hing for anybody, and never think of his own
interests.'

Admiring Sturt so heartily, Sir George, with others, had urged that the
honour of a title should be conferred upon him. He died in England before
actually receiving it, 'Whereupon,' said Sir George, 'I next suggested
that his widow should have the rank which otherwise would have been hers,
and from that, I judge, sprang the very proper rule now obtaining in such
a case.'

VII PLANTING THE BRITON

'I always got what I wanted in life,' Sir George Grey made arch comment
on himself, 'and many things, also, that I did not want.'

His appointment as Governor of South Australia, with the steps leading up
to it, he could group under the first head. His explorations had shown
that no great river, no second Murray, drained the North-West area of
Australia. This was information for geographers, and he had more, since,
to quote his own words, 'We learned as much about the region, in a
general way, as was necessary.' Next, he acted for a while as Government
Resident at King George's Sound, and he investigated the country
thereabout.

'The settlement of King George's Sound,' he said, 'was quite small, and I
discharged all the duties of the State. I don't remember that I fined
anybody; just decreeing: "Oh, you must make up your disputes yourselves."
Perth, now so grown, was at that date a mere townlet. It had few people,
ships called rarely, and practically it was shut off from the world.'

This was the brand-new Australia. Beside it, there is a glimpse of olden
England, in the manner Sir George Grey was bid to be Pro-Consul. A
special messenger pelted down to Bodiam, where, after his return to
England, he had been staying for a month, the hero of his relatives. The
messenger brought the other London, news that the guns of the Tower had
been firing, to announce the birth of the Queen's first child, the
Princess Royal. Therefore his arrival caused a double commotion in the
family circle, two notes of joy and gratulation. Sir George posted
express to London, changing horses at short stages in order to make the
better speed.

It was his supreme wish to serve the Colonies, and he had a glimmering
notion that the chance would come. Still, he was at one of the crossings
in a young man's life, when it is hard to know what the road is to be. He
had always his commission in the army, but was that his definite
signpost? He sighed for a wider door of usefulness, and behol