with measures and events of the utmost importance in the history of New South Wales.
1. The discussions of the Legislative Council became public, and the financial estimates were regularly submitted and discussed.
2. The Church and School Corporation (which had become a gross job) was abolished, and religious equality established by an act of the Legislative Council.
3. An attempt was made to introduce the Irish national school system (which the bigots defeated).
4. Free grants of land were abolished, and sale by auction at a minimum price of 5s. substituted.
5. The despatch was received from Lord Glenelg, and steps were adopted which, in 1840, finally abolished transportation to New South Wales.
6. The squatting system was legalised and systematised on a plan which has since produced nearly £60,000 per annum.
7. Rules for regulating the number of convict servants to which each settler should be entitled (without favour), and the number of lashes which should be inflicted on a convict servant by a single magistrate, were framed and promulgated.
8. Port Phillip was peopled by settlers from Van Diemen's Land, and South Australia by colonists from England.
The powers of the executive council imposed on the Governor of New South Wales in the last year of Sir Thomas Brisbane's administration were, under Sir Ralph Darling, almost nominal. Not only were its deliberations secret and its dissent powerless, but Governor Darling illegally and systematically exercised authority in the only matter entrusted to the council—the distribution of the revenues. Towards the close of his administration he introduced a bill indemnifying himself, and legalising his illegal assumptions. Sir Richard Bourke, on the contrary, earnestly co-operated in raising the character of the council, treated the non-official members with the utmost respect, and endeavoured to give the council, as far as possible, the tone and functions of a representative assembly; a course directly the reverse of his successor, Sir George Gipps. Both were able,, but the one was a frank and generous, the other an astute and jealous man. It is very much to be regretted that Governor Bourke had not been permitted to govern with as little interference from Secretaries of State as Governor Macquarie, and to remain long enough to initiate the partly elective council which fell into the unhappy hands of his successor.
