Читать книгу Early Australian History. Convict Life in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land - Charles White - Страница 12

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During the interregnum of nineteen days between the departure of Brisbane and the arrival of his successor, Sir Ralph Darling, the Government was administered by Colonel Stewart, of the Third Regiment, or Buffs, and who afterwards became Major-General, and resided on his large estate near Bathurst.

Of this gentleman's administration very little has been recorded. He simply held the reins of the coach until the new driver climbed to the seat. It was currently reported, however, that in one respect he was remarkably active. This is what was said: Other Governors had invariably looked forward to their return to their Mother land at the expiration of their term of service: Colonel Stewart had decided to make his permanent home in the penal colony. Other Governors had been liberal in making large grants of land to residents or intending residents: Colonel Stewart was more 'canny,' and availed himself of the privilege of doing good to the person who in his own opinion was most deserving of good. He therefore secured for himself an immense tract of grazing and agricultural land near Bathurst, and lived to work and die upon it, his remains being interred in a vault upon the highest peak thereof, and from which peak an extensive view of the country around was to be obtained, the major portion of which country was included within the boundaries marking the 'original grant' secured by self-payment of eighteen days' patriotic service! All this was generally believed, even in the district where he settled, until the present year—1888—when a Sydney newspaper having repeated the story was thus addressed by Mr. J. H. Stewart, son of the Major-General, who still lives on the Mount Pleasant Estate:—

"Sir,—In your last week's issue you give a very erroneous account of the manner in which my late father acquired this property. Had it referred to myself alone I would not trouble to correct it; but, as it throws a stigma on a revered parent now deceased, and also as you are at present writing out an history of the early days of the colony, it seems only right that I should give you a true statement regarding this matter. My father reached Sydney in May, 1825, in command of the 3rd Regiment of Buffs, and with the appointment of Lieutenant-Governor. He also brought with him an order from the Imperial Government for the selection for 3,000 acres of land in any part of the colony he might desire. This quantity was only 1,000 acres more than was usually given to those settlers who could deposit £1,000 to their credit in some bank in Sydney for the few days necessary to secure the grant. My father got his 3,000 acres from the Duke of York as a reward for his military services in the Peninsular War, where he commanded the Buffs in two general actions, besides minor affairs; and he obtained a gold medal for Albuera, in which battle his horse was killed under him by a Polish Lancer. General Darling left the colony soon after my father's arrival, and he acted as full Governor until Sir Thomas Brisbane reached the port. But it was not until long afterwards, viz., in 1827, that he made his selection near Bathurst. The Macquarie was taken up along its north bank at a very early period, but the southside of the river was reserved for a Government cattle station, and no one was allowed to cross the stream without a pass from a magistrate. About the year 1826 pressure began to be brought for opening the lands on the Bathurst side, and my father secured a promise of first selection; but his multifarious duties in Sydney long prevented his getting away to make it. I have in my possession a letter to him from the Governor requesting, as a personal favour, that he would run up to make his selection, as the number of applicants for the new country had become so great that they could not any longer be restrained. He then made a hurried trip across the mountains, and selected his 3,000 acres on the west side of the parish of Mount Pleasant, along Evans' Plains Creek, but not including the Monument Hill, where his remains now rest. In 1828 he was sent on to India with his regiment, but before leaving he secured a lease of the remaining portion of the parish, containing about 12,000 acres. On arrival at Calcutta he was appointed commandant at Meerut, where he remained for four years; and in 1832, when he was raised to the rank of Major-General, he left the army on half-pay, and returned to look after his grant of land at Bathurst, intending shortly to return to Scotland for his family, whom he had left on his paternal estate in Caithness. While arranging his affairs we surprised him by our unexpected arrival in Sydney, whither we had been forwarded, without any authority, by his agent, Sheriff Home. Being now advanced in years, my father decided to settle in the colony, and he then purchased the 9,000 acre block where the monument on the hill and the mansion house stand adjoining his primary grant, at the upset price of 5s per acre; and it was not until 1838 that he secured the 2,400 acre block at the southern side of the parish, for which he paid 12s. per acre, the upset price having by that time been raised. This is the simple story of the purchase of the Mount Pleasant estate, and, as you have published a very different version of it, I think I have a fair claim upon you to investigate the facts and to give the same publicity to the result of your inquiries.

"Faithfully yours,

"J. H. Stewart."

Thus we see how long-lived some lies are. One act of the Colonel when serving as Lieutenant-Governor will show what sort of man he was. When Brisbane left several prisoners were under sentence of death, and in the exercise of his gubernatorial functions the Colonel had their sentences commuted to penal servitude. It was a bold thing to do in the days when hanging was the height of fashion.

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