in order that a faitlifnl portraiture may be obtained by those ivho may read these pages.^^^ Though the Sydney Gazetfr teemed with General Orders from which the events of King's career could be gathered, even without access to the despatches, a historian ^^^ who had access to those Orders and quoted them when it Buited his purpose, condemned King — as having wanted persever- ance, and having **very soon left things to take their natural course ;*' as having " neglected to encourage farm- ing;" sanctioned the ** grinding monopoly estabUshed in favour of the ofificers of the New South Wales Corps;'* allowed the military to retail spirits at i'2 or MS a gallon ^ from every vessel that entered the barl>our ; and profusely fl granted to emancipated convicts licenses to sell rum. The " same writer averred that neither marrying nor giving in marriage was thought of in the colony under his rule; that Mi '*the arm of the civil power was withered under the blast- B ing influence of the miserable system that prevailed; that industry was neither encouraged nor protected ; _ that bands of '* runaway convicts traversed the country B in all directions/' committing "fearful atrocities;" ^^"^ "it is at least certain that King recommended entire abandonment of Norfolk Island;'* and that
- aduunistration was on the whole unfortunate for
colony," That all these averments were erroneous reader of the foregoing pages must know. None those who know something of Dr. Lang, otherwise than by his own statements, could surmise the grounds upon which, in a history of public affairs, any writer would desire, or would dare if he desired, to impute to a worthy servant of i that the his the the but •*^- Thtj antlior's sources of information have been ampler than thoae of previous writera^ and the foUowiiig letter writt<^n by (iov^eruor King to liis 8011 (afterwards Admiral F, P. King) gives eloquent teatimony to the straightforward character of the writer* The Imy w^as at school in Kngiandj and not fourteen years old when liis father wrote to him from Sydney: — '*Take cure to obaerv© the aailora' golden ruleB — hold fast; never neglect your prayers ; and shun bad company ; doing to others as you wonld be done unto. Keep yonr head cool, and your feet warm, and use plenty of exercise, an<l you nmy bid definnce to Old Niuk and all hiB works. With niohtt affection ate wishea for your health, 1 remain, my dear lK>y, yonr fttfeotionate father, Philip iiidlev King.
- ' Dr. J. l Lang.
