Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/493

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MACQUARIE AND THE JUDGES. H. OF COMMONS.
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to Mr. Bigge his indignation at the "want of candour" displayed by the Governor, who thus plotted to force the convict element into positions of importance.

Macquarie's general policy must be treated separately. It is sufficient to point out here that his deception of the new Judge at the outset renders it probable that at this early period Macquarie's association with the criminal class had blunted his own moral sense.

There was a feeling abroad that the powers of a Governor, who might be as rash as Bligh or vain as Macquarie, ought to be guided, if not controlled, by a council of advice. A Committee of the House of Commons had in 1812 recommended the creation of such a council. It might be deemed dangerous to place a Governor in a position of weakness; but at least his council would be able to protest against evil measures and transmit their protest to the Secretary of State. Lord Bathurst did not adopt the recommendation, and in June 1813 Macquarie poured forth his "great satisfaction." "So far from being an assistance, if unhappily tried, it would, in my opinion, most assuredly be productive of all the evils and inconveniences your Lordship so justly observes as likely to result from it. I, therefore, indulge a fond hope that the measure will never be resorted to in this colony."[1] Assuredly, it would have been hazardous to create a council of advice, unless under restrictions which would have prevented Macquarie from placing upon it any of the convict class whom he delighted to honour; and it was hardly to be expected that the Secretary of State of those days would knowingly permit any of that class to take part in making laws after being condemned for breaking those which were in force.

Macquarie's industry was undeniable. For maintenance of order in his capital, he divided it in 1810 into five districts, each containing a watch-house. He named new streets,[2] and changed the names of old ones. After a few

  1. ↑ Macquarie to Lord Bathurst, 28th June 1813.
  2. ↑ George-street was then named, having been theretofore called variously High-street, Spring Row, and Sergeant-Major's Row; Macquarie-street and King-street were christened for the first time; Hyde-park, then named, had been alternately called the Common, Exercising-ground, Cricket-ground, and Racecourse.
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