Page:A colonial autocracy, New South Wales under Governor Macquarie, 1810-1821.djvu/276

 into the Colony and also his right to refuse a marriage license. The Governor in reply "wished Mr. Bent had spared himself the trouble of writing them; as his unsolicited opinions can in no way alter the resolution of Governor Macquarie in the case alluded to in those letters". The young man had to return unmarried, and whether or no the lady followed him is not recorded.

Both these incidents were included in the petition. The document was first drawn up by Vale and submitted to Bent. Bent characterised it as a "miminy-piminy thing, not half severe enough," and wrote one out himself. To this draft Vale made a few additions and brought it to be engrossed on parchment by a certain emancipated clerk. It was then deposited in Moore's office and all who came by were invited in to sign it.

Vale left, taking the petition with him, in June, 1816, and just before his departure Macquarie, thinking perhaps to conciliate him, gave him a grant of land. But when he learnt more exactly what were the contents of the petition, he withdrew the grant.

"This memorial," wrote Macquarie to Lord Bathurst in April, 1817, "was sent from hence for England in June last &hellip; which I was aware of at the time, but not being so fully informed of its object as I have become since, I did not feel it necessary to make your Lordship any communication at that time in regard to it.

"Since that time a copy of the memorial having been