CHAPLAIN’S “PRIZE”

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 December 1937, Page 9

CHAPLAIN’S “PRIZE”

MACQUARIE ERA ECHO. Governor Macquarie had many fine qualities, and was a successful administrator. But he made mistakes, and one which gave his enemies an •opening was in connection with the I case of the Rev Benjamin Vale (writes Frank Walker, F.R.A.H.S., in the Sydney Morning Herald.) Macquarie had been on an exploring trip to the Hawkesbury River and Broken Bay, returning to Sydney in the Lady Nelson in February, 1816. .Soon after his arrival he heard that I Mr. Vale, the military chaplain at Liverpool, had seized as a prize under the Navigation Act, the American schooner Traveller, while it was discharging its cargo. Vale, at that time, lived in Castlereagh Street, and had intimated his intention of leaving the colony. The sale of his furniture had been advertised, and it was sold on March 7, but only Mrs. Vale was allowed to depart. She left by the armed, brig Emu, on board of which was young William Wentworth, who three years previously had accompanied Blaxland and Lawson on their expedition across t>e mountains. Vale was court martialled, and

charged with the following offences: (1) The subversive act of seizure; (2) insolent, disrespectful, and insurbordinate conduct to the Governor; (3) disgraceful and ungentlemanly conduct in making the seizure personally; and (4) highly disrespectful, insolent, and insurbordinate conduct invery improper and inflammatory language, to his Honor, Lieutenant-Gover-nor Molle, in the absence of the Governor. It will be noted that the angry soldier did not mince matters in his indictment, and made the most use of all the high-sounding words he could think of. ' On the first charge the accused was found guilty, on the second not guilty, but the remaining part of the charge was not proved. He was found guilty on the third charge, relating to the personal seizure,, but acquitted of the other allegations, and -declared innocent of the fourth charge. In view of these findings the Court ordered that he should be publicly and severely admonished and reprimanded. In consideration of Vale’s social status as a clergyman, the Governor overlooked the public humiliation, contenting himself with admonishing the culprit in private. Where Macquarie blundered was in causing tile military chaplain to be marched through the city like an absconding convict, and there were a

number of repercussions arising out of the case. A solicitor, named Moore, who came from England, and who was enjoying a salary of £3OO a year, defended Vale. For so acting, his pay, as a Government official, was stopped, and it is said that Macquarie failed io comply with instructions from ileme to restore it. The Government Printing Office had an employee who signed Vale’s petition. For this act be was dismissed. This interference with British liberty was condemned on all sides, and the Governor was severely reprimanded by Earl Bathurst. The official letter concluded: “The whole of your proceedings against him were consequently illegal, and it is, therefore, utterly out of my power to give tin."i any sanction or approbation.” Macquarie did not take this "lying down." Some years afterwards he Ivrote: “. . . . I do not believe there

was a respectable member of society who did not highly disapprove and 'execrate the mutinous, seditious, and, ; insolent conduct pursued towards me Iby that depraved, hypocritical, unprincipled man.” I When Vale, for the second time, .notified through the Press bis inten- ' tion to leave 1 for England by the Alexander. he was refused permission to do so. What became of him eventual- . ly is not recorded.