ON TWO SOLDIERS.

69

his exposure, sent him to the hospital as an invalid, where he died in a few days. This unlooked for termination of the Governor's example supplied the large body of free colonists, with whom his Excellency had long been unpopular, with a handle for severe animadversion. The man's punishment was denounced as intentionally cruel, and the lamentable end of the soldier was ascribed to a brutal and unfeeling disposition in the commander.

At this time the government possessed an organ in a local newspaper, called the "Sydney Gazette,' and the manner in which it was recognized as an organ, was from its having a monopoly of all the government notices and advertisements. Since the establishment of a press in the colony, it appears that the government had been in the practice of publishing all the orders in council, and notices connected with the public business of the colony in the only paper then published in New South Wales, a species of patronage which converted the "Sydney Gazette," the oldest and only journal of the country, into a supporter of government policy, and an echo of the opinions of the Governor's party. This paper, then, at the earliest signs of disapprobation that appeared amongst the anti-government party, came forward to defend the act of Sir Ralph Darling, in a manner that betrayed not only servility to power, but was annoying and insulting to many respectable persons who held contrary opinions. The

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NEWSPAPER WAR.

circumstances of the case quickly called out the latent talents for agitation existing in their breasts, and became the means of bringing into existence two or three journals, avowedly supported by, and in the pay of the Governor's opponents. One of these was the "Australian,” edited by Dr. Wardell, and another was the "Monitor," edited by Mr. E. S. Hall. Both Both papers immediately commenced a violent and vituperative warfare, which was met with equal warmth by the government organ, and as in its maintenance of the Governor's policy, it was openly countenanced by Sir Ralph Darling, his Excellency was himself greatly to blame for the indignities to which his name and office were subjected throughout the contest. General Darling, who both in his former government of the Isle of France, and that of New South Wales had exercised and continued to sway a most arbitrary authority, sanctioned by the colonial constitution, was sternly bent upon suppressing the offensive freedom of the newspapers opposed to himself, and accordingly enacted a law, by which editors, printers, and publishers of newspapers were obliged to enter into heavy recognizances for their good behaviour, and were submitted to the most galling surveillance. This law also provided a penalty of fine and imprisonment for a first conviction of libel, with confiscation and banishment for the second. So severe a measure only enraged his opponents to the last extreme, and caused the newspaper press

RESIGNATION OF GOVERNOR DARLING. 71

to be occupied as a violent arena for controversy, for and against the government during the remainder of his term of office.

Lieutenant-General Darling resigned the situation of Governor of New South Wales, and left the colony in October, 1831, his opponents continuing to the latest hour, previous to his departure, to assail him with the severity of their attacks; a spirit of opposition which must have become outrageous, if, as is said to be the case, Mrs., now Lady, Darling was insulted by some of its leaders. Subsequent to his arrival in England, General Darling was in 1835 impeached for malpractices on the repeatedly urged complaints of his enemies, particularly of Mr. Maurice O'Connell; but, upon investigation, he was honourably acquitted of the charges preferred, and made a knight by his Majesty William IV., in token of the undiminished confidence reposed in him by his Majesty's ministers.

During the whole of General Darling's administration, the legislative control of the government was in the hands of a council nominated by the Crown, who conjointly with the Governor, passed all laws for the welfare, peace, and good order of the colony. The Legislative Council was appointed in 1824, shortly before this Governor's term of office commenced, and consisted of fourteen members, seven of whom were officers of the Crown. The Legislative Council which was

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SURVEY OF THE COUNTRY.

originally given to New South Wales has been enlarged and amended, until it was lately fixed in its present shape of thirty-six members, twentyfour elected by the people, and twelve appointed by the Crown.

The progress of discovery during the period of which the political events have just been narrated, was both extensive and important. The great and oppressive drought which afflicted the colony for three years, as already mentioned, stimulated the government to fit out an expedition in search of a better watered and more available country than that which was already occupied. Captain Sturt, at present holding the office of ResidentCommissioner to the South Australian Company, at Adelaide, was appointed to conduct an expedition to survey the country about the great inland sea into which Mr. Oxley, the late SurveyorGeneral of the colony, had reported the Macquarie River as disemboguing; the inland sea was proved to be only an immense marsh about one hundred miles in circumference, at the northern edge of which the river made its re-appearance. On being traced, it was found to join another large river which was flowing in a south-westerly direction, at the time that the expedition was compelled to

return.

In the year 1827, Mr. Allan Cunningham made his second journey to the northward, traversing the country which lies at the back of Moreton Bay,

MAJOR MITCHELL.

73

and is now occupied by settlers, during which journey the Rivers Gwydir and Dumaresq were

discovered.

Major Mitchell, the Surveyor-General of the colony, some time afterwards, having the direction of an expedition to the same quarter as that last referred to, ascertained that these two rivers flowed into the Darling. The further prosecution of his journey was, however, interrupted by a predatory attack of the natives.

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