ABSTRACT
The offending letter was withdrawn, but that of course did not end the matter. Charles Buller, who alone had it in him to bridge the gap between the Colonial Office and the Colonial Reformers, was now as suspect in Stephen's eyes as Wakefield; and Stanley, who entered the Colonial Office with few predispositions in Stephen's favour, could not but sympathize with Stephen. Another incident occurring about the same time doubtless had its effect on Stanley. An agent of the Company had been negotiating with the Syndic of Hamburg for the establishment of a German colony in the Chatham Islands, which the Company claimed to have purchased from the natives. Informed of the fact on 15 October 1841, Stanley lost no time in denouncing these unauthorized proceedings. The Company endeavoured to evade responsibility: yet it is clear-and it may be inferred that Stanley was not altogether ignorant of the fact-that despite these warnings they did not give up hope of carrying the project through.2 In short the Company had before long given the impression that they were not to be trusted, that the November agreement would only satisfy them in so far as it gave them not only economic security but political power. Stanley was not the man to brook this; and in agree-
