became Assistant Colonial Treasurer, and in 1876 Auditor General.
Lowe, Right Hon. Robert, G.C.B., LL.D., D.C.L., F.R.S., first Viscount Sherbrooke, formerly a New South Wales colonist, was the second son of the late Rev. Robert Lowe, rector of Bingham and prebendary of Southwell, Nottinghamshire, by his marriage with Ellen, daughter and co-heiress of Rev. Reginald Pyndar, rector of Madresfield, Worcestershire. Mr. Lowe was born at Bingham in Dec. 1811, and educated at Winchester School and at University College, Oxford, where he graduated as a first in classics in 1833, and was elected a Fellow of Magdalen College in 1834. After a highly successful career as a private tutor at Oxford, he was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in Jan. 1842, and throwing up his Oxford appointment, emigrated to New South Wales. On Oct. 18th on the motion of the Attorney-General, Mr. Lowe was admitted a barrister of the Supreme Court of that colony, but briefs came so slowly that it was rumoured he would give up practice altogether. No public notice was taken of his arrival beyond the fact that he was the guest of Governor Gipps, and for fourteen months he remained in complete obscurity. Then, to the surprise of every one, in Nov. 1843 he was nominated by the Governor as a member of the Legislative Council. At this period the struggle for obtaining representative government was proceeding vigorously, under the powerful leadership of Mr. W. C. Wentworth. Mr. Lowe's first speech was made on the Monetary Confidence Bill brought in by Mr. Windeyer to alleviate the financial depression by circulating land debentures. It was against the measure, and excited universal admiration by its brilliancy and wit. This success was followed up by another speech on the third reading of the same measure, which passed the Council,but the vigorous opposition it met with emboldened the Governor to withhold the assent of the Crown. Mr. Lowe's attack called up Wentworth, the leader of the Opposition, who taunted him with his support of the authority which had given him legislative power. He acknowledged that "the efforts of the hon. member from Horbury Terrace, smelling of the lamp as they did, and highly considered as they were, were nevertheless efforts of no small merit." Then he alluded to his antagonist's want of experience. "All the opposition emanated from persons who were comparative strangers to the land, ignorant of its wants, ignorant of its history, and ignorant, in short, of everything connected with it." On Dec. 16th of the same year, Mr. Lowe brought up the report of a committee on the insolvency law, and earnestly and eloquently urged the abolition of imprisonment for debt, a measure which subsequently became law, and was the distinguishing feature of the first session of the Council. He vigorously opposed Mr. Wentworth's proposal to increase the duty on flour from one shilling to half a crown, and also the proposal to admit natives as witnesses in criminal cases. His oration in the latter debate was considered a masterpiece of oratory. Soon afterwards an affair occurred which brought Mr. Lowe still more prominently, but less favourably, before the public. Dr. Lang; who had been ejected by the local Presbyterian Synod, brought the temporalities of the Presbyterian Church under review in connection with the disruption of the Church of Scotland. In discussing this question of ecclesiastical law, Mr. Lowe thought proper to indulge to the full his extraordinary powers of sarcasm and personal invective. He jeered at Dr. Lang for proposing to bring before the House the conduct of the Executive of the Australian Library, which, though aided by Government funds, had blackballed a certain Alderman Macdermott. This unlucky allusion was the cause of much trouble, for Mr. Macdermott, after reading the speech, sent a friend, Dr. Macfarlane, to ask for an explanation. This Mr. Lowe refused to give, as he considered himself privileged as a member of the Legislature. Next day the same gentleman reappeared at his chambers with a certain Captain Moore, and demanded an apology or satisfaction. Mr. Lowe refused to apologise, and declined a duel on three grounds:—(1) that he was not responsible for his words in the Council except to the Council; (2) he did not consider Macdermott his equal; (3) he was always bound to keep the peace. Not content with this, he at once filed an affidavit detailing the circumstances, and appeared at the police court,
280
