cause he was equally unforgiving. Major Goulburn, who in the instance above quoted was apprised of his method of swelling subscription lists, and guarded against it, was a perpetual theme of abuse. Coarse raillery in rhyme or prose was ever ready to Lang's pen and tongue, and what his ingenuity prompted no charity restrained. To refute his slanders was not to silence him, for he repeated them from day to day and year to year. In time they might be believed. He was industrious in public meetings, in the press, and in legislative assemblies. He embodied in an "Historical and Statistical Account of New South Wales," which ran through several editions, so much of his own career and quarrels, that it was said that the proper title would be, "The Sayings and Doings of Dr. Lang, with some remarks on New South Wales." On the spot, and while the generation in which he lived was extant, his misrepresentations could do little harm. Few believed them. Abroad they found credit in his own day. On many subjects therefore it is necessary to narrate the facts with careful detail, and to prove the worthlessness of his fictions.
Major Goulburn so used his knowledge of Lang's methods of extorting aid from the Government, as to create a grievance. Lang, denouncing the Governor's hostility, averred that it was due to his being "governed by the Colonial Secretary." Brisbane himself at the outset subscribed to a proposed Scots' church, but Lang's unscrupulousness made Brisbane withdraw his subscription.
Lang railed at Wemyss for not supporting an appeal to the public. John Macarthur earned Lang's ephemeral gratitude by convening a private meeting at the house of Bowman, the principal surgeon, and, proposing that a salary should be guaranteed to the fervid young minister. Lang complained of the "ungenerous opposition" of Wemyss to Lang's settlement." A sum of £700 was rapidly subscribed towards building the church. Amongst the subscribers[1] may be seen the names of many who were afterwards assailed by Lang. Mr. Wemyss gave £25; Mrs. Wemyss, £10; John Macarthur gave £25. His sons James and William gave (each) £12 10s. Thomas Jeely gave five
- ↑ Sydney Gazette, 5th Feb. 1824.
