JOSEPH HOLT. HIS MEMOIRS. property to the araoimt of 4*2000 and retiinied to Ireland, but was dissatistied with the treatraent he eneoiintered there, and was said to have bitterly repented having left New^ South Wales. He left Memoirs, which were edited and published in London in 1838 by Mr, T. C, Croker, They are curious, but not trustworthy, and have miBled^ several writer s.^^ H When Holt's papers were ordered to be seized he concealed or destroyed many of them, and Bonie were torn into shreds when found. The}^ contained proof that Margarot was in constant, communication with one Brady, and the magis- trate (who ordered the search at daylight) reported that Holt appeared to be aware that Brady's letters were particularly sought after," A careful perusal of the whole case leads to the inference that though Holt's vanity made him proud of the importance ascribed to his name, heH may have been guiltless as to the insurrection • H At this time there was no interference with Margarot, " who, like his fellow-martyrs, lived at his ease. Later in the year, however, King received a confession from one Maum, an Irish prisoner then in durance at the Hunter river. He said that the French olhcers of the Nattiralisfe had sounded him, that he had sup] lied them in Latin with all informa- tion about the settlements, that tbey contemplated in case of a rupture the capliue of Sydney by Napoleon's order,^! the enlistment of all the prisoners in the French service,^l and the giving of raidi to such men as Maum himself. They **said there must be some knowing ones here, and particularly mentioned Governor King, who prevented*'-^ the
- ' Two iiaiuvlly accurate writers have been deceived by Holt 'a acconnt
of the Irish rising iti IH()4. He stated i Imt Laycoek (oofc the trooper) rode ^_ up with Major Johnatoti to the reliel leaflers, that Laycock with ona^f blow kdled Cunningham on the spot, and that Cuiininglmm'a dead body^^ was brought iu afterwards aud Jutug up aa an example. The official report in the text shows* how widely Holt a atatenieut wantlera from the truth. He &aid he had his report from one of the insurgents. J
- ' The treatment of Sir H. B. Hayee was the eanse of this statenieiit»
vide a General Order of the (lovernors (17th May 1S03) in these words :— -J "Henry Brown Huyes, a convict, having some time p^tst apfjlied to Hui ] Excellency the < Governor for permission to liold a Freemaaona' Lod^e, preside thereat, and initiate new meinbera, which permission His Excellency Judged proi>er to forbid officially . , , notwithstanding which it appears from the magiatratea' proceedings of yesterday that he, Henry Brown Haycsi in contempt of that injunction, was found with J
