Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/292

 endeavoured to capture the vesseL They seized the master, who was only rescued after sonie firing. On quelling the convicts the master and officers *' found it necessary to hang one of the principal ringleaders/' They were tried in Sydney by the Yice-Admiralty Court, and honourably acquitted for tlie shooting and hanging. Lord Hobart also ruled (Both Jan. 1802) that they were '' clearly justified" in what they had done in suppressing the mutiny. Irish sedition at Norfolk Island had been serious, and was repressed by Foveaux in Jan. 1801. Being warned of it he seized thirty concealed pikes. Foveaux wrote, ". . . lifter coaaidering that a aimihir plot has lately l^eo in meditation at Port Jackson ... in ahort^ that the salvation of the colony would in a great measure depend upon the steps taken, . ., . I convened the officers Ijoth civil and military. ., they were iiuaninioitsly of opinion that an immediate Gx:aniple of capital punish inent ahonld he made of Peter iPLean and John Wollaghan, which was accordingly done on the liame evening. I huve had very strong infornia- tlon agamst four sohiiera, whom I have consequently discharged, and have no douht hut sonic of them would be hanged was the Judge-Advocate acquainted with the late Acts of Parