890
ETEE.
Archbishop Eyre is the author of a "History of St. Cuthbert/' 1849 (2nd Edit. 1858).
EYKE, Edwabd John, some time Governor of Jamaica, born in Aug., 1815, son of the late Bev. Anthony Eyre, vicar of Hornsea and Long Eiston, in the East Biding of York- shire, finished his education at the Louth and Sedbergh grammar- schools. Failing to obtain a com- mission in the army at seventeen years of age, he determined to try his fortune in Australia, and having arrived at Sydney about 1833, with a capital of JB^OO, engaged in sheep- farming and the transporting of cattle. He was successful, and in- vested the profits in the purchase of an estate situated on ijie lower Murray, upon which he settled and remained for several years, during which period he was appointed resi- dent magistrate of his district, and Protector of the Aborigines. In the numerous disputes which arose between the European settlers and the aborigines, he acted with much discretion, and upheld as much as possible the lawful rights of the wandering native tribes. In a work entitled " Discoveries in Cen- tral Australia," published in 1845, he earnestly pleads their cause. In the meantime he distinguished himself as an Australian explorer of the then unknown shore, extend- ing from .118 deg. to 134 deg. of east longitude between King George's Sound, in West Australia, and Fort Lincoln, in South Austra- lia. Mr. Eyre had strongly op- posed the notion that a practical road existed in that direction for sending sheep and cattle to West Australia, though he believed that there were fertile lands in the inte- rior beyond a salt marsh called Lake Torrens. An expedition to test this idea was set on foot, which started June 20, 1840, Mr. Eyre being at its head. After expe- riencing innumerable difficulties and privations, and having been considered as lost, he reached Al-
bany, King George's Sound, Jul 7, 1841. His journey proved tt enormous difficulty and practici uselessness of the Western routt In 1845 Mr. Eyre I'etumed to En^ land, and in 1846 received froi Earl Grey, then Secretary of Stal for the Colonies, the appointmei of Lieut.-GK>vemor of New Zealanc as second to the Governor, Si George Grey. He remained thei six years, residing generally s Wellington, but a£ninistering th government of the middle Idanc in which the provinces of Nelsoi Canterbury, and Otago are situate< While in New Zealand he marrie a daughter of Captain Ormon<] E.N., by which lady he has severs children. Having served his fu term as a colonial governor, he n turned to England in 1853, and abou a twelvemonth afterwards was a; pointed Lieutenant-Governor of th island of St. Vincent. This pos he held for six years; and in th years 1859 and 1860 he was in th island of Antigua, filling the plac of the Governor of the Leewari Islands, who was on leave of ab sence. In 1860, upon the tormina tion of his Governorship of Antigua Mr. Eyre returned to England t recruit his health, which had be come much impaired by his Ion] residence in tropical climates an< overwork. The rest he obtaine< was, however, short, for in 1862 h( was chosen by the late Duke o Newcastle, Secretary of State fo: the Colonies, to administer thi €k)vemment-in-Chief of Jamaia and its dependencies during th< absence of Governor Darling, wh had returned to England on accoun of ill-health. When Mr. Eyr( reached Jamaica he had a difficol task before him. The island wa in a state of retrogression. Cubi had usurped its trade, several o the richest estates were unculti vated, and demagogues used in flammatory lang^uage in order t excite the negroes to rebellion, h consequence of the non-return o
