Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/202

---

were tried by court-martial^^ on the following morning. The first was sentenced to receive one himdred lashes, but was recommended to mercy. Of the other two, one was acquitted, and the other was yentenced to receive one hmidred lashes, and to give Dring a gallon of rum. At the intercession of the settlers (includmg Dring) King remittetl the corporal punishment, but the two soldiers still hreathed jil-evenge, and the one previously acquitted was again tried, and was sentenced to receive one hundred lashes. He recoived twelve lashes, the remainder being remitted by King, **as Her Majesty *8 birthday was approaching.*' At al)out the same time a plot was discovered Ijy which ' [two soldiers and several convicts had arranged to escape | from the island in a boat. The convicts were flogged, and the soldiers were in readiness to be sent to Sydney, King •SHrected every person in the island to be asaemhled/' and harangued theui on the advantage of maintaining harmony, promising equal protection and justice to alL Following the example set l>y Hiillip in 1789, in order to clieer the people, King had, as early as in May 1798, given • permission to a soldier, several settlers, freemen, and convicts to hold theatrical performances. He thought it would promote cheerfuhiess and contentment in his lonely territory. About once a month plays were acted, an officer undertaking to see them conducted with propriety. On the 18th Jan. 1794, Her Majesty's birthday, King with his family attended the performance. The soldiers, after the recent ill-feeling, were burning to display their independence. Sergeant Whittle was forward in resisting the authority of the constal)le who acted as manager. King ha.d retired to Ms house after the play was over, I" when a tumult was heard, He sent the sergeant of the guard to disperse the people, hut the tumult continued. The keeper of the gi^aiiary ran to implore King to prevent murder. King himself lieard a shout, **PLit every man to death," and saw men running with weapons in their liands (they w^ero men of the New South Wales Corps with bayonets). He hurried to the fray, seized the man he had heard shouting, and delivered him to the sergeant. Asking J)e«pateb, March 1704, King to Secretary Dundas.