On The Night You Were Born

Available on alibris.com
( 4.8/5.0 ★ | 270 downloads )
-- Click the link to download --

https://click.linksynergy.com/link?id=*C/UgjGtUZ8&offerid=1494105.26
539780312601553&type=15&murl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alibris.com%2Fsearch%2
Fbooks%2Fisbn%2F9780312601553
On The Night You Were Born

ISBN: 9780312601553
Category: Media > Books
File Fomat: PDF, EPUB, DOC...
File Details: 16.6 MB
Language: English
Website: alibris.com
Short description: Used-Good: A book that has been read but is in good
condition. Very minimal damage to the cover including scuff marks but
no holes or tears. The dust jacket for hard covers may not be
included. Binding has minimal wear. The majority of pages are
undamaged with minimal creasing or tearing minimal pencil underlining
of text no highlighting of text no writing in margins. No missing
pages.

DOWNLOAD: https://click.linksynergy.com/link?id=*C/UgjGtUZ8&
offerid=1494105.26539780312601553&type=15&murl=http%3A%2F%2F
www.alibris.com%2Fsearch%2Fbooks%2Fisbn%2F9780312601553
 On The Night You Were
Born

• Click the link: https://click.linksynergy.com/link?id=*C/UgjGtUZ8&offerid=1494105.2653978031260155

3&type=15&murl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alibris.com%2Fsearch%2Fbooks%2Fisbn%2F9780312601553 to do
latest version of On The Night You Were Born in multiple formats such as PDF, EPUB, and more.

