Images of an Australian Enlightenment The Story of Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie's Treatment of the Convicts As a History Tale for Today

Abstract

This is the story of two Scots, Lachlan Macquarie, governor of the British colony of New South Wales from 1810 to 1821, and of his wife, Elizabeth Macquarie, both of whom pioneered a policy of rehabilitation and renewal as part of their treatment of the convicts.The first part of the book canvasses what the Macquaries set out to achieve, and their stated reasons for this, as well as enquiring into the deeper personal forces at work within their lives. It introduces their supporters and opponents both in the Colony and in Britain.In the second part, the idea of enlightenment is introduced, its definition based on Churchill’s understanding of what it means for a society to be civilized. In thi..