GOVERNOR DARLING'S COUNCIL. ALEX. MACLEAY. 581 as members of the Legislative Council. In 180S Campbell had been one of the few respected persons who abetted Governor Bhgh when, under the guidance of Crossley the convict, Macarthur was lawlessly imprisoned. Campbell had given evidence in favour of Bligh at the trial of Colonel Johnston. In 1825, Macarthur and Campbell were styled
- trusty and well-beloved," in a warrant under the hand of
the King appointing them members of the Legislative Council ; and the warrant was subscribed by Lord Bathurst, from whom it had been so hard to wring consent that Macarthur should be permitted to return to his home in 1817. The warrant of 1825 was revoked in 1827, and a new one was issued ; but the change was merely formal* Stewart was no longer named in it, but the "oflScer next in command to the Commander of the Forces '* was placed in the Council, and Colonel Lindesay (39th Eegt.) in that capacity took his seat. The other members were re- appointed. Soon after Darling's arrival it was thought advisable to present an address to him, and a public meeting was called, at which William C. Wentworth was the moving spirit. He admitted that the new Council was an improvement on its predecessor, but advocated agitation for an elected Assembly, and sounded the popular note of taxation by representation. Darling replied in general terms; and, without committing himself to any party, proceeded with his new Colonial Secretary to introduce administrative reforms which previous laxity had made necessary. In this, as in his task of raising the tone of society, the Governor was to look for aid from the Colonial Secretary, who was noted as a man of science, and in addition to his services under the Crown had been for many years the highly esteemed Honorary Secretary of the Linnsean Society, which unanimously ordered a painting of him by Sir Thomas Lawrence. That two persons freshly arrived from the mother country should concur in removing from the public oflSces some relics of the convict element introduced by Macquarie and untouched by Brisbane, can hardly be wondered at ; yet Darling and Macleay incurred the odium of the emancipists by weeding the departments. The order which they had not found they attempted to secure by checks and counter-eeeik», Ttis^ Yc&aaR^^ vy.
