Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/210

 which compelled him to apply for leave of absence. In July, Hunter took the responsibility of allowing him to leave without waiting for permission from England. In process of time he was comforted by a despatch in which the Duke wrote to Hunter—"I am much concerned at Lt. Governor King's alarming indisposition, which I hope will be but temporary, as I have the greatest reason to be satisfied with the propriety of that officer's conduct."

In October 1796, after more than eight years' service, in company with H.M.S. Reliance and the Supply, King sailed from Norfolk Island in the Britannia, on board of which was Collins (the historian and Judge-Advocate of New South Wales). He reached Liverpool 6th May 1797, was con- sulted by the government, and had the pleasure of seeing his friend Phillip highly esteemed. His summary of the condition of the island was in some respects unsatisfactory. The discouragement of agriculture by Grose's dishonour of Corn Bills in 1794 had borne bitter fruit. Not more than a fifth of the settlers' land was under crop, and much that had formerly been tilled was overgrown with weeds in 1796. But the increase of live stock had been great. There were nearly 5000 pigs in the island, to the breeding of which many disappointed farmers had devoted themselves. Maize was still grown, partly to feed live stock. There were two schools in the island, besides an orphan school. There was a water-mill, and there were two private wind-mills.

Grose, although he taxed his faculties by no exercise of judgment, was not so enamoured of his position as to desire to prolong his tenure of office. He hailed the "welcome intelligence" of Hunter's appointment. In May 1794 he complained of affliction from "old wounds," and sought permission to go to England for advice. In December he sailed thither, and Captain W. Paterson, as senior officer of the New South Wales Corps, became Lt.-Governor. It was then known that Captain Hunter was to be the new Governor, and even if Paterson had disapproved of the disorders which were rife, and in which his brother officers were sometimes actors, it could hardly be expected that he would undertake the invidious office of reformer of abuses. The period which elapsed between the departure of Phillip