258 A COLONIAL AUTOCRACY. 



Marshal ... to summon Alexander Riley, Esq., to attend at 

 his chambers, as a member of the said Supreme Court ; and 

 further, that the said Jeffery Hart Bent, Esq., since and after 

 a public notification that the members of the said Supreme 

 Court were discharged from all further duty in that respect, 

 has also presumed ... to issue other process, directing the 

 Coroner of this territory to attach and have the body of William 

 Gore, Esq., the Provost-Marshal . . . before the Supreme 

 Court. 



'* His Excellency the Governor, in consideration of the 

 circumstances of the authorities with which he is invested, and 

 of the positive directions of His Majesty's Government, . . . 

 can no longer feel himself justified in forbearing to notify and 

 put in force the commands of His Royal Highness and His 

 Majesty's Ministers with regard to the removal of the said 

 Jeffery Hart Bent, Esq., as Judge of the Supreme Court in and 

 Magistrate of this territory. And His Excellency the Governor 

 does hereby accordingly declare order and make known that the 

 said Jeffery Hart Bent, Esq., is positively and absolutely removed 

 from the said appointment, and has no authority or jurisdiction 

 whatever in this territory or its dependencies with regard to or 

 by virtue of the same." l 



Bent protested against his removal and also against the pub- 

 lication of the Order without communication with him, which 

 under the circumstances was sheer insolence. He claimed that 

 his authority could not be legally "determined till the arrival 

 of a new judge," or by his exercise " of that liberty which 

 has been given me of returning whenever it may suit my con- 

 venience". 2 



There was, however, not the least doubt that the Governor 

 was acting within his rights, and his justification was quite 

 complete. Bent had of course to acquiesce in his dismissal, and 

 he left the Colony a few months later. His last argument with 

 the Government took place over some detainers lodged against 



1 G.G.O., i4th December, 1816. There is a great deal more of the Order, 

 which is written in very involved and redundant language, as all Wylde's Orders 

 were. It was not only inserted in the Gazette but also placarded about the town. 

 See Bent's letter below. 



2 See his Evidence, C. on G., 1819. This liberty had been given in the 

 letter recalling him. 



