return peaceably. If they would do so all but wilful murderers would be pardoned. If tbey should refuse* they would be treated as outlaws. Some surrendered (mehiding Michael Howe, who after three months absconded again), some were pardoned,^ and immediatBly resumed their habits of plunder. Colonel Davey proclaimed martial law in May 1815 in spite of remonstrance from Abbott. J It was nominally in force during five months. Macquarie disallowed the proclamation as exceeding the powers of a Lt. -Governor. But Macquarie was not able to enforce under Davey measures for crushing the evil which, in the measured hmguage of a Commissioner of Enquiry, became
- a systematic, continued or combined effort of desperate
convicts to defy the attempts of the local government or to subsist by plunder."'^ Davey was rfemoved.'^ Some of the inhabitants of tht^ distracted island had vainly presented an address (Sept. 1815) in favour of maintaining martial law. When the new Lt.-Gov., Colonel Sorell, arrived, bushranging was still rampant in the land, and one of the most notorious was Peter Geary, a deserter from the 79rd Eegt. Sorell called the inhabitants together to devise the means of coping with the difficulty. Tboy agreed (5th July 1817) to subscribe funds, Sorell offered rewards which breathed new life among the constabulary. For Geary one hundred guineas were offered. Soldiers johied in the pursuit. Many outlaws were taken, and a stop was speedily put to the dangers which, under Davey *s rule, had ^terrified the peaceable and made insolent the bad. A detachment of the 46th Eejz^^t. was the principal instru- ' ment in reducing the island to order. Under Sergeant McCarthy eight of the 40th encountered eleven hush- Won^U in a luit to which u. third man enticed Howe in 1818. After fruit* Lless exchange of ahots and tlesperate pursuit, Pugh ami ^^'oiiaU dashed Taut Howe'tjLniins with the butt ends of their firelocks^ Sorell entreated: l Macquarie to give Pugh ^* the greatest favour he eould/' and urged that Worrall ahouUl receive a free pardou au«l a passjige to Kughiud.
- Commiasiouer Bigge'a Report (May 1822). House of Cominona Papers,
p. 109. ' Bigge'a Pk-eport, p. 102. • liespatch — Macquarie to Earl Bathur»t, 3rd April 1817 — thanks kim '* for 80 readily and promptly attending to my auggeaiion for the removal of Lt. 'Governor Davey," who neglected Ids duty and ^lacquarie^a ordex*^ aud was shamefully extravagant with public proietj^»