• Don’t miss the chance to explore our extensive collection of high-quality resources, books, and guides on
our website. Visit us regularly to stay updated with new titles and gain access to even more valuable
materials.
.
excavated about three feet deep, and the stone slabs covering them
were so accurately fitted, the joints also being covered with grass,
that it required the most skilful and practised eye to detect them. An
English officer stationed on the island had made a most valuable
collection of these articles. He separated from his most choice
assortment the coins of the period of Alexander the Great, as being
“modernissimo”—too recent to deserve a place in it.
Shortly after returning to Argostoli, a severe shock of an
earthquake took place. The regiment was standing in a line on
parade, and the line had a serrated appearance. The tiles on the
roofs of houses were moving, and a mounted officer had to
dismount his horse which was trembling in every limb. The damages
occasioned, however, were not very serious.
About this time, Lord Byron arrived at Argostoli in his yacht from
Italy, accompanied by Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Trelawney, Count Gamba,
and an Italian medical gentleman. He retained his yacht for about
three weeks, and frequently entertained the officers of the regiment
on board, sometimes until late hours. He was very temperate on
such occasions; drinking claret and water, or soda water. His
conversation was usually full of interest. Trelawney used to relate
many of his wild stories during his residence for some years in
Arabia, amongst the Wahabee tribes. One evening some one
referred to Lord Byron having swam across the Hellespont, from
Sestos to Abydos; but Trelawney made light of it, and challenged
Lord Byron to swim with him across the channel from Cephalonia to
Ithaca. The challenge was accepted, but afterwards Trelawney drew
back. At the end of three weeks, Lord Byron discharged his yacht,
and took a villa about four miles from the town. He usually rode in in
the afternoon, and took his wine at the mess, after which he
frequently joined small parties of officers in their rooms to smoke
cigars. Lord Byron received a letter from Lady Byron at his villa,
when two of the officers were with him, informing him of the illness
of his daughter Ada. He shed tears on that occasion, and appeared
to be deeply affected.
 At the mess the conversation usually turned upon the Greek
insurrection then raging, and the character of their leaders. These
were generally unprincipled men, who had numerous followers while
they obtained abundance of plunder; but when that attraction failed
they were deserted for more fortunate commanders. Numerous
bodies, in the field one day, were scattered the next; and the central
Government had no organized force on which they could rely.
Lord Byron was fully satisfied as to the correctness of this
description. He said, however, that he felt so deeply interested in
their cause from admiration of the ancient glories of their race, that
he had determined to place himself and all his means at their
disposal. As to the manner, however, in which he could best
accomplish his object, he was desirous of receiving advice. The
general opinion was that he should raise a permanent force, to be
regularly paid and trained, to be always held at the disposal of the
central Government.
Some time previous to this, the Suliotes, an Albanian tribe of
Greeks, obtained information that Ali Pasha of Yanina was preparing
to burn their villages as a punishment for some outrage they had
committed; the whole population, therefore, abandoned their
homes, and took refuge in Cephalonia. The small Peninsula of Asso
was assigned for their temporary residence, and there they
encamped. Their number, including women and children, was about
2,000, and they could muster above 400 fighting men. These readily
entered into Lord Byron’s service, and formed the nucleus of the
force he afterwards placed at the disposal of the Greek Government.
They were remarkably fine men, and their costume was quite
picturesque.
Dr. Kennedy, the staff surgeon at Cephalonia, was very desirous of
delivering a course of lectures on the “Evidences of Christianity” in
the presence of Lord Byron, who accepted his invitation for that
purpose; and Colonel Napier offered one of his rooms for the
occasion. There were only eight persons invited to be present—
namely, Colonel Napier, Lord Byron, Dr. Kennedy, Colonel Duffy,
Lieutenant Kennedy of the Royal Engineers, Dr. Cartan, a
Commissariat Officer, and myself. The Doctor’s lectures were most
interesting and valuable, and Lord Byron occasionally argued on
various points. He did not believe, however, in prophecy, in miracles,
or in the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures; and at the conclusion of
the third lecture he excused himself from further attendance,
complimenting Dr. Kennedy by saying that he was the most
gentleman-like Christian with whom he had ever held a discussion
upon the subject. The other persons named continued their
attendance to the end of the course of eight lectures.
At this time I obtained leave of absence to England, and Lord
Byron entrusted me with the manuscript of the last portion of any
poem he ever wrote, namely, the three last cantos of “Don Juan,” to
be delivered to Sir John Cam. Hobhouse. I had a handsome portable
brass bedstead which Lord Byron was desirous of having, and on
that bedstead he died, in the fortress of Missalonghi, opposite the
coast of Cephalonia, which withstood a long siege by the Turks.
It may here be mentioned the very general opinion held as to the
character of the belligerents. The Greeks were considered a lawless
race, in whose veracity or integrity no reliance could be placed. The
Turks, on the contrary, although sometimes fanatical, were held to
be a people of integrity, on whose word you might rely. Neither,
however, were wanting in bravery.
The 8th Regiment was ordered home, and was stationed in the
Citadel of Plymouth in the year 1826, where I rejoined it. While
there, the great storm took place, by which twenty-seven ships were
wrecked in Plymouth harbour, and the military barrack partially
unroofed. At one spot eight ships were so jammed together that it
was difficult to distinguish the wreck of one from the other. The
storm commenced towards evening with great fury, and while I was
on my way to the mess-room I met an old brother officer hurrying to
get on board his ship before dark, as it was to sail next morning for
Demerara. I persuaded him to dine with me at the mess, and that
night his ship parted in two at the water-line, the upper works being
new.
During the next year the regiment proceeded to Glasgow. At a
previous period it had been employed there in suppressing some
riots, and had fallen into bad odour. This had not then been
forgotten. Great distress, however, prevailed at this time, and the
officers and men subscribed a day’s pay towards their relief, which
created a most amicable feeling towards them.
After passing a very agreeable year in Glasgow, the regiment
proceeded to Londonderry, in the north of Ireland. While there, the
great Ordnance Survey of Ireland, under Colonel Colby, R.E., was in
progress; and a base line eight miles long—said to be the longest
ever previously accomplished—was then completed. As a great
