evils, to depart from those principles that 1 have endeavoured to regi my conduct by. Mr. Uoulbiim paid ine iiumy IdgU coiupliineiits, and e^c proceeded to tJie length of sayinj^ that, if ' he were in my Rituatian, he should not hesitate to coofonn to the expectations of Oovernment. I, in return, Innienteil that it WHi, iny iniBforlune not to be able to think with hun, and assured him that I felt u great increase of re^Tet to find ni^ aelf restrained l>y the imperious dietatea of honour from acknowledging concern for the part I had taken in the arrest of iiovernor liligh— an act that fi had, and ever mus^t conaider, one of the most meritorious in which 1 had^ ever been engaged , . /' Lord Bathurst (14th Oct.) aimotinced that Maeaithur's bold defence of his past conduct made it dangerotis to peraiit his return ; ** which, tinder such ch'cumstances, might give dangerous encourat^ement" to others. Undeterred ))y this rehuff, Macarthur tolti liis wife (6th Dec. 1816),
- you niuat not be diamayetl or dejected, for I think I have good reason to
encounige ho].ies of a speedy change, . . . Not to keep yoa, Imwcver, in needless suspense, it is extremely prubfiVile I shall petitinu the House of Commons, ami bring forward the proofs r>f Bligh's peeulatioaa which have so long slent, und which f am persuaded, aa intteed I always was^ wouKl, had they )>een jjroiUiced in Col Johnston's trial, iiave &ji,ved him, and aecured to the cause, of which, pfK>r man^ ho was so uulit a ebantpiou^, a triumph instead of a defeat . . . Three days later hi&i negotiations were agahi hroken off. He tokl his wife: "I have been required to sanction a,* belief that I regret the part that I took in the arrest of that! miscreant Bhgh, and I have unequivocall}' refused to do so," In Feb. 1B17 the sky was brighter, "All my ditleieoces (Macarthur wrote to a friend) with certain great people arc tinaHy arranged, and on terms to which 1 think the most xealoiis of my friends can take no objection. After a very hard light it hai^ been agreed that nothing shall be retracted, and no toncessions be required, on either side ; and that I ishaU be provided with a passage in one of the transports with siUfieicnt accounimtiEition for .James and William (twtj 8) ; that a greenhouse shall be erected for my plants, and tonnage be tited for agricnUnral implements, &.c." As tile exile was allow^ed to return, one glance at his household hearth inav be permitted. He wrote to his wife (18th Feb. 1817) :
- After auch a dreary period of banishment from the society of my
beloved l^^lizabeth, I Hud it dittioult to contide in my own senses when I reflect that 1 am seated for the purpo=ie of connnuuicating the luippy idings that all the obstacles which have so long obstructed my return to you and my beloved girls have this tiay been removed- Such, however, I thank iiod, is the fact* and I lose not a niomeut to acquaint you. * » - I will not ask you if these are not joyful tidYi^«, VjvtiStWfte. *. X«. ^e^^-
