Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/606

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system was introduced in 1821. In 1834 Colonel Arthur, with the concurrence of Dr. Broughton (then Archdeacon in New South Wales), endeavoured to found a grammar school, the managing body of which was to be composed of important officials- He went so far as to offer the post of head-master to a clergyman"^ emigrating to New South Wales ill a vessel which touched at Hobart Town. But the offer was not accepted, and eventually the scheme gave way to other plans under Sir John Franklin's guidance* The higher education on which Colonel Arthur had set hia heart was not provided in Australia until William Weut- worth led the way to it by the establishment of the Sydney University, When the time arrived for Colonel Arthur to depart, old feelings of opposition were softenedj and some of those who had heen most acrimonious against him jomed in testifying admiration of his character. An address signed by every member of the Coiuicil was formally presented to him, and was acliuowledged with emotion. '*To cairy into the most complete tiffect the great object of tmnsporta' tiou which hiis rendered the introduction of aome onpopuhir laws absolutely necessary to suppress the depredation-s of convicts illegally at large, to form a secure and efficient penal Bettletuent, to conciliate the aboriginal inhabitaiits and to protect the settlers from their fatiil attacks, to encourage pastoral and mercantile pnraiiits, to foster religion and morals and to pro- vide for the education of the poor, to niftiiitain the laws of the country aod firmly to carry into effect the regulations of the Govemmeutj bavc all been measurea which have required the most laborions snperWsion, Yet all these have been far less emoarrasaing than the anxious duty which devolved upon me for so many years of apportioning the lands of tb© '* In his usually accurate "History of Tdsnmuia," the Rev. Mr, West has fallen into error on this subject. He says : *'The Rev^ Mr. Rnaiien was nominated first master, but the question of religion was fatal to its success. The school sunk into a private establishment." Colonel Arthur entreated the author's father (Rev. G. K, Rusden, Pembroke t'ollege, Cambridge) to accept the post. But he bad already made arrangements to settle in New South Wales. He contitmed bis voyage to Sydney in the vessel in w^bich be bad sailed from Knglaml. He became a chaplain in New South Wales, and officiated for a quarter of a century in the Hunter Itiver district. He had a high opinion of Colonel Arthur, and it was not without compunction that he felt constrained to decline the oflFer. In a minute laid by Colonel Arthur before his Councib iith Aug. lH:i6, he said "tbe office of head master was offered to the Rev. Mn Ruaden, who decUiied it."