Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/250

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scribed as the only place where, even under a permit, spirits might he landed. Half the line was to go to the Orphan Fund and halt" to the informer. Conmvers on shore were to he prosecuted under the English Smuggling xcts. No vessel was to leave the harbour without the naval officer's certitieate, countersigned by the Governor. There were other provisions to gaard against the escape of convicts in vessels, and a table of fees was fixed. Colonel Pater son Hucceeded in keeping out of sights in some degree, past delhiquencies of officers of the New South Wales Corps; but two civil officers were eompeiled by pecuniary embarrassments to throw themselves on King's consideration* Mr. Balmain, the principal surgeon, had 1400 gallons of spirits purchased (before King's ai*rival) at from ten to nine- teen shillings a gallon, Mr. D*Ai'cy Wentworth had 3000 gallons under similar circumstances. They both had a supply of tea also. They wished to obey the law and offered then- goods '* for government and prayed for other relief." King replied that he could make no purchase wiiile Gover- nor Hunter was in the colony. The holders asked twenty shillings a gallon, wliieh King declined to authorize. When King arrived the price was i*2 a gallon, and the stock on hand exceeded 20,000 gallons. Finally he agreed, as there was **no medium between their losing the whole of their property or subjecting themselves to very unpleasant con- Bequences," that they might dispose of ** such property alone as they purchased before" his arrival; handing to him accurate lists of the articles, selling only to persons sanctioned by him at the price (twenty shillings) already mentioned, furnishing monthly returns of sales and stock remaining on hand, and giving an '* assurance in wTiting that they will not enter into any future speculations or purchases contrary to His Majesty's instructions." Both of them^ ** pledged themselves on the faith of gentlemen" to these conditions* Hunter found his occupation gone, and ten days after the communication of the order to Paterson, handed the govern- jBent to his successor. King to the Duke of Portland, 28tli H^pi. JHOO,