November a Government and General Order, signed by the Major of Brigade, forbade "any officer on the civil or military staff of the Colony residing at head-quarters … ever to absent himself from thence for a whole day or night without previously obtaining the Governor's permission".[1] Bent, not considering that he was comprehended in such an Order, took no notice of it. Macquarie sent for him, and an angry interview was the result. The Governor said it was Bent's duty to wait every morning at Government House to receive his commands, and "unequivocally informed him that he considered him as an officer on the Civil Staff".[2] Bent replied that he was not bound to obey the Order and "that he was not subject to military discipline".[3] He was indignant that he should be treated merely as a "subaltern officer—a mere cypher—a person sent out simply for his (Macquarie's) convenience and merely to execute his commands".[4]
Such was the state of their relations when the tempestuous presence of Jeffery Bent tore them further asunder.
He was younger than his brother and had been six years at the Bar. He was hot-tempered, abusive when roused, and quick to resent a real or fancied slight. During the three years he remained in New South Wales he waged unceasing war, and his behaviour was scarcely that of a normal man. Loyalty and affection for his brother appear to have been the only gentle aspects of this enraged judge, and never had any Governor to deal with so angry an official. Before he left the Colony every spark of opposition in the length and breadth of the land had been fanned into flame. Under his malevolent eye no abuse could slumber, and under his watchful care was fostered a fresh growth of political activity which bore plentiful fruit in succeeding years. Yet he was moved by no high ideal nor steadfast principle. He was not in any way a vicious man. In all the disputes in which he engaged, wherein many hard things were said or implied against either side, there was never an accusation against his honesty or his sobriety. The primary
- ↑ The object of the Order was to prevent officers going up to their farms in the country and spending "several days there to the neglect of their public duty". Macquarie did not even pretend to think that Bent neglected his.
- ↑ Bent to Bathurst, 1st July, 1815. R.O., MS.
- ↑ See above, 1st July, 1815. R.O., MS.
- ↑ Ibid.
