacle to my receiving the indulgence, which his Lordship has, in such strong and flattering terms, directed might be given to me: and these feelings I must confess, are greatly aggravated, when I recollect that your Excellency was pleased, immediately after the receipt of his Lordship's orders, to assure me, that not only the 5000 acres should be granted in the situation pointed out by Lord Bathurst, but that you would sanction the exchange of such other parts of my sons' & my estates, as should so consolidate the whole, that I might with the least chance of interruption, proceed in the arduous labour, in which I and my family have been so many years engaged; which have already produced advantages to the Colony, that even the most envious & jealous persons do not attempt to deny.
Confiding in those kind assurances, I did myself the honour to address the letter to you, bearing date the 29th day of last November: in which I particularised the exchanges of land that had been suggested in conversation, and which your Excellency then said you entirely approved. The pleasure of that approval was still further increased, by your Excellency declaring, you lamented that any part of the Cow Pastures, was granted out of my family as you felt that you could not more effectually promote
His Excellency
Sir Thomas Brisbane, K.C.B.
&c &c &c