2i6 A COLONIAL AUTOCRACY. 



under the sanction of the Government. His concluding words 

 were decisive. 



" In a word," he wrote, " it is my object and my duty to 

 render the Supreme Court of Judicature in this Territory as 

 respectable as possible, in the eyes not only of the Colony, but 

 of the world an object which must be defeated by my com- 

 pliance with the Petitioners' request. In no other part of His 

 Majesty's dominions would they be allowed to practise as 

 attorneys, and whatever reason may have existed before this 

 time for extending such an indulgence to them, none can be 

 now pretended to exist after the liberal provision which His 

 Majesty's Government have made for this purpose by the ap- 

 pointment of respectable solicitors at a considerable expense 

 to the Crown an appointment which would be rendered 

 wholly unnecessary by granting the Petitioners' application." l 



The Governor made no reply to this letter, and when the 

 court met on ist May he was making a tour in the Blue 

 Mountains from which he did not return until the igth of the 

 month. He thought that the admission of the emancipists was 

 assured, for whatever Bent might think, the two magistrates 

 who were to sit with him had seen the Governor's letter and 

 stated their agreement with its contents. 2 However, matters did 

 not go as smoothly as he had anticipated. 



At its first meeting the court decided to hear the petitioners 

 on 6th May. On that day Crosley and Chartres were heard, 

 but Eager was ordered to prepare a new petition, his first one 

 not being properly drawn. 



On pth May, Bent held a consultation with the other mem- 

 bers of the court and attempted in vain to bring them over to 

 his view. He argued that "If ... those who had been con- 

 victs were admitted, how would it be possible to refuse to 

 admit any persons coming from England or Ireland struck off 

 the rolls at home, or of bad conduct and with the fear of it 

 before them. Such would naturally flock here ; and if it is not 

 possible for the judges at home, with the assistance of an 

 honourable and learned Bar, and every means that attorneys 

 and officers habituated to correctness in business can give, to 



1 22nd April, 1815. Enclosure to Bent's letter, ist July, 1815. R.O., MS. 

 "This is quite clear from Bent's letter, ist July, 1815. R.O., MS. 