scientific work it is very remarkable. It was necessarily on a dead
level, bearing east and west, and was constructed by a combination
of different metals, sliding in grooves, so that their expansion or
contraction, caused by changes of temperature, indicated the true
medium.
The great length of this line enabled the surveyors to take very
distant bearings with perfect accuracy. At the same time, Mr.
Drummond, of the Royal Engineers, discovered the celebrated light
named after him, by means of which, exhibited from the summit of a
high mountain in the County Tipperary, its accurate bearing was
taken from the base line—a distance of 150 English miles. By this
means, also, a bearing in Scotland was obtained for the first time,
thus tying in the surveys of Scotland and Ireland. The survey of
Ireland was constructed on a very large scale, and included the
acreage of arable, pasture, mountain, and bog lands, besides being
a geological survey. And it is a curious fact, that when the periodical
work of twenty or thirty parties were sent in, the chief engineer
sitting in his office could detect the slightest error in any one of
them, and send it back for correction, so that the whole should tie in
with the most perfect accuracy.
 Leaving Londonderry, the regiment was next quartered at
Enniskillen, situated on Loch Erne. The scenery in this
neighbourhood is beautiful, and the hospitality of its numerous
gentry could not be surpassed. Sir Henry Brooke, Bart., had a
splendid mansion, including forty bedrooms. There were fox-hounds
and harriers, and the hunting parties generally included three or four
ladies. There was excellent shooting, and any number of guns with
gamekeepers; good salmon and trout fishing, with plenty of tackle;
and billiard tables. There was a succession of company during the
season, each party being invited for three or four days, with horses
and carriages for their use. The tenantry had been living on the
estate for three or four generations, many of them wealthy, and to
crown all the host and hostess were most amiable and accomplished
persons.
A general order to the troops serving in Ireland was issued at this
time, directing an officer and two sergeants from each regiment to
proceed to Dublin to be instructed in the broadsword exercise, which
they were afterwards to teach to the officers and men of their
respective regiments. I volunteered to proceed on this duty, and
became an honorary member of the mess of the Rifle Brigade. A
very eminent swordsman, Mr. Michael Angelo, was the instructor at
the Riding School of the Royal Barracks. The instruction lasted for
four months, and was a very fine exercise, bringing every muscle
into action. But the regimental drills afterwards were very
troublesome, and occupied much time.
From Enniskillen the regiment proceeded to Newry, and not long
afterwards from thence to Dublin. This station was very popular with
the officers, from its very extensive circle of good society. At this
time I had turned my thoughts towards the Australian Colonies, and
sought advice from Sir Thos. Brisbane, in whose brigade I had
formerly served. He strongly recommended New South Wales, of
which colony he had recently been Governor. It may here be
mentioned that when an honorary member of the 8th mess in Lower
Canada, when encamped on the frontier of the United States, his
conversation frequently turned upon the subject of astronomy, and
he expressed a wish, when his military services were not required, to
proceed to New South Wales, for the purpose of observing the
transit of the planet Venus. This wish was gratified; and he caused
the observatory at Parramatta, near Sydney, to be erected for that
purpose.
During the year 1829, I came to the decision of retiring from the
army, after a military service of upwards of twenty-two years. I was
permitted to sell a company, but was delayed for four months,
during the last illness of His Majesty George IV., as no commissions
could be issued until the following reign. It is hardly necessary to say
that parting from many old and valued friends was very painful to
me, and previous to my departure the Colonel of my regiment, the
late Hon. Sir George Cathcart, accompanied by the two Majors,
waited on me and presented me with a handsome silver breakfast
service in the name of the regiment.
The colony of Western Australia was being formed at this time;
and the large concessions of land offered to the settlers by the
Government on easy terms induced me to select that colony for my
future residence. Two officers of the Rifle Brigade, Captains Molloy
and Byrne, proposed to accompany me. And it was agreed that they
should join me in purchasing a ship, to be loaded with wooden
houses and boats, and to convey the three parties and their
establishments to the new settlement.
I proceeded to Gothenburgh, in Sweden, for that purpose, where
a fine ship of 500 tons was purchased, and during her repairs a
cargo of wooden houses was framed and loaded. I then proceeded
with a fine Swedish crew to Christiansand in Norway, where a large
number of boats were shipped. The character and scenery both of
Sweden and Norway reminded me of Nova Scotia, from their
extensive pine forests, numerous lakes, and granite rocks.
Intemperance was prevalent from the use of ardent spirits, the
climate being cold; and the observation occurred to me that in
warmer, wine-producing countries intoxication is much less frequent.
 The ship proceeded to Cowes, in the Isle of Wight, and I by Post-
Office Packet to Harwich, on the coast of England. I travelled from
thence into Derbyshire, where the family of my affianced wife
resided at Holme Hall, and was there happily married. I had been
desirous of avoiding the frequent inconvenience of moving about
with a family while in the army, and my wife was willing to share my
fortunes in Australia.
From the delay referred to, arising from the King’s illness, I did not
arrive in Western Australia until June, 1830. The passage from
England was favourable, although tedious, only touching at the Cape
de Verde Islands. And on arrival at the anchorage at Fremantle, I
and my wife were hospitably received at the house of Mr. George
Leake, the leading merchant at that time.
An entirely new career now lay before me, but I had health and
strength for the undertaking. I was fortunate in finding shelter in a
colony only founded the previous year. My less fortunate
predecessors at an earlier period, finding neither houses or sheds,
had to resort to tents; and their handsome furniture, including satin
and gilt chairs, harps, grand pianos (some of them afterwards gutted
to make cupboards, &c.), lay exposed to all weathers on the beach.
My first object was to find land for a homestead within a moderate
distance from Perth, the capital. But such lands had all been already
selected; and although I was entitled according to regulations to
select 27,000 acres, in virtue of property and servants introduced, I
found it necessary to purchase 5,000 acres on the Swan River, about
nine miles from Perth. The Governor, Sir James Stirling, had a
summer residence adjoining this land, the use of which he offered to
me until I could erect some temporary accommodation, and the
offer was thankfully accepted.
The purchased land was on the navigable part of the River Swan
for boats, and my luggage and stores were conveyed to it by
