Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/291

---

I and bringing to condign punialiment e^erj vicious and idle character/' He pointed out the advantages of good eon- duct, which ought to ** create confidence, and prevent future ridicolouB plans, which are contrived by artful villains to deprive the industrious of their comforts." He would adopt measures "to insure that tranquillity which must not, and shall not, be interrupted with impunity/* Early in 1801 Margarot's private journal teemed with Beditioua entries. Eumoura of a decisive defeat of the English m Ireland, and of revolution in England, were industriously spread to show the hopelessness of supporting the Governar in New South Wales. On the 14th Feb. it was noted of King — *' Tout le jour il se comporta en enrage." On the 1th was deplored the failure of an attempt by an [American captain to carry off some Irishmen who, seeking '*a echapper ont etc pris, ramenes, mis en prison, et aux fersll!^' On the 9th March Margarot wrote— **Le Gouverneur s*en- ferma pour cerire/' What the Governor then wrote is jperhaps to be seen in ao extant despatch of the 10th March. lit dealt with many subjects. The drawing of bills ; the [growth of the vine ; the complaint of the Indian Govern- . ment that, during Hunter's time, many convicts had escaped to India ; the importation of spirits, and measures to repress it ; a census ; Hoods at the Hawkeabury ; the , crops ; the supply of food, and of clothing ; the pm'cliase of a house as a home for orphans ; recovery of old debts due to the Crown; the obtaining of coals from the Hunter river; the capture of runaway convicts who, after seizing a Government vessel, which they ran ashore, were captured in a private vessel which they stole ; the want of another clergyman ; the death of Judge- Advocate Dore, and the need of a successor to him ; Major Foveaux's excellent [efforts to mam tain ortler at Norfolk Island, where the Irish convicts had been seditious — formed the staple of the des- I patch. Some allusions to the Irish w^ould have enraged the conspirator. The Ann arrived from Ireland with one hundred and thu'ty-seven male and twenty female convicts in Feb. 1801* The whole of the convicts %vere of the **most des- perate character. Before reaching the Brazils they