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

 proceedings*' against acts done under former Governors was made law, Brisbane desired to **make lawfal" all former Proclamations by Governors, but his Council pointed out (lltli Jan, 1B25) 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 shoulil receive particular sanction. Their unanimous pro- test was successful. The measures enacted in 1825 con- tinued certain duties, and made lawful all former collec- tions ; regulated the sale of wines and spirits ; the control of convicts, and of a prison hulk ; postage ; created a registry of ** bii'tlis, 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 Eev. T. H. Scott, ^ 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 pro- vided that in case of Scott's decease Oxley should succeed Iiim.^^' Brisbane took occasion to record in the minutes of the Council a despatch from England concerning the government of Van Diemeo's Land. It evinced a complete acceptance of Bigge*s views. After the Aichdeacon took his seat at the Council the management of the women at ^ Mneh oblouiiy was ciist upon Archdeacou 8cott beuauBe he had held what was caUed a aiibortUuLite clerical post under Mr. Bigge ; but when Lord Balhiirst appointed liini to tliab post he conferred iinportaace upon it by auuouuciug that "in the event of His Majesty being unfortunately deprived of the services of Mr. Bigge, either by death, illness, or other- wise, (Scott was to) continue and perfect the iaqniry entrusted to that gentleman. . . ." — MS. in possession of Mr* Bigge'a fauiily. Mr, Seott had entered the Chureh and hekl a living in Englauil when he was offer^ the position of Archdeacon. After declining it he wa« urged to reconsider the matter, and weis then appointed by letters patent. '* Macquarie did not see trie posts of Principal Surgeon and Surveyor- General (into which he had plotted to introduce two of Tiis conviet friends) become a teppiiig- stones to the Council of the country. (Vide mtpra, pp* 486-488.) The fact that the respected occupants, Bowuian and Oxley, were placed there, proves the siguiticiirnce of the conduct of Macquarie in endeavouring to promote the conviet class to such offices. Macquarie died in July 1824. There Avas a procession in honour of his memory in Sydney in Nov. The street* were lined with crowds, and the Rev. W. CQwper preached a funeral semton in tW cutx. I 4