unborn, bless the day on which you landed on their shores—and gave them—(when they deserve it) what you so much admire—Freedom!"[1]
Bigge was not much affected by the rhetoric, and easily cut the ground from beneath Macquarie's arguments. The question had nothing to do with vague generalities, but dealt simply with the wisdom of making Dr. Redfern, an emancipist, whose promotion had not been continued beyond the post of assistant surgeon, a magistrate, against the known opposition of Lord Bathurst.
"Your Excellency must be well aware," he wrote in one part of his letter, "that not only in this Colony but in England likewise, the admission of convicts to the magistracy, the distinguishing feature of your administration, has been more than questioned." And again, "I never can admit that the faithful discharge of the duties of assistant surgeon can ever form a claim to the honours of the magistracy, even among the limited number of aspirants to that office in this Colony".[2]
His arguments were of little use, for Redfern held Macquarie to his promise. "Honour, Character and Principles" were so deeply involved that the Governor felt bound to fulful his pledge.[3]
Redfern was appointed and held his coveted rank for nearly a year. But when the new King came to the throne and a new commission of the peace was issued, Macquarie received orders from Lord Bathurst to omit Redfern's name. Thus when Sir Thomas Brisbane took up the reins of Government no convicts sat upon the Bench, for Lord, persuaded by both Macquarie and Bigge that the trade of auctioneer was unsuited to one of magisterial rank, had retired on the plea of ill-health on the same occasion.[4] Early in 1821 Macquarie made a tour of Van Diemen's Land, and on his return to Sydney was received, as he had been in 1812 with an address of welcome and a general illumination of the town.[5] Soon afterwards he started on his last progress through New South Wales, and it was while he
