off their harvests. In two years the cultivation of wheat in Van
Diemen's Land increased from twenty to thirty thousand acres, and the
average price of wheat at Hobart Town was 8s. per bushel. This
stimulated further production, and tended to avert from Van Diemen's
Land the distress, which over speculation and scarcity produced in New
South Wales.

This dearth was followed by two plentiful harvests (1831), and a
depression of price. The farmers of New South Wales entreated General
Darling to establish a corn law, to check importation. In declining the
project, he attributed the successful competition of this country to the
superiority of its wheat and facility of transit; and hinted that the
elder colony was indebted to foreign supplies for its subsistence.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 157: _Observations on the Colonies of New South Wales and Van
Diemen's Land._ By John Henderson. Calcutta, 1832. p. 5.]

[Footnote 158: _Journal of a Voyage to Van Diemen's Land_, p. 108.]

[Footnote 159: _Gazette_, March, 1828.]

[Footnote 160: Until 1832, the post was managed by Mr. Collicott, as a
private speculation. There were nine post stations. The number of
newspapers conveyed by post in 1832, was 13,000; in 1833, 102,
400.--_Montagu's Statistics._]

SECTION VIII.

The powers of legislation confided to Arthur did not slumber. The
council which enacted the laws, were chiefly officers of the government,
and the discussion of measures was conducted in private. Whatever course
they pursued, was justly ascribed to the governor himself. The early
ordinances of Arthur added some new burden, or limited some indulgence.
Their immediate aspect was, therefore, commonly austere and encroaching,
even when their ultimate consequences were beneficial.

To prevent the clandestine sale of liquors (1827), the council
authorised a constable, upon a magistrate's warrant, granted on the
belief of any person that ale, beer, or spirits were sold, to break open
the house and seize the liquor; and unless the owner could satisfy the
magistrate, the constable was permitted to stave and destroy the
vessels. For the sale, not only were heavy penalties imposed, but unless
paid the offender was liable to perpetual imprisonment; and even appeal
was prohibited, except the penalty was first paid: one-half to the
informer. This ordinance was afterwards mitigated.

The penal character of the colony was constantly indicated in the entire
spirit of legi