Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/261

 liereafter be in your hands arising from the sale of the I said Crossley's effects." I It may seem iiicredihle that the English government would not, if they could, find a lawyer to assist the Governor in performing his duty as the hif^hest local Court of Appeal. The Judge-Advocate Atkins had once heen an oftieer in the army. As lie aided Crossley in advising Governor Bligh he maybe coupled with Iiim here. When Collms.thc first Judge* Advocate, returned to England in 1796, Governor Hunter appointed Atkins temporarily. The Secretary of State appointed Mr. Richard Dore. He, after officiating from the beginning of 1798, died in 1800. Atkins applied for the office.^*^ King appointed him temporarily on the ground of his ** liaving heretofore acted," but urged the necessity of good l)ebaviour. Atkins, thanking him, said : ** I will not deny that I have often been guilty of intemperance, but I pledge myself to His Excellency that no cause of censure on i that head shall reach me in future ; but permit me to say, that had the foiljles of others heen as nearly watched as mine, I should not be the only one to whom that crime might be imputed.'* But though Atkins was appointed temporarily. King never ceased to urge that professional knowledge was required for the office. He made no special complaint against Atldns, who paid **as much general attention to tlie duty as any man might do who 1ms not^ made the law his study and profession,*' but he deemed it ' lessential that the Judge-Advocate should be a lawyer. 'Year after year the same application was made by King without result. In 1804, when putting down rebellion and; establishing settlements in Van Diemen's Land to keep away the French ttag, he told Lord Hobart that he I felt it— MniUspen sable as welt for the beiietit of tlio inliabitauts as for a guide to the^Cioveriior and to prevent frequency of appeala, t!mt a professional muu I be appointed, either as Jirdge-Advoaite i>v Lnief-Jl^stice, wJio can givo tbe [ Goverjioi' (who cannot bo i^uppo&ed to be a lawyer) that tont'lusive legal [infomiatiou which is so requisite^ and who i» able to coanteract the ducajie "'He applied thus: "Mr. Dor«3 being now resigned to his mother L earth ... * ray education has not been what h called cc It'^at onm, hnt a classical one. ,, « I am induced to hope (Governor Hnnt<^r having pre- vionsly employed hinij your Kxcelttjncy will restore me to the official duties of that office.'