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81
This petition did not reflect ort your professional
character and in my opinion could not injure you in any way
except by showing that you are at variance with a considerable
portion of the inhab itants of this District which I believe is
very generally known . It certainly went on to state, that
owing to your being on such bad terms with the people generally,
the only effectual mode of remedying the evil would be by
removing you to another district which I was aware was your
wish, and in my opinion would be advantageous to your interests
as well as those of your family ....
In answer, Hall naturally wished to know if he had ever been at variance
with Russell.
Horne , who had once stated that if there were fifty
medical men present he would employ Hall, was a little more sensitive 1n
his attitude, going out of his way to make his opinion clear :
.... My reason as stated to you was simply on the principle that
I conceived it extremely arbitrary on the part of Dr Clarke
prohibiting Mr Stodart from completing his medical attendance
on Mrs Barrow who had lately been confined; that gentl eman having
been made choice of by Mr Barrow as his professional attendant in
preference to yours elf. I do not concur in any other part of the
Petition having always had and still continue to feel every
confidence in your ability ....
On June 29 , angered by an article concerning himself and Stodart
which was published in the Colonial Times on June 27, Hall decided to
forestall any action by the Government by forwarding a copy of it to
Clarke and his own version of the affair.
Barrow, he said, had induced
Horne to sign the petition by showing him Stodart 's letter in wh ich he
attacked Clarke's decree;
Barrow , Synnott, Wigmore and the Russells;
subsequently to induce others to sign also .
at the time the only names attached were
this letter had been us ed
Hal l denied Philip Russell's
statement that he was "at variance" with the people generally;
the only
persons with whom he was "at variance" were Barrow , Wigmore and Synnott
for reasons known to everybody.
In words which any District Assistant
Surgeon might have us ed he went on to describe the others who signed it .
.... Many others there are who feel it a very great offence
that I should not allow them to dictate what they think a
sufficient remuneration for my services - others who think
I ought not to make any charge at all - others who think I
ought not to call attention to their cruel neglect medically
of their assigned servants - others again that I ought to
submit in my dealings with them as shopkeepers (to the amount
of £1 00 a year) to impositions of upwards of 100% - another
that I had no right to refus e the loan of my gig to his
servant and many others equally consistent
He challenged any person whose signature was on the petition to prove
that he had ever let his personal feelings prevent him from carrying out
his professional duties , day or night , in good or bad weather, or that