Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/496

traffic which Governor King had crushed in 1800, when he obtained the pledges of D'Arcy Wentworth and others, "on their faith as gentlemen," that they would "not enter into any future speculations or purchases, contrary to His Majesty's Instructions," was, by Macquarie's formal act, revived in favour of D'Arcy Wentworth himself.

Earl Bathurst after a short time revived the prohibition.

In 1816 Macquarie published a General Order stating that he was specially commanded by Lord Bathurst" to notify to all persons holding situations under this government that they are not to be permitted, on any account whatever, to carry on, or be concerned in, mercantile or commercial transactions; and that in the event of any officers under this government either commencing or continuing any kind of mercantile occupations after the promulgation of this notice they shall be dismissed from their said situations." . . .

Macquarie in a published letter (1820) declared that, "If at present any of the officers of the government carry on trade, it is by underhand means. . . . "It would be very greatly for the benefit of this settlement if the civil servants were removed occasionally bodily to some other colony as the military are. . . . Persons long domesticated in a country naturally colonize, and form themselves into combinations destructive of social order. . . ." The social order which Macquarie desired was the aggrandizement of the emancipated convicts, and it jarred upon the feelings of those who, whether civil servants or settlers, were "naturally" (in his language) bent upon "colonizing" of a different order from that which he aimed at.

In June 1813 it was resolved to build a new Court-house. The Governor recommended the subject to the public, and offered £500 on the part of the government. A meeting of the principal inhabitants was held at the Judge-Advocate's Office. It was determined to collect subscriptions. Macquarie privately gave £60, the Lt.-Governor gave £50, the Judge and D'Arcy Wentworth gave £40 each, and Marsden gave £30. In August nearly £2000 had been subscribed, and in September tenders were invited. Fines and forfeitures for misdemeanours were appropriated for the Courthouse Fund, of which D'Arcy Wentworth was treasurer.