contract.
I had brought out as servants nineteen souls, including one
family; and now hard work was to be done, in which I took my full
share. In a short time, temporary accommodation, including a small
cottage, store, and huts for the men, were erected; the luggage and
stores under shelter, and a commencement made in clearing land for
tillage.
Troubles had to be surmounted at an early period. Not many
months had elapsed when an alarm of fire was given at a late hour
one evening, during my absence at Perth, and the store, containing
from twenty to thirty tons of provisions, luggage, furniture, &c., was
in a blaze. As the roof was of thatch and the building contained
some gunpowder, it was dangerous to attempt saving anything—all
was destroyed. The dwelling was within thirty feet of it, but the wind
blew from it, and a providential shower of rain then falling saved
that building. The origin of the fire was not discovered, but a
discontented servant was suspected. His passage from England had
been provided, and he was under a written engagement, at
moderate wages, to serve for three years; this he endeavoured to
break without repaying his passage-money. However, he was
discharged, but was afterwards convicted, in another service, on a
felonious charge and transported.
There were some very fine alluvial flats, on the banks of the Swan,
on which no live stock had been depastured. In conjunction with
another gentleman I arranged, during the following season, to mow
the land for hay, at that time worth £14 per ton. Three stacks, of
fifty tons each, were made; but the aborigines, not having seen
anything of the sort before, were desirous of witnessing the effect of
a large fire, and stuck firebrands into them—which made short work.
They were all destroyed.
The Governor, Sir James Stirling, undertook to lead an exploring
party to examine the country between Perth and King George’s
Sound, which was then unknown. I and some other gentlemen
entitled to select land accompanied him, also some surveyors. A
couple of drays drawn by oxen, and loaded with provisions and some
surveying instruments, accompanied the party. The character of the
country was very variable. After a few days’ travelling, the cattle fed
on some poisonous plants and several of them died, at our camping
place, during the night. One of the drays, some provisions and
instruments, were necessarily abandoned there. Shortly afterwards,
we struck on a river, then named the Williams, situated in a fine and
apparently extensive district. Some of the party proceeded up the
valley about twenty miles the following day, and camped for the
night. I and another gentleman, however, strolled a couple of miles
from the camp, in a southerly direction, and returning northerly, we
felt satisfied that the river would bring us up and that we could not
miss the camp, even at night. The bed of the river at that time,
however, was a succession of pools, and the long intervals between
them were thickly grassed. We thus crossed the river without
knowing it, after dusk, over one of those intervals, and lost
ourselves. Thinking there might be some extraordinary bend of the
river, we walked on until midnight, and then lay down to rest. There
was no water and nothing eatable except a morsel of cheese the
size of a walnut, which we divided. After consultation, we started at
daylight on a due west course, hoping to cut the track made by Sir
James Stirling’s party travelling south. This we happily discovered
towards evening, and rested for the night. On the evening of the
third day we rejoined the main party, which had been searching for
us, and had almost given us up as lost.
It was arranged that on the following day those entitled to select
land should again proceed up the Williams River for that purpose,
accompanied by a surveyor, Sir James Stirling and the remainder of
the party proceeding in a south direction to accomplish the chief
object of the expedition. On reaching a selected point on the river,
the measurement was to commence. The surveying instruments,
chains, &c., had been abandoned where the bullocks died. The
surveyor had a compass, but distances had to be paced. Long
frontages to the river were desirable, and long legs possessed an
advantage—subject, however, to a final survey, when any surplus
would be struck off from the back land. The general course of the
river was from S.W. to N.E., but very winding. A tree was marked on
the river’s bank, from whence the surveyor started due east, the
paces being counted; but after pacing a mile, the river still receding,
a due north course was taken to strike the river again, and so on
alternately east and north, until the required due east direction was
attained. This process gave me about ten miles of river frontage,
although the due east measurement was scarcely half that distance.
The Williams district was undulating, well grassed, and the soil in
the vicinity of the river excellent, producing abundance of sandal
wood. A mob of about 200 kangaroos was started during the day,
and some of the party had a good gallop after them. About three
days were occupied in making the selections, after which the
surveyor was instructed on his return to Perth to explore a new
country westward of that already travelled.
The party started accordingly on a west course, and crossed Sir
James Stirling’s track. On the third day we passed over the Darling
range—an elevation under 2,000 feet—a rough, stony country,
heavily timbered, but with little arable land. The following day we
reached the coast, at the mouth of the River Murray. This was the
third day the party had been without water, and the men made a
rush to the river to drink, but found the water to be salt. No efforts
could avail to dissuade two of the party from drinking immoderately,
and one of them shortly afterwards became insane. Fresh water was
soon found, and after two more days the party reached Perth. The
character of the land traversed on this occasion was very variable,
but the proportion of bad country was in excess.
In the early stage of the colony the deficiency of a circulating
medium was severely felt, and consequently few transactions could
take place, except by means of barter. The Government regulations
entitled settlers to claim land in consideration of the importation of
servants, provisions, agricultural implements, live stock, &c.; but no
claim could be made on account of capital in the shape of money.
The settlers therefore invested almost the whole of their resources in
such articles as would entitle them to claim land. If you required a
team of horses, the person desirous of selling one did not want what
you could offer in exchange, but wished for sheep. You then applied
to an owner of sheep, who desired something you did not possess;
and frequently two or three exchanges were necessary before you
could procure the articles you wanted—generally losing something
on each exchange.
Under such circumstances, I proposed a scheme for the formation
of a local bank, and was ably assisted by Mr. George Leake and a
few other friends possessing influence and property—but no cash.
We depended on the Commissariat issues for the Government
expenditure for supplies of coin. The necessary nominal capital was
subscribed, and the shareholders assembled to make the
