Page:A colonial autocracy, New South Wales under Governor Macquarie, 1810-1821.djvu/206

 of great interest to the people of this remote Colony. In this instance there was a thrilling adventure to report: "The complement of prisoners received on board the Chapman was nearly 200," said the Gazette, "seven of whom, we have unhappily to deplore, were killed in a daring mutiny, and a number of others wounded. The attempt was made to take the ship, and what is still more terrible to relate, the mutineers were joined by several of the ship's company; who, with the ringleaders, have been kept in confinement ever since." Such was the story circulating in the town that evening.

The muster was not held immediately, and on the 30th July Campbell, the Governor's Secretary, wrote thus to Captain Drake:—

"The Surgeon-Superintendent of Convicts on board your ship &hellip; informed me yesterday that you had declined striking the irons off the convicts previous to the muster which I am to hold on board to-morrow morning unless you received special instructions from me." He therefore desired that unless there was strong cause to apprehend danger the usual custom should be complied with and the men relieved of their irons.

He received no answer to the letter, and when he went on board next day found that his request had not been complied with. Drake said "he had received them in irons and would land them in irons". Campbell then proceeded to the work of the muster, and carried it out with such thoroughness that it occupied him for fully two days.

The condition of the men who had worn double irons for almost the whole voyage was such as to move him to pity and anger. The more he pressed his inquiries the more cause did he have for indignation. For the first month, from 17th March to 12th April, nothing had gone seriously amiss. But on the 12th, two of the convicts reported that the rest of the prisoners were conspiring to take the ship. On the night of 17th April an alarm was given that they were trying to force the grating of the hatchway which formed the prison door. It was a hot night, and the convicts were many of them lying on the floor of the