grateful people fondly bend." He was allowed publicly to read his fulsome odes at the Governor's levees, and to receive the thanks of Macquarie's parasites.[1] These and similar instances were reported on by Mr. Bigge, and must have been corrected by the Imperial Government if no graver complications had demanded redress. "In referring to the principle (said Mr. Bigge) by which Governor Macquarie has been guided in introducing these individuals to the society of Government House, and in attempting and encouraging others to adopt it, I can only add the humble testimony of my approbation to that which has been so unequivocally expressed by the Committee of Parliament, that reported on the state of transportation in 1812, and that which was expressed in more qualified terms by your Lordship in your despatch to Governor Macquarie, 3rd Feb. 1814." Michael Crossley was early distinguished by the favour of Macquarie. He was one of those for whom the Governor specially applied to Judge Bent for permission to practise as an attorney. Bent declined on the ground that it was con- trary to law. When his assessors added their entreaties he regretted that
"any gentleman had been found who differed from him on a point of pure professional feeling and practice, and to say that those persons whom they confess it is a disgrace to admit to their tables or to suffer any part of their families to associate with, are fit and proper persons to be admitted to the situation of attorney. I do now solemnly declare that I will not admit as attorneys of this Court nor administer the oath to persons who have been transported here as felons."
Though the admission of ex-felons as legal practitioners was not approved by Lord Bathurst, he found other grounds for the dismissal of the Judge. It was prophesied at the time that Macquarie's victory boded ill for the morals of the community, and Macquarie remained in the colony long enough to see cause to regret his patronage of Crossley, who was (23rd Aug. 1821) fined £50 for wilful and corrupt perjury. Such disappointments appear to have soured Macquarie's mind. At the close of his career he became severe even towards the class he had patronized; and among whom it could not be denied that crime had increased. In March 1821, twenty-five men were sentenced to death in Sydney, and the hanging of nineteen of them proved his change of opinion, or his temper's loss. Soon afterwards, when he was in Hobart Town, ten men out of twenty-five were ordered for execution.
- ↑ Vide supra, p. 234.