arrangements required for opening the bank. At their request, I
undertook the management of it, with a Board of Directors. They
issued their notes, and the benefits derived by the public became
manifest immediately. The bank was very successful. A sufficient
supply of coin was gradually obtained from the Government
expenditure, and the shareholders for some time divided profits of
forty per cent. on their nominal capital, which was simply the credit
of their names.
The system which enabled settlers to obtain enormous grants of
land was found in practice to be neither advantageous to those
persons or to the colony. They could not make a profitable use of
them; they became a drag upon their resources to meet necessary
expenditure, and the lands were locked up from those who might
have turned them to better account. One settler, Mr. Peel, obtained
250,000 acres, with a right under certain conditions to claim a like
additional quantity of land. The early settlers introduced a large
number of servants at their own expense, generally articled to serve
for three years at moderate wages. Their employers were
inexperienced, not knowing how to apply their labour to the best
advantage. For a short time provisions reached famine prices, flour
selling at two shillings and sixpence per pound. Servants would not
then accept their discharges, but when prices fell they broke their
engagements, and instances have occurred of masters having
become the servants of their former ploughmen.
 The local Bank had been in existence about five years, to the
great benefit of the colony, when the Bank of Australasia proposed
an amalgamation; and, after due consideration, it was thought
advisable for the interests of the colony to secure the co-operation
of that important corporation. The Manager sent from London died
before the Bank was opened, and the management of the new Bank
was conferred on me.
An opinion prevailed in the colony that the interests of religion
would be greatly promoted were Western Australia erected into the
See of a Bishop, and I proposed a scheme to create an endowment
for that object by means of subscriptions of land, to which I
contributed 500 acres. After an interval of several years the object
was happily accomplished by the appointment of an excellent man,
Dr. Matthew Hale, formerly Archdeacon of Flinders, in South
Australia, to be the first Bishop of Western Australia.
After an experience of another five years the Bank of Australasia
came to the conclusion that their business in Western Australia was
too limited to justify their maintaining an isolated branch at Perth. It
was therefore ordered to be closed, and I was offered the
management of their branch at Adelaide, in South Australia, which I
accepted. Thus it fell to my lot to open and also to close two Banks.
It was with feelings of much pain that I made up my mind to leave
a colony in which I had resided for sixteen years. The interest felt in
the formation and progress of a new settlement became a tie
binding society together. Being situated on a western coast, where
the sea breezes prevailed for nine months in the year, the climate
was excellent; and, although the average of the land was of an
inferior quality, yet there was abundance of rich land for purposes of
tillage.
Previous to my departure, I was gratified by receiving a flattering
address, signed by all the members of the Executive Council, the
magistrates, clergy, and many others, testifying to my zeal in
promoting objects of public utility.
 In April, 1846, I and my family arrived in Adelaide, and assumed
charge of the Bank of Australasia at that place, at that time
temporarily situated in Hindley Street. A new and excellent site was
obtained in King William Street shortly afterwards, on which
handsome premises were erected. This ground, about ninety feet
square, was purchased in exchange for 640 acres of excellent
country land. To avoid the difficulty of proving the signatures of a
corporate body frequently changing, the mode of conveyance
chosen, being remarkable, is here mentioned. It was the old feudal
system of “livery of seizin.” I went upon the land, pulled a twig off a
tree, which I presented to the purchaser in the presence of
witnesses, using a few formal words. The transaction was recorded
and registered, and thus conferred an indefeasible title in law.
At the period referred to, Adelaide was in a very primitive state
and I actually lost myself for a short time within its boundaries. The
streets and pathways were generally in their natural state, and from
the traffic in wet weather foot passengers were up to their ankles in
mud. St. John’s Church was like a barn; and, on my appointment as
warden, I collected a considerable sum to build a vestry, plaster the
walls, and make other improvements.
No superior school had been established for the education of boys
at that time, and I devoted all my spare time towards the attainment
of that object. I assembled a meeting of gentlemen, representing
various religious bodies, to consider the question, which met on two
or three occasions. Several of them, however, strongly urged as a
principle, that there should be no religious teaching whatever. This
principle was rejected by a large majority. I then secured the co-
operation of a committee of twelve gentlemen, of which I was
elected chairman, who agreed to form a proprietary grammar school
on Church of England principles, but open to all denominations. I
collected £2,000 from eighty subscribers of £25 each, and after a
delay of four or five months the school was at length opened in the
school-room of Trinity Church. The Revs. W. J. Woodcock and James
Farrell and Mr. G. W. Hawkes were most energetic coadjutors.
 Shortly afterwards I suggested to Captain Allen—a munificent
friend to education—that as the school had made a fair start, I
hoped some of our wealthy friends would push it on, as I wished to
secure a good site and erect buildings. In this he concurred, saying
he would give £1,000 and thought Mr. Graham would do the same. I
pointed out that Mr. Graham was in England and not accessible, but
hinted that the £1,000 might be increased to £2,000, which Captain
Allen at once agreed to. He afterwards increased his donations to
upwards of £7,000.
The Lord Bishop of Adelaide arrived about this time from England.
He had obtained a grant of £2,000, from the Society for Promoting
Christian Knowledge, which he agreed to place at the disposal of the
School Committee—provided accommodation in their new buildings
was set apart for four theological students. This arrangement was
concluded accordingly, and the school was afterwards, by Act of
Parliament, incorporated as the “Church of England Collegiate School
of St. Peter.”
A very valuable site of about thirty-seven acres of land close to
Adelaide was secured, on which extensive and handsome buildings
have been erected. The late Mr. DaCosta bequeathed a reversionary
property to the Institution, valued at £23,000; and the late Dean
Farrell bequeathed his estate, valued at £15,000, to the College,
subject to a few annuities. The school has attained to a high
reputation, many of its pupils having attained first-class honours at
the English Universities, including the degrees of Wrangler at
Cambridge, and its staff of masters is believed to be unsurpassed in
the Southern Hemisphere.
