CHAPTER VIII. 



THE EMBARRASSMENTS OF AN AUTOCRAT. 



AUTHORITIES. Despatches, etc. (especially for years 1816-1817, and Ap- 

 pendix, Bigge's Reports) in Record and Colonial Offices, Sydney Gazette, 1816- 

 1817-1818. P.P., 1819, VII. ; 1822, XX. ; 1823, X. 



No sooner was the question of the emancipist attorneys at rest 

 than Bent found a fresh outlet for his spirit of opposition. 

 This time it was against the payment of tolls on the Parra- 

 matta Road that he took his stand, and the ground was well 

 chosen, for it opened up the whole question of the legality of 

 the system of Government in New South Wales. 



The road ran from Sydney to Parramatta and thence to 

 Windsor, a distance altogether of thirty -six miles. It had been 

 built by Macquarie in the early years of his Governorship, and 

 though executed by convict labour, had been a heavy charge 

 upon the colonial revenue. In order to liquidate " the debt 

 contracted to the Police Fund " by its original construction, as 

 well as to provide from time to time for necessary repairs, 

 Macquarie erected turnpikes and ordered tolls to be levied. 1 

 In 1810 he appointed three Road Trustees, Simeon Lord, 

 Andrew Thompson and the Reverend Samuel Marsden. 

 Marsden refused to act with the others, and Wentworth was 

 appointed in his stead. Shortly afterwards Thompson died, 

 and Macquarie made no further appointment to fill his place. 2 

 In March, 181 1, the Governor published a Proclamation naming 

 the rate at which the tolls were to be levied and other details 

 of management. The Proclamation received the approval of 

 Lord Liverpool in a despatch of 1 8 1 1. 3 



Macquarie's scheme for the administration of the road was 



1 See D. i., 20th February, 1816, R.O., MS. for history of the road. 



2 See before, Chapter III. 



3 D., 22nd November, 1811. H.R., VII. 



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