Page:A colonial autocracy, New South Wales under Governor Macquarie, 1810-1821.djvu/73

 a mutiny. His naval promotion went on and he died a Rear-Admiral of the Blue, but he never again had a ship nor administered a government. With poetic justice, Macarthur was the one of the three to suffer most. Ministers could not prohibit his return to New South Wales if he desired to go. But by a course of inaction they could effectually keep him an exile from the wife and daughters to whom he was sincerely devoted. For he knew that his enemies in New South Wales would set prosecutions on foot against him, and that his return thither was dangerous unless the Government would extend their protection to him. For five years he remained in Europe with his sons, superintending their education and studying fruit and vines and wool culture, while his wife managed the flocks and fields in New South Wales. Then in 1816 he approached the Colonial Office and asked that the past might be buried in oblivion. All seemed favourable until Macarthur discovered that Lord Bathurst, then the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, promised the indemnity he asked for only under the belief that Macarthur was ready to express contrition and regret for his behaviour in the past. Macarthur refused such a condition with indignation. He would not accept permission to return if it could even be supposed "to imply such an acknowledgment". Lord Bathurst was reluctant to let him go without his making some show of submission. Macarthur would do no more than promise to leave public affairs alone for the future. His family supported him in this stand. It was claimed for him that his honesty and firmness of character were sufficient guarantee for the future. Lord Bathurst thought that to let an impenitent rebel return without making a contrite confession was dangerous. After a long correspondence this opposition was withdrawn, and Macarthur and two of his sons returned to Australia. There is no record in the Colonial Office Papers of the reasons why this favour was granted. According to Macarthur it was due to his threat to disclose the facts which Johnston had been frightened into suppressing.

For the remainder of Macquarie's governorship Macarthur