Through the munificent liberality of Captain Allen a school for the
education of the middle classes was also established, and suitable
building erected in Pulteney-street, the property being vested in the
then Governors of the Collegiate School, and on similar principles,
the object being to cheapen the cost of education to suit the
circumstances of that class. Mr. Masters endowed this school with
three country sections of land; the Government of that day also
contributing £500. The property of this Institution is worth about
£3,000, and it has been eminently successful.
Having been formerly stationed in the Island of Zante, one of the
Ionian Islands, I became aware of the great mercantile value of the
Zante currant, and while in Western Australia succeeded in
introducing the plant into that province. Its history was remarkable.
After a long correspondence in establishing agency, the Curator of
the Government Garden of St. Antonio, in Malta, received an
application from London for a supply of cuttings, which reached him
a month after the pruning season, but the request being urgent he
pruned a second time. The cuttings were then rolled in damp
flannel, packed, and soldered in a tin case, and forwarded to Dr.
Hooker, Curator of Kew Gardens, near London. That gentleman
planted them in a glazed case, but many months elapsed before an
opportunity occurred to forward them to their destination. They at
length reached Western Australia, but at the wrong season.
However, Mr. Mackay, the Judge of the Supreme Court, had a
conservatory in which they were planted and most carefully
attended. In the following spring they were removed and planted
out, the roots being like fine white Cambric threads; but in the
second year a few tolerably strong shoots were obtained. To save
time, the double system of budding and grafting was adopted on old
grape vines, and in the following year about 400 rooted plants of the
Zante currant were established. None other existed in Australia. Mr.
McArthur, of New South Wales, wrote to request a few plants, which
I had the pleasure of forwarding, and distributed others to several
gentlemen in South Australia.
As kindred to the above it may be here noticed that, during my
residence in Western Australia, in conjunction with Mr. Richard Nash,
we formed a Vineyard Society, the object being to prepare and
trench a nursery for vines, to procure a collection of the choicest
varieties, to preserve their names and identity, and to distribute
them gratis to all who engaged to plant them in trenched ground.
Some gentlemen reduced the rents of their lands to their tenants in
proportion to the extent of their vineyards. The Society procured a
collection of 400 varieties from Mr. Busby’s vineyard, in New South
Wales, but the progress in distributing plants was rather slow, until a
few of the settlers produced wine, which gave a rapid impulse to the
operations of the society, and within a few years some of them were
enabled to distribute a pint of wine daily to the men in their employ.
The society also published a pamphlet containing instructions for the
formation and cultivation of vineyards and for making wine.
Some time after the Lord Bishop (Dr. Short) arrived in Adelaide, a
Conference of the several Australian bishops was summoned to meet
the Metropolitan at Sydney. A new dogma was declared at that
conference to be an article of faith, after some opposition, namely,
baptismal regeneration. The Bishop returned, and on the day
previous to the annual meeting of the “Church Society” (the then
governing body of the affairs of the Church of England in South
Australia), the proceedings of the Sydney Conference became
known. The Governor, Sir Henry Young, presided, and after routine
business being disposed of, I strongly protested against the Sydney
Conference assuming authority to impose a new article of faith in
addition to the Thirty-nine Articles. Unfortunately, I had not had time
to give notice of my intention or secure a seconder of my motion,
and a pause ensued. Sir Henry Young then said that as it was not
seconded he would not put it to the meeting, when Mr. G. S. Walters
stood up and said he would not only second, but support it. Sir
Henry immediately left the chair in anger, and retired—the Bishop
then presiding. The meeting was greatly excited; but after some
discussion, His Lordship promised to call a general meeting of the
members of the church in a fortnight, to consider the subject, on
which the business of the day terminated.
The meeting referred to was held in the Pulteney-street
schoolroom, which was crowded, and the subject of the new dogma
was fully discussed. The resolutions opposed to it were carried
almost unanimously, there being only two or three persons who
voted against them. These proceedings were afterwards commented
upon with approval by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the House of
Lords, and were similarly noticed in the House of Commons.
 An address of thanks on this occasion, most respectably signed,
was afterwards presented to myself and Mr. G. S. Walters.
At this time the position of the Church of England in the colonies
was very unsatisfactory. The Ecclesiastical Laws of England were
declared to have no force, and the Church appeared to be cast
adrift. A meeting of the “Church Society” took place, at which a
committee was appointed—consisting of Major Campbell, Messrs. G.
W. Hawkes, R. B. Lucas, and myself, of which I was named chairman
—to consider and report upon “the best means they could devise for
drawing the clergy and laity into closer union.” The constitution of a
Diocesan Synod appeared to me to meet the requirements of the
case, and I drew up a full scheme to accomplish that object, which I
submitted to the Committee, and afterwards laid before the “Church
Society.” This scheme was considered to be extremely bold, as there
was no precedent of such plan having been adopted previously by
any branch of the Church of England, except some approach to it in
the diocese of Toronto in Upper Canada; and the only guide for such
a system was that of the Episcopal Church of America. The subject
was discussed at great length, and for several months. It was
adjourned, however, as the Bishop proposed proceeding to England,
where he could consult the highest legal authorities, including the
Attorney-General. The scheme was declared to be perfectly legal,
and on His Lordship’s return to the colony it was inaugurated by a
consensual compact, and has now, in the year 1871, been in
operation during seventeen annual sessions with the happiest
results, and has been also adopted in all the other Australian
colonies and New Zealand. Subsequently, another subject affecting
the Church of England attracted much notice. The colony was visited
by a very eminent and much respected Non-conformist minister, the
Rev. Thos. Binney. He was cordially received by all classes of society,
and was for a short time a guest at Bishop’s Court. The Governor, Sir
Richard MacDonnell, was desirous that he should be invited to
preach in the Church of England pulpits, and procured his own
election as a member of Synod, for the purpose of proposing it, of
which he gave due notice. A preliminary meeting of the Standing
Committee of Synod was held to consider the subject, and I was
requested to oppose the Governor’s motion by an amendment,
moving the “previous question,” and thus defeating it. At the
subsequent meeting of Synod, Sir Richard MacDonnell delivered a
long address strongly urging the adoption of his motion, which was
discussed at great length; and I moved the amendment agreed
upon, which was carried by a majority of about two-thirds. The
consideration that the Synod had only recently bound itself by its
consensual compact to abide by the laws and usages of the Church
of England, had a powerful influence with the majority. An address
of thanks from the “Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Church Union,”
dated 18th August, 1859, was afterwards received by me as the
mover of the amendment on this occasion.
About the year 1848 a monetary pressure occurred, and the
merchants were calling in their advances made to the sheepowners.
I felt that if this course was continued it would probably lead to a
commercial crisis, which would depreciate the securities held by the
Bank. I therefore paid off the liabilities of those whom I considered
safe to the extent of about £70,000, taking up their accounts, which
prevented the expected crisis, greatly increasing the business of the
Bank, and nothing was ever lost on those accounts. The London
Directors became alarmed, however, at those large transactions, and
remonstrated with me. It is difficult, however, for gentlemen residing
at so great a distance to form an accurate judgment on such
transactions.
In the year 1849, I received a letter from Lord Fitzroy Somerset,
afterwards Lord Raglan, Military Secretary to the Commander-in
Chief the Duke of York, forwarding to me a war medal and clasp.
The Duke of Richmond had called the attention of the House of
Lords to the fact that no medals had been granted to the army for
certain distinguished battles and sieges, and moved an address to
the Crown upon the subject, which was carried. A Board of General
officers was appointed to consider and report upon the matter, and
their recommendation was adopted.
 The discoveries of gold in the Province of Victoria were so rich that
a perfect exodus of all classes of the male population of South
Australia, except the old and young, took place. It was a time of
great anxiety, on account of the numerous helpless families which
were left slenderly provided for. The Adelaide men were generally
successful, and having collected large quantities of gold, began
returning to their families in about six months, when the scenes
occurring in Adelaide were quite marvellous. A dozen weddings
almost daily taking place; the bridal parties driving in carriages about
town and country, and clearing the drapers’ shops of silks and satins.
At the time of the exodus the notes of Banks were presented in
large quantities for payment in specie, of which the Bank of South
Australia, although wealthy, was nearly drained; but the demand
was so sudden that there was no time to procure supplies from
abroad. The Bank of Australasia held at that time about £90,000 in
gold, and was prepared to aid the other Bank for mutual protection,
when fortunately the scheme of the “Bullion Act” was brought into
operation, and effected an immediate and wonderful change.
This Act was devised by Mr. G. S. Walters, a gentleman of great
experience in monetary affairs. It provided that the gold dust already
deposited in the Treasury, amounting to a large sum, should be
smelted into ingots of various sizes, stamped with the Queen’s head,
and the accurate assay, and declared to be legal tenders at the rate
of £3 14s. per ounce—gold dust then selling in Melbourne at £3 7s.
This immediately stopped the demand for sovereigns, caused large
additional quantities of gold dust to be introduced from Melbourne,
and quieted the public mind. Some of the gold was so pure that it
afterwards realized over £4 per ounce in London.
There is no doubt that the Bullion Act was a direct infringement of
the Royal prerogative as to coinage, and demanded anxious
consideration. Sir Henry Young was then Governor, and the Bank
Managers were requested on different occasions to meet him in
Executive Council to consider the subject. Mr. Tinline (Bank of South
Australia) and myself (Bank of Australasia) urgently supported the
adoption of the Bill; the Manager of the Union Bank opposed it. The
responsibility was very great, but the Executive Government
submitted it to the Legislature, and the Bill was passed into an Act
for two years. The Home Government approved of it, considering
that it was warranted by the great emergency.
Another very useful measure was adopted about this time. A
strong, well-armed body of mounted police was sent periodically to
the gold diggings at Bendigo, in Victoria, to escort the gold found by
South Australian diggers to Adelaide. The service was continued for
a considerable time, and the gold thus introduced exceeded two
millions sterling.
The successful gold diggers would, in all probability, have
remained in Victoria and removed their families from hence had it
not been that many of them were owners of land, which tied them
to the province; and they ultimately returned with their unexpected
wealth and purchased additional lands.
There can be no doubt that the land system of South Australia,
which provided that the country should be surveyed and sold in
sections of eighty acres, was the means of saving the province from
temporary ruin. The facilities for acquiring land by the labouring
classes were very considerable. The discovery of the Burra Copper
Mine gave the first great impulse to the progress of the colony; the
produce of that mine alone having exceeded £4,000,000 sterling up
to a recent period.
It is curious to follow the career of an immigrant after that
discovery. He became a labourer for one or two years, when his
saving of wages enabled him to purchase a team of oxen and a dray.
He then commenced carrying copper ore from the Burra Mine to Port
Adelaide, taking back stores and provisions, and in one or two years
more was in a position to purchase an eighty-acre section of land
and become a farmer. While his crops were growing, and at other
spare times, he again carried ore from the mine and was soon able
to purchase more land, and became a man of some consequence in
his district. This man was the type of a considerable class of
yeomen, who, having property to protect became Conservatives, and
exercised a material influence on the peace and prosperity of the
country.
The transactions of the Burra Mine were on a great scale at that
time, employing upwards of 1,100 men, who, with their families,
numbered over 4,000 souls supported by that mine. At one period
the shareholders divided annually 800 per cent. on their £5 shares.
Their Bank account, however, absorbed a large amount of capital; at
one period it was overdrawn about £72,000, as they calculated on
the value of the ore as soon as it was raised to the surface at the
mine, but before it could be shipped to England and bills drawn
against it. The Bank Directors in London objected strongly to this,
and even suggested more than once that the accounts had better be
closed. I, however, feeling how very prejudicial to the interests of
the Bank such a course would be, and having visited the mine and
satisfied myself as to its great value, took the responsibility of
continuing the account—the Burra Directors having engaged on my
