Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/384

not been obedient "in reducing the price of labour among the freemen," and he was "sorry to observe that idleness and dissipation among the settlers, which must ever keep them in a state of abject poverty and dependence: he means their destructive propensity to the use of spirituous liquors, to obtain a taste of which many of them have sacrificed the fruits of their whole year's labour and maintenance." He hoped that the success of the whale fishery and the efforts of the Government to supply the settlers with articles at a low price would excite a general spirit of exertion;" he had postponed the meeting of the Court till after the sowing of wheat was finished, but it would be a flagrant breach of his duty to impede the due course of the law, though he hoped the creditors would not be needlessly oppressive.

The Orders to restrain traffic in spirits have been spoken of. With regard to general traffic it was announced (1st Oct. 1800) by General Order aimed against monopoly and extortion—

that the inhabitants will be informed whether government purchases the whole or any part, and notice published of the rates at which such articles will be delivered to the inhabitants from the public stores under proper and equal restrictions; and should the Governor decline purchasing on the public account, measures will be taken to ascertain the value of the articles, and in no case will private retailers be allowed to charge more than 20 per cent. on the purchase from the ship." . . . "And as it has been the custom of dealers and their agents in this colony, in order to recover the ruinous charges they have made on individuals, to procure their notes of hand for payment, without specifying how those debts have been incurred, the Governor, considering himself authorized by his instructions, and the local situation of the colony and its inhabitants, hereby directs the members of the Civil Courts of Judicature not to take cognizance of any suit, action or demand for the recovery of any alleged debts, unless the plaintiff produces a bill (and on oath if required), specifying the consideration and the price for which the defendant becomes indebted to him."

The sailor borrowed a leaf from the book of Edward the First, when some of the clergy, dishonourably servile to a foreign yoke, would have rejected their duty to the State. He denied them in return the benefit of his courts, and the insults and rapine to which they were exposed brought them back to obedience. Promissory notes of all kinds, and forgeries, gave trouble. In 1800 written promissory notes were forbidden (after 30th Nov.), and "that the