582 president's address. 



eighty-second year. His end was hastened by a severe shock received in a car- 

 riage accident, when returning from a visit to Government House. The horses 

 took fright, and got out of control just as they were about to pass through the 

 entrance-gates to Macquarie street, and the caiTiage collided with one of the stone 

 pillars. By bis own request, Mr. Macleay was removed to "Tivoli," Rose Bay, 

 the residence of his son-in-law, Captain W. J. Dumaresque; but, at his advanced 

 age, his recovery was hopeless. In the obituarj' notice in the Sydney Morning ■ 

 Herald of July 26th. 1848, the day after the obsequies, it is stated that — "There 

 was a very large attendance at the funeral, the number of carriages being fifty. 

 Among those present were — the Commander of the Forces, the three Judges, and 

 nearly the whole of the Government officers, and a large number of old colonists 

 of all classes. The pall-bearers were the Colonial Secretary, the Colonial Treasurer, 

 Colonel Gordon, Mr. Baker, Attorney-General, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Mitchell, and 

 Mr. Campbell. . . . Mr. M'Leay was a man almost universally respected, 

 and has descended into the grave fuU of years and full of honour; and from his 

 consistent character, we may feel sure he has gone to his reward." 



Alexander Macleay seems to have been a man of an attractive personality, 

 and to have had many warm friends, both in England and in Australia. He did 

 not escape hostile criticism in party poHtieal matters in this part of the world, at 

 a time when the Emancipist question, among others, evoked much bitterness. But 

 as a man of probity, who had the welfare of the infant Australia at heart, there 

 are numerous eloquent tributes to his ability and worthiness, on record. On his 

 retirement from the office of Colonial Secretary, he was the recipient of two ad- 

 dresses expressive of esteem and regret — one from 550 of his felhjw-colonists, who 

 also requested his acceptance of a piece of plate, in further proof of personal 

 regard ; the other, from twenty-fiv^ gentlemen who had been otflcially associated 

 with him in public life, and who asked "that you will do us the favour to allow 

 your portrait to be taken at our expense, for the purpose of being 

 placed in some appropriate situation in the colony, as a lasting memorial of our 

 regard and esteem for your private worth, and of the grateful sense entertained 

 by us, of the co-operation we have always experienced from you, in conducting 

 the business of our respective departments.'' The order for the piece of plate was 

 sent to England; and a very handsome centre-ornament for the dinner-table was 

 selected, on which were engraved the Arms of the Colony, and of the Royal Burgh 

 of Wick, by the special permission of the respective Authorities, as well as the 

 Arms of the recipient. This was sent out to Australia and presented in due 

 course. There is a copy of a rare pamphlet in the Mitchell Library, giving the 

 details of the gift, with an illustration; and bound up with it is a litliographic 

 plate of the plant Maeleaya cordata R.Br. The piece of plate was probably 

 taken to England by Sir George Macleay, after the death of W. S. Macleay. I 

 have not been able to ascertain the history of the contemplated portrait, or. if 

 painted, where it was or is located unless it be in some Government building. Or 

 it may be the portrait now hanging in the Curator's room at the Australian 

 JIuseum, whose histoi'v is'vmrecorded. If so, it may have been presented to the 

 Museum by George Macleay when he revisited Australia (before 187G) . 



The family tomb, without inscriptions save the surnames Macleay and Har- 

 rington in large letters, and the family crests, is in the same enclosure witli that 

 of Captain W. J. Dumaresque in what used to be known as the Cauiperdown 

 Cemetery — which was opened when the Devonshire-street Cemetery was closed — 