representation gradually to diminish the overdraft to a moderate
amount. I felt quite convinced of the correctness of the views
entertained by the London Board, as no single establishment should
absorb so large a proportion of the capital allotted to each branch.
There were also a few mercantile accounts the advances to which
the London Board objected as being too large, and they appeared to
think that I was not sufficiently cautious in conducting their
business, although they had sustained no losses, and their business
had been quadrupled. Some irregularity had also occurred in the
office, and I was offered the option of removing to some other
branch or receiving compensation on resigning, but was requested
to remain at the Bank for some time in order to aid my successor
until he became acquainted with the customers and the nature of
their transactions. I remained for some time, but no other branch
becoming vacant, and being also unwilling to leave South Australia, I
accepted compensation and retired.
 Some time afterwards, having sold a property in Western Australia
for £3,000, I agreed to join in a mercantile business with a
gentleman connected with my family. On this becoming known to Mr.
John Ellis, he very handsomely and spontaneously presented me
with a letter of credit for £5,000 on the wealthy firm of Morrisson &
Co., of London; and Mr. G. S. Walters, in a similar manner,
introduced me to his father-in-law, Mr. Frederick Huth, of the great
firm of Frederick Huth & Co., of London, who opened credits for the
new firm with their several correspondents at Mauritius, Calcutta,
Bombay, Ceylon, Singapore, and China, for £2,000 each. The
business was thus commenced with a fair prospect, but not proving
very successful after a trial of a few years, I retired from the firm.
In the year 1855 the second mixed Legislative Council, of
nominated and elected members, assembled. I had offered myself
as a candidate to represent the District of Willunga, in this Council,
but after a close contest was defeated. The Governor, Sir Richard
MacDonnell, however, immediately offered to nominate me to a seat,
at the same time stating that I was not to consider myself bound in
the slightest degree to support any Government measure which I did
not approve. I accepted this offer and took my seat in that Council,
which elected me in the following November to the honourable
position of Chairman of Committees.
At this time the citizens of Adelaide obtained their supplies of
water from the River Torrens, which was subject to pollution, and
the cartage was inconvenient and expensive. Complaints were
numerous, and the Government introduced a Bill for constructing
water-works at a cost of £280,000. This amount was so large that
the Council did not believe the Government was serious, and at the
second reading the Chairman of Committees read some eighty
clauses seriatim, with scarcely a remark from any members. The Bill
was finally passed, and has proved a most beneficial measure.
On the dissolution of this mixed Council (elective and nominated)
on which had devolved the passing of the Constitution Act in 1857, I
was elected to represent the District of Flinders, and took my seat in
the Legislative Assembly, under the new responsible Government,
consisting of five members,—namely, Chief Secretary, Attorney-
General, Treasurer, Commissioner of Crown Lands, and
Commissioner of Public Works.
I offered myself as a candidate for the office of Speaker of the
House of Assembly in the year 1857, but was unsuccessful. In the
following month of September I was invited to join the Ministry of
Mr. (now Sir) R. R. Torrens, and became Commissioner of Crown
Lands. This Ministry lasted, however, but a short time, and was
succeeded by that formed by the present Sir R. D. Hanson. The
“Constitution Act” was passed during this session of Parliament.
Some of its clauses were objected to by me, chiefly that relating to
universal suffrage, on the ground that intelligent votes could not be
given by those who could neither read or write. I succeeded,
however, in introducing a clause requiring a fixed residence of six
months (twelve months were proposed) to qualify for voting.
In the year 1859 I was appointed as a Special Magistrate under
the “Local Courts Act”—first, to preside in the Local Courts at
Willunga and Morphett Vale, and afterwards at those in the Northern
Districts, namely, at Redruth, Clare, Auburn, and Riverton. I
continued to perform those duties for upwards of ten years, and on
the amalgamation of two districts I retired, receiving the usual
retiring allowance.
On this occasion I was much gratified by receiving two flattering
addresses, one from the members of the bar practising in the
Northern Courts, the other signed by all the Magistrates of the
District and numerous other residents. This last was beautifully
illuminated and engrossed on vellum.
Having served over twenty-two years in His Majesty’s army; six
years farming in a new settlement (Western Australia); seventeen
years as a Bank manager; three years as a merchant; four years in
Parliament, during which I held office in the Ministry for a short
time; and lastly, over ten years administering the laws in Local
Courts—my career may be fairly considered as long and varied.
Having arrived at an old age, I may now rest from my labours,
trusting to the atoning merits of a merciful Redeemer, the Lord Jesus
Christ, for an eternal rest hereafter.

MARSHALL MACDERMOTT.

William Kyffin Thomas, Printer, Grenfell-street, Adelaide.

Transcriber’s Notes:
Missing or obscured punctuation was silently
corrected.
Typographical errors were silently corrected.
Two errata were applied to the text.
Page 5, line 28.–For “Gulf of Causo” read
“Gut of Causo.”
Page 16, line 2.–For “Montreal” read
“Montreuil.”
Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation were
made consistent only when a predominant
form was found in this book.
*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A BRIEF SKETCH OF
THE LONG AND VARIED CAREER OF MARSHALL MACDERMOTT,
ESQ., J.P. OF ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA ***

Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions

will be renamed.

Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S.

copyright law means that no one owns a United States
copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy
and distribute it in the United States without permission and
without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the
General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and
distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the
PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project
Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if
you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the
trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the
Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for
copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is
very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such
as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and
printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in
the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright
law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially
commercial redistribution.

START: FULL LICENSE

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE