266 



A COLONIAL AUTOCRACY. 



a sincere and unconsciously comic document, after referring to the 

 " scurrilous anonymous productions " continued in these words : 



" These we see issuing from the pens of men so much our 

 inferiors in rank and situation that we know them not but 

 among that promising class which (with pride we seek it) have 

 been ever excluded from intercourse with us. l And here, Sir, 

 allow us still more to approve and applaud that system of ex- 

 clusion which even prior to our arrival in a colony of this de- 

 scription was wisely adopted the benefits of which we have 

 reaped with advantage to ourselves as officers and gentlemen, 

 and which although it may have prompted the malignity of 

 those whom we have kept aloof, has established the name of 

 the 46th Regiment on a most respectable basis. And, Sir, we 

 presume that so salutary a rule will obtain the most perfect 

 approbation of His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief 

 and be as tenaciously adhered to by every regiment that may 

 in succession compose this garrison. 



" Henceforth we are confident no hostile inventions can dis- 

 turb that union which it will be our zealous purpose to cultivate 

 and support, and the prospect of shortly quitting this (a quarter 

 in no point of view congenial to military feelings) will we hope 

 afford us ample opportunities to evince that our hearts steadily 

 accompany you no less in the active duties of our profession than 

 they will keep pace with you in the social walks of life and in 

 every wish for your domestic felicity and prosperity." 2 



One sentence had been deleted before the address was cir- 

 culated, though not before Macquarie had seen it. This was 

 an assertion "that the mess-table of the 46th Regiment was 

 regarded as the standard of society in the Colony". 



The Governor was very indignant with the whole tone of 

 the document, and sent to Molle the heads of charges which he 

 proposed to lay against the officers of the regiment collectively 

 at a general Court- Martial. He offered the officers the alterna- 

 tive of trial or the withdrawal of the address, and they accepted 

 the former. But as in New South Wales the members of the 

 court would have been themselves members of the regiment, 

 Macquarie gave up the scheme and contented himself with 



1 The italics are in the original document. 



a See enclosure to Macquarie's despatch above. 



