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and elegantly decorated; at the upper end was a medallion
of the Queen, painted on a ground of imperial purple and
encircled with the appropriate wreath of the laurel and
white roses ; at the lower end was placed the Tasmanian Arms ,
surrounded with wattle, English oak and roses; these paintings
\'lere from the versatile pencil of Mr P. Moss , who ob ligingly
lent his services on the occasion ; about one o'clock the
company repaired to the supper tab le wh ich was profusely supplied
\'lith all the luxuries of the season, by the landlord of the
Crown Inn; the apartment which was spacious exhibited proofs
of the great exertions and good taste of the committee who
drew largely on the beauties of Flora and the sweets of Pomona
for its embellishments . Supper being rended, Dr Hall as
Chairman , moved the first toast "the Queen", in a speech of
great neatness and spirit , which was followed by the new
version of the National Anthem, "God Save the Queen" arranged
by the Chairman , especially for the occasion and sung by
amateurs ; then followed the toast of "Sir John Franklin
and the land of our adoption" , Air "Rule Britannia" and
"Lady Franklin and the Ladies of the Colony" tune "Green Grow
the Rushes".
The health of the stewards and also that of the Master of
Ceremonies , was proposed and drunk with enthusiasm. At
intervals in the cours e of the evening the company was
entertained by the stirring sounds of old Scotia, admirably
played by Hector McRae Esq. The assembly was characterized
by a feature as new as it was desirable; the arrangements
being such as to preclude the possibility of any exclusive
feeling being evinced and the company departed highly de lighted
with the evening 's entertainment . 1 0
Socially successful though Hall was , it was not long before his
position as As sistant District Surgeon with its professional respons ibilities
brought him into open conflict with Schaw and his friends .
At that time,
the Major's son, G.c. Schaw , was stationed near the Big Lake surveying
between thirty and forty miles from Bothwell .
In the party was
William Potts aged thirty, his as signed servant , who had been suffering
from sore and tender eyes for the preceding six months .
His complaint
gradually worsened until he could no longer work , and he was forced to stay
in the hut , blind.
Twice his request to see the doctor was refused;
once before, and again on Monday , March 9, when a suitable cart , owned
by T. Patterson, was leaving for Bothwell.
However , on the following
Friday , March 13, he left under the care of another of Schaw's men ,
T. Burgess . Before leaving he applied for his rations as he had none ,
but was told that Schaw refused to issue him any as he was being returned
to the Government us eless on assignab le service .
On arrival in Bothwell
l D Courier, March 27, 1840.