OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 225 



surprising that it should excite the ridicule as well as disgust of all 

 thinking men in the colony, to see the attempt to govern the affairs of 

 this rising state by the royal prerogative, exercised by one of her 

 Majesty's principal secretaries of state, in despatches to a governor, 

 whose recommendations are usually adopted, thus making him, at least 

 m part, his own instructer. When the time necessary to pass these 

 communications, which is at least eight months, is considered, there 

 appears great reason for reform, and it is not surprising that the think- 

 ing part of the population are very urgent for it. 



The high and confidential officer of the crown, which the Governor 

 really is, is looked upon as the mere agent of the ministry at home. 



The community do not feel themselves at all protected by the Legis- 

 lative Council, although they have, apparently, a voice in its proceed- 

 ings ; as its members are composed, to the extent of one half, of persons 

 who do not hold office. In practice, it is not found that this amounts 

 to a check ; for on all government questions the members who hold 

 office will be present, and therefore vote in their full strength ; while 

 the members of the people, appointed from the most respectable land- 

 holders by the crown, do not take sufficient interest in the proceedings 

 to give that punctual attendance that might be required for the interest 

 of those whom they are intended to represent. But even if all were 

 present, the Governor, with his two votes, would always decide the 

 matter in favour of the government; and as before stated, no new law 

 can be considered in council, unless prepared by the Governor, which 

 must effectually prevent any innovations being brought forward by 

 those who represent the interest of the inhabitants of the colony. The 

 only power they have is a negative one : that of entering their protest, 

 and having it sent home for consideration by her Majesty's ministers ; 

 but in such case there is little likelihood of its meeting with favour. 

 The official members, on the other hand, are considered as bound to 

 support the Governor or to lose their seats and offices, notwithstanding 

 their oaths faithfully to advise, to the best of their ability and judgment, 

 the government of the colony. 



The principal check on the Governor and his Council is the public 

 press, whose conductors are strenuous advocates for reform and colo- 

 nial rights, and exhibit much ability. 



The statute of New South Wales expired in 1839, when it was 

 renewed for a year, and has subsequently been renewed from year to 

 year until the present time (1840). So evident, however, were the 

 defects in the administration, that a clause was added to the act of 

 renewal, declaring that the statute was deemed in many respects 



vol. ii. 29 



