Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/554

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526

DESPATCH ON GOVERNMENT OF VAN DIEMEN'S LAND.

proceedings" against acts done under former Governors was made law. Brisbane desired to "make lawful" all former Proclamations by Governors, but his Council pointed out (11th Jan. 1825) how numerous such orders and proclamations had been, how multifarious and temporary. They could not be found (they urged) "in a collective or accessible body." They suggested that particular orders should receive particular sanction. Their unanimous protest was successful. The measures enacted in 1825 continued certain duties, and made lawful all former collections; regulated the sale of wines and spirits; the control of convicts, and of a prison hulk; postage; created a registry of "births, baptisms, marriages, and burials," and a registry of "deeds and conveyances."

In May 1825 Col. Stewart arrived and was sworn. In the same month the Rev. T. H. Scott,^[1] who, after acting as Secretary to Commissioner Bigge, had entered the Church and had been appointed Archdeacon of the Colony (1823), took his seat under a fresh warrant appointing the Council. Oxley was removed, though not offensively, for it was provided that in case of Scott's decease Oxley should succeed him.^[2] Brisbane took occasion to record in the minutes of the Council a despatch from England concerning the government of Van Diemen's Land. It evinced a complete acceptance of Bigge's views. After the Archdeacon took his seat at the Council the management of the women at

↑ Much obloquy was cast upon Archdeacon Scott because he had held what was called a subordinate clerical post under Mr. Bigge; but when Lord Bathurst appointed him to that post he conferred importance upon it by announcing that "in the event of His Majesty being unfortunately deprived of the services of Mr. Bigge, either by death, illness, or otherwise, (Scott was to) continue and perfect the inquiry entrusted to that gentleman. . . ."—MS. in possession of Mr. Bigge's family. Mr. Scott had entered the Church and held a living in England when he was offered the position of Archdeacon. After declining it he was urged to reconsider the matter, and was then appointed by letters patent.
↑ Macquarie did not see the posts of Principal Surgeon and Surveyor. General (into which he had plotted to introduce two of his convict friends) become stepping-stones to the Council of the country. (Vide supra, pp. 486-488.) The fact that the respected occupants, Bowman and Oxley, were placed there, proves the significance of the conduct of Macquarie in endeavouring to promote the convict class to such offices. Macquarie died in July 1824. There was a procession in honour of his memory in Sydney in Nov. The streets were lined with crowds, and the Rev. W. Cowper preached a funeral sermon in the church.

[1] Much obloquy was cast upon Archdeacon Scott because he had held what was called a subordinate clerical post under Mr. Bigge; but when Lord Bathurst appointed him to that post he conferred importance upon it by announcing that "in the event of His Majesty being unfortunately deprived of the services of Mr. Bigge, either by death, illness, or otherwise, (Scott was to) continue and perfect the inquiry entrusted to that gentleman. . . ."—MS. in possession of Mr. Bigge's family. Mr. Scott had entered the Church and held a living in England when he was offered the position of Archdeacon. After declining it he was urged to reconsider the matter, and was then appointed by letters patent.

[2] Macquarie did not see the posts of Principal Surgeon and Surveyor. General (into which he had plotted to introduce two of his convict friends) become stepping-stones to the Council of the country. (Vide supra, pp. 486-488.) The fact that the respected occupants, Bowman and Oxley, were placed there, proves the significance of the conduct of Macquarie in endeavouring to promote the convict class to such offices. Macquarie died in July 1824. There was a procession in honour of his memory in Sydney in Nov. The streets were lined with crowds, and the Rev. W. Cowper preached a funeral sermon in the church.

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