CHAPTER VI THE HUSBANDMEN 1842-8 Governor Grey's administration— The city under depression— Retrenchment— Imposts— Complainings— Dishonored bills— Land Act and Constitution Act -Clamor— Worst of depression over — Legislative Council — The citizens and the corporation— City Council extinct— Opposition to Governor Grey— The country— Agricultural growth— Pastoral- Mineral discoveries -Kapunda and the Burra— End of Governor Grey's term of office— Reversal of public opinion — Major Robe's Administration— More disputes— Exploration — Aborigines — Crime. some respects Governor Grey resembled General Gordon. He was a religious man, who sought to blend Christian principles with political economy, but he never allowed his convictions to prejudicially affect his judgment. He was conscientious and sympathetic, but no personal attack from the people turned him from his policy, or caused him to swerve from what he felt to be his duty. The newspajjers of the day were bitter in abuse and ridicule — doubtful means used by them to force his hand — and it must have caused his journalistic enemies mortification when it trans[)irecl years later that Governor Grey had purposely refrained from reading any of their criticisms. Although his work was at first distasteful to colonists, Governor Grey was certainly earnest and unselfish in pursuing it ; he even tried to dispose of the expensive government residence erected by his predecessor, and to take lodgings in a small establishment. Moreover, while from a sense of duty he reduced wages, he contributed freely out of his own limited salary to relieve the distress thereby occasioned. At the same time, with all these admirable qualities, he laid himself open to attack on minor points : he was irritable, and an autocrat. Opinions vary concerning his South Australian rule ; those who suffered from his retrenchment generally condemned his proceedings, while one or two critics consider that he was not equal to Governor Gawler as an administrator, whom they credit with laying the foundation of South Australian prosperity, which Governor Grey and others built upon and extended. James 85
