Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/77

 T*"^ ^'"''^"* ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 51 England. George Milner Stephen, son-in-law of Captain Hindmarsh, filled the office of Administrator of the Government from July 16 to October 17, 1838. Though the population during that period exceeded 4,000 persons, there were no funds in the Treasury, and the salaries of the public servants had to go unpaid. Mr. Stephen helped to arrest party strife and internal quarrelling, but he became entangled in a private land transaction, which brought upon him the censure of the people and the press. When Lord Glenelg decided to recall Captain Hindmarsh, the Colonising Commissioners looked about for another Governor, and finally chose Lieutenant-Colonel Gawler, who sailed for the Province in the ship Pestonjee Bomanjce. This gentleman came of a military family. His father. Captain Gawler, of the 73rd Regiment, led one of the storming parties at the siege of Seringapatam, and his uncle was killed at the siege of Quebec under General Wolfe. Colonel Gawler was born in England in 1796, and was educated at the Military College, Great Marlow. He joined the 52nd Light Infantry in 181 1, served in the Peninsular War, took part in the batdes of Vera, Vittoria, Nivelles, Orthez, and Toulouse, besides minor engagements. He led, as an ensign, the forlorn hope at the storming of Badajoz, and, being struck with grapeshot in the right knee, fell from the parapet into the ditch below. There he lay until morning, when a private saved him at the expense of his own life. Gawler was present at Waterloo, and commanded the right company of the 52nd during the famous charge of the Imperial Guards. At the close of hostilities he received the war medal with seven clasps, was afterwards appointed for three years Governor of one of the North American provinces, and subsequently followed literary pursuits. On the evening of October 12, 1838, the Pestonjee Bomanjee reached Holdfast Bay. The passengers remained on board through the night ; on the sandhills above the shore was a panorama of fires lighted for beacons to incoming vessels. No preparations were made 'to publicly receive Governor Hindmarsh at the seaboard or in the city. But an unofficial band of about 20 mounted colonists rode down the track towards Glenelg. Presently they observed a considerable dust approaching, caused by the new Governor and an escort mounted on horseback at a hard gallop. The party dashed by the colonists at such a speed that they said to one another: — "This will be a fast Governor" — J. W. Bull. The prediction came true. At the humble building known as Government House a concourse of settlers and aborigines welcomed the new arrival. Colonel Gawler delivered a suitable address to the white people, and then turned to the blacks. With the assistance of an interpreter he told them that he came from the great Queen, that she loved her black people, and that they must also love her white people. It is doubtful whether the natives understood his meaning, but when he waved his cocked hat with its white feather, and ordered a supply of food to be given them, one, perched upon a crooked overhanging tree, cried enthusiastically, " Plenty tucker. Berry good cockatoo Gubbernor." E2