Haying received early information o f the intentions o f this party,
the governor wrote to a magiftrate at Parramatta, defiring that he
would go to Toongabbe, where the principal part o f the malcontents
were employed, and point out to them the danger to
which fo ill-advifed a ftep would expofe them ; but, as to attempt
tQ reafon with ignorance and obftinacy was only to wade time, he
was to acquaint them, that the governor would allow any four o f
them whom they fhould felect fro,m their number, and who they
might think capable o f travelling over fteep and rocky mountains,
through thick and extenfive woods, and fording deep and rapid
fireams, to proceed as far as they fhould find themfelves able-
with fuch provifions as they could carry. That further, for the
prefervation o f the lives o f thofe four men, he would order three
other people, who were accuftomed to the woods o f this country,
and well acquainted with the favages o f the mountains, to accompany
and lead them in the direction pointed out in their written
inftruCtions.
On converfing with tliefe infatuated people, it appeared, that the
hiftory o f the fuppofed fettlement had its rife from fome ftrange
and unintelligible account which one o f thefe men', who had left his
work, and refided for fome time with the natives, had collected
from the mountain favages.
A very few days demonftrated the effeCt o f the governor’s addrefs
to thefe ignorant people. He received information, that confider-
able numbers of them were affembling for the purpofe o f proceeding
in queft of the new fettlement. He, therefore, directed a party o f
armed conftables, to way-lay and fecure as many as they were able j
which was effected, and fixteen were taken and put into confinement.
On fpeaking to them the following day, they appeared to be
totally ignorant whither they were going ; but, obferving in them
as much obftinacy as ignorance, the governor juftly conceived that
he could not ufe an argument more likely to convince them of their
6 mifconduCt,
mifconduCt, than by ordering a fevere corporal punilhment to be inflicted
at Sydney on thofe who appeared to be the-principals in this bu*-
finefs ; which was accordingly put in execution ; feven of them receiving
each two hundred lathes ; the remainder, after being punith-
ed at Parramatta, were fent to hard labour and ftriCtly looked after.
Oh enquiry it appeared, that this party was compofed of feveral
who were prefent when the magiftrate-addreffed them by order o f
the governor ; and that others had aflembled from different farms,
which were fituated at a confidèrable diftanee from each other. The
trouble taken to colled and miflead thefe people proved to him that
it was the work of fome wicked incendiary, who defigned by this
means to embarrafs the public concerns>of the’ colony, and thereby
throw obftaeles in the way of his government.
Being, on further confederation -of the necefiity of checking this
fpirit of emigration, determined to convince them, by their own
experience, of the danger and difficulties which attended it, the governor
caufed four of the* ftrongeft and hardieft among them to be
chôfen by themfelves; and properly prepared for a journey o f difco:-
very. They were to be accompanied by three men, upon whom
the governor knew he could depend, and who were to lead them
back, when fatigued and'exhaufted with their journey, over the
very worft and moft dangerous part of the country. This plan was
no fooner fettled, than the governor received information on which
he could rely, that a party of thefe mifcreants had concerted with
the four deputies to meet them at a -certain place,, where they were
to murder the perfons intended to be their guides, poffefs themfelves
of their arms and provifions, and then purfue their own route.
This diabolical fcheme was counteracted by the addition o f four
foldiers to the guides ; and on the 14th they fet off from Parramatta.
On the 24th the foldiers returned-with three of the deputies,
who, having gained the fôot of-the - firft mountains, were fo completely
fick o f their journey,- and- of the profpeCt before them, that