Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/375

King's published orders prove that there was hardly any exercise of authority which he avoided, and a few instances will give a life-like picture of the social condition of the colony. Writing to the Duke of Portland (1st March 1802) he described the demands upon his time thus:—

"The most rigid economy is observed . . . nor is there a nail issued but by my written order, which takes up one entire day in the week, nor am I less occupied the remaining days in other objects of public duty; nor can the affairs of this colony be transacted in any other manner than by the Governor's immediate direction and control in every and the most minute public transaction."

When soon after Hunter's departure it was ascertained that numbers of convicts, by bribes to clerks (also convicts) employed by the government, had fraudulently procured the alteration of the registers of their sentences, stringent measures were taken and musters both of convicts and settlers were rigidly enforced. It was necessary even for a free labourer to carry a pass from a magistrate. A General Order is worth perusal:

"6th Aug. 1802. The settlers, and other persons cultivating or occupying grounds by grant, lease, rental, or permission, will be mustered by the Governor, at the following times and places, viz.:—Those in Sydney and its districts at Government House there, on Tuesday morning, the 10th instant, at eight o'clock. At Parramatta . . . at Government House there . . . at eight a.m. At Hawkesbury at Government House there on Monday morning, the 16th instant, at eight o'clock Officers, civil and military, holding ground as above, are directed to give an account of their farms, stock, &c., according to the forms left with the Governor's secretary, the Rev. Mr. Marsden, and T. Arndell, Esq. Those forms are to be filled up previous to the day of muster at the respective settlements where the farms may be placed."

In 1801 and 1802, by General Orders, limitations were imposed as to the number of assigned servants allowed, and as to those who, when assigned, "would be victualled by the Crown."

In August 1798 Hunter had issued injunctions for due observance of the Sabbath by all in the colony; and directed "that the women, who, to their disgrace, are far worse than the men, be most strictly looked after, and ordered to attend Divine service regularly, or they will expose themselves to punishment." "As example from superiors is certainly highly effectual in all such cases," officers were told to send their domestics to church, and the Governor

"desires he MAY have, and he trusts he SHALL have, the assistance of the whole body of the officers, both civil and military." . . . "If due