I'm still struggling to keep up with all of the things sticking in my clearly ample craw (a quick one: since the Chinese people seem so upset at their Government for allowing companies to kill their babies, why don't they rise up in revolt? Isn't that what Chinese communists do? Or at least, that's what someone I know who never wants to visit China reckons...), so I thought I'd post a rant by an ancestor of mine - from 1837. Good to see that writing to whoever will listen to complain about anything in particular runs in the blood.
Though, to be fair, it seems like this ancestor of mine did have some legitimate concerns...
Anyhoo, this was printed in the True Colonist newspaper in Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land, on Friday, December 22 1837 (for the record, Joseph Salmon and his family were apparently the first free settlers to come out to Tasmania directly from England - check out his Dad's entry at the Australian Dictionary of Biography):
How Captain Forster and his deputies now rule this colony will appear from the following correspondence sent to us for publication by Mr Joseph Salmon. For writing to us exposing a very small portion of the Oatlands system, Mr Andrews, Police Clerk, was dismissed from his office. He has, we understand, since, in his own justification, laid a full statement of the Oatlands proceedings through Captain Forster before Sir John. But, as usual, Mr Whitefoord’s explanation was quite satisfactory. But, wherein that satisfaction consisted, no one can tell – for according to the system Mr Andrew was not permitted to see Mr Whitefoord’s answer. Mr Salmon’s letter says a great deal. The horde of horse stealers to which he refers are the very interesting family which the well-informed Sydney Monitor quoting from a highly respectable and very enlightened authority here charged us with destroying. Our readers will recollect that we also put an end to the baronial sports of cattle hunting on and about the Table Mountain. We are not done with Oatlands yet, we shall enlighten both the Secretary of State and some members of Parliament on the Oatlands affair and we shall induce some of the Prison Discipline members to refer back to the special instructions which came out here with George Dudfield, and to enquire how they have been attended to ;
Mr Salmon writes as follows: –
May it please your Excellency,
I most respectfully beg leave to acquaint your Excellency, that on the 14th October last, I preferred charges against Mr Whitefoord, the Police Magistrate of the district of Oatlands, to Captain Forster, the Chief Police Magistrate, in which I alleged Mr Whitefoord had not acted towards me in an upright and
impartial manner. The following is a copy of my charge against Mr Whitefoord.
SIR, – I am under the necessity of appealing to you as Chief Police Magistrate, for reasons which will appear to you from the following statement. I reside at Oatlands, where I possess some landed property. One of my farms I let on the first of April last, on a lease for seven years after that day to one John Pollard, who was then living with George Dudfield ; Dudfield being security for the rent. Pollard placed on the farm a man named Warby, who was assigned to his service. In consequence of some representations made to you, Warby was removed and sent to Waterloo Point, his wife remaining on the farm with a person who goes by the name of Broker, but who is supposed to be a brother of Warby’s, who has fled from justice at Sydney. I have recently discovered that Pollard intended the farm for his assigned servant Warby.
Dudfield and Pollard having recently quarrelled, the latter resigned his lease to me, giving the authority to re-enter and take possession, which I attempted to do on the 5th inst, Pollard having first delivered to me the cart and bullocks which he had rented from me with the farm. He then proceeded with me
and John Newby to deliver me possession of the farm. Pollard having entered the dwelling was assaulted by Mrs Warby and another female who was with her in the house. These women threw him down, and were maltreating him, when I went in and rescued him from them. He then formally gave up possession to me. I remained in the house with Newby for a considerable time after Pollard left, when the man called Broker, and another man who has lately come from Sydney, with Mrs Warby came into the house, and soon after ordered me to quit the premises. On my refusing to go, they both assaulted me, tore my clothes, and dragged me out of the house. I immediately went to complain to Mr Whitefoord at his farm. He took my information on oath, and then issued summonses for Broker and Mrs Warby for next day at 11 o’clock, when I attended with my witnesses. We were for three hours in a very rough day kept waiting in the court yard, while George Dudfield, the friend of Mrs Warby, was closeted with the Police Magistrate, about 3 o’clock I was called in with my witnesses. Newby was alarmed by observing that the Magistrate took down his statement so as to give it a colour quite different from what he related. We found Dudfield sitting in the Magistrate’s parlour, where he remained during the whole case. The charge of assault, though clearly proved, was dismissed ; I then asked for compensation for the damage done to my coat, which a witness present, an old clothier, swore was equal to thirty shillings. Mr Whitefoord then asked the opinion of Dudfield who was not sworn, and on his opinion, awarded me 10s., adding that it was a “coat of iniquity,” as I had bought it from Mr Masters, the late jailer. It is proper to inform you that this man Broker, had been about a week before, bound in sureties to keep the peace. Mr Whitefoord advised me to destroy the lease I had granted to Pollard, as he, Pollard, had nothing to show, the duplicate being in Dudfield’s possession, who would destroy it if I would grant a new lease to Mrs Warby, and that Pollard was only a man of straw. I replied, if he is a man of straw how came you recommend him for assigned servants? I have known Pollard to have three assigned servants at one time, all on their own hands, with the knowledge of the Police Magistrate : he answered, he had your farm ; I answered, but, he had assigned servants before that, Mr Whitefoord said yes, but he was confidential superintendent for Mr Dudfield’s buildings. I came to town for the purpose of laying my information personally before you, as Chief Police Magistrate, because from the threats of Dudfield, and the overwhelming influence which he possesses over the Magistrates and Police Officers of Oatlands, I consider myself in a dangerous situation, and find that complaint to Mr Whitefoord against Dudfield, or any one in whom he takes interest is worse than useless. Finding that
indisposition prevented you from attending your office, I took the liberty of addressing this letter to you, but, as its limits will contain but a small portion of the complaint, I respectfully solicit that you will be pleased to fix a time for me to see you personally, to give my information on oath, if necessary, to obtain an inquiry into my complaint. –I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant.
JOSEPH SALMON.
To Matthew Forster, Esq
C.P.M.
The following is a copy of the Chief Police Magistrate’s
reply to the above complaint.
November 14, 1837,
The Chief Police Magistrate, having submitted the complaint of Mr Joseph Salmon, preferred against the Police Magistrate, at Oatlands, together with that Officer’s observations thereon, the Lieutenant Governor considers Mr Whitefoord’s explanation, as regards his Magisterial conduct upon the occasion, referred upon the points brought forward, by Mr Joseph Salmon, as perfectly satisfactory.
Police Office, 17th Nov 1837
To Mr Joseph Salmon,
Oatlands
May it please your Excellence
I further beg leave most respectfully to state that when I preferred my complaint to Mr Whitefoord against the above named Broker, I told him that I had good reason to believe that Broker was a person who had fled from justice, and was brother to the convict Warby, the notorious cattle stealer, transported to this Colony from New South Wales, now a constable at Waterloo Point, Mrs Warby, has only returned from New South Wales in October last, and brought with her two persons who have been living with her upon my farm for some weeks. However, the man Broker, and the Sydney speculators, have been detected with three stolen horses, which they have taken from the district of Oatlands, two from Mr Commissary Roberts’s farm, at the Blue Hills, and one from Mr Stanfield’s ; those misguided men are now in gaol at Launceston, for horse stealing, and several charges of forgery as well.
My farm and paddocks were a receptacle for horse stealers and forgers, and yet Mr Whitfoord would not listen to my suggestions, if he had the Government would not now be at the weighty expense of prosecuting them, nor would my neighbours have lost their horses, some were killed by hard riding, but these men were benefactors and friends to the celebrated George Dudfield, who is well-known both here and in London. Dudfield has lived all his life by ****** and *******, and now carries on his old system by permission. Under all the foregoing circumstances I hope your Excellency will review my case, and cause Dudfield to get his living by some honest means *** Every thing I have stated about Dudfield is true, and is any person who will support such ******** a fit or proper person to fill the responsible situation of Police Magistrate of any district. Even the convict constables are ready in attendance at Mr Dudfield’s call. No longer ago than Monday last, Dudfield came to my farm, accompanied by one of them and two of his assigned servants, he was armed with a large stick or
bludgeon, with which he struck me on the head, at my own house, but complaint to the Police Magistrate was useless, nay worse than useless, I therefore appeal to your Excellency, and shall publish the whole of the above circumstances for the information of my fellow colonists. Indeed, I could say much more about Dudfield and his friend the Police Magistrate. The felon constables are some of them at this moment employed by Mr Whitefoord making hurdles for his shepherd – that is the way those indolent fellows keep in with their master.
Every thing I have stated in the foregoing is true, and much more, which I wish to publish when you think proper. I have sent by this post an exact copy of the above to Sir John, that the world may know how we are used here by Dudfield, and his friend the Police Magistrate. If you think proper to alter the wording of any part of this you are at liberty so to do, as writing is not my profession, but I shall if called upon prove the whole and much more – I dare the parties. Perhaps you could inform me whether or not it is consistent with the Police regulations for Police Magistrates to reside two or three miles from their public office, and to employ the constables paid for other duties to work for them on their farms, I mean their rented farms. When Mr Murdoch was Police Magistrate at Oatlands all was harmony and good will, not a single complaint was ever uttered against that honest upright man. Peace be with him. – I am, sir, you obedient and very humble servant,
JOSEPH SALMON
To the Editor of the True Colonist
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