With the session of 1836, had closed the sitting of the Aborigines' Committee, and the drawing up of its report was entrusted to Mr. Buxton as its chairman. He was anxious to render this report a sort of manual for the future treatment of aboriginal nations, in connection with our colonies. Accordingly, in January, 1837, he invited Dr. Philip to Northrepps, and commenced his work.

“Dr. Philip has been here three days,” he writes. “We are in the heart of the Report on Aborigines. Oh! for a spirit of wisdom poured clown on our labours.”

The object of the report was to prove, first, the destructive cruelty to which the native tribes had generally been subjected: and, secondly, that wherever they had received equitable and humane treatment, they had increased in numbers, acquired the arts of civilized life, and accepted the blessings of religion.