THE EMBARRASSMENTS OF AN AUTOCRAT. 249 



privately taken by a person who had frequent and unsuspected 

 access to it, it had come to light that the signatures of several 

 persons had been put to the memorial without their having any 

 knowledge whatever of the circumstances, and some of these 

 people . . . finding their names had been affixed to it and 

 justly dreading my displeasure, have come forward and dis- 

 claimed on oath their ever having authorised any one else to 

 sign for them the paper in question, and at the same time re- 

 probated the false and malevolent assertions contained in it. 

 As soon as it was discovered that I meant to withhold grants 

 of land and other indulgences from any persons then about to 

 receive such, whom I should find had been concerned in the 

 business of the memorial, some persons getting alarmed im- 

 mediately set about exculpating themselves. And it is an extra- 

 ordinary fact that Mr. Solicitor Moore had the audacity to 

 address a letter to me, in behalf of his brother (to whom 1 had 

 promised a grant of land, but had cancelled it, on finding his 

 name was affixed to the memorial), declaring that he had him- 

 self put his brother's name to the memorial without his privity 

 or consent, at a time his brother was in the country and unac- 

 quainted with its contents." : 



In November, 1816, both the Moores had written to the 

 Colonial Office complaining of their wrongs, the younger one 

 because he had lost his land, the elder because he had lost land 

 and salary. To the former the Colonial Office replied that the 

 Governor had been directed to issue his grant and to the latter 

 that his salary would be paid, together with its arrears. 

 But his conduct had not met with approval, and he was warned 

 that if any more complaints were made of his behaviour he 

 would be dismissed. 



To Macquarie, Lord Bathurst wrote that he had not been 

 justified in withdrawing Moore's salary, and then dealt 

 severely with his treatment of Vale. " It was not without 

 considerable surprise," he wrote, "that I learnt your deter- 



1 D. 14, 3rd April, 1817. R.O., MS. The sworn statement of Samuel Terry 

 (an enclosure to this despatch) is rather curious. Moore was his solicitor and T 

 saw the petition in his office but refused to sign it. " Mr. Moore," he said, " 

 is a very improper paper ... and I am satisfied if his Excellency the Gove 

 -was to know this paper lay at your house he would send his dragoon both for you 

 and it." 



