Page:A colonial autocracy, New South Wales under Governor Macquarie, 1810-1821.djvu/250

 not of sufficient weight to justify him in allowing the meeting to take place. Simeon Lord was the only magistrate who had signed the requisition, and of the eight others five had been convicts. An attempt was made to secure the support of "more considerable persons," but without success, and no meetings were held. The purpose of the meeting as described in the first requisition was "to inquire into the circumstances which had taken place in the Law Courts". In the second it was more obscure, for the meeting was "to inquire into the Judicial, Commercial and Agricultural state of the Colony". Meanwhile a very extraordinary correspondence took place between Macquarie and Jeffery Bent. It was commenced by the former on the 29th May, ten days after his return to headquarters. He had been surprised at not receiving a personal communication from Bent, but had learned of the differences which had arisen, and of the closing of the court, from the other members. As a Civil Court had not sat for ten months, "the security of persons and property, and the best interests of the Colony" both internal and external, were being seriously affected. These matters had apparently escaped his attention while he had allowed "points of minor importance" to frustrate the great design "for which," added Macquarie, in a sentence admirably suited to inflame the temper of the judge, "I had assembled the Supreme Court".

"I cannot," he proceeded, "forbear to express to you that I feel much surprise, mingled with sentiments of regret" (a constant combination of sensations in Macquarie), "that you have not made me as Governor of this Territory any official or other communication on this very important occasion, the publicity of which could leave no doubt of its existence. If official duty had not imperiously demanded a prompt communication, I should have been disposed to expect it even as a point of courtesy &hellip; in our relative situation in this country." He felt bitter chagrin that he had himself to open a correspondence which he had hoped would "long ere this have commenced on your part, as well from a sense of personal respect as from the more distinct feeling of its being a duty incumbent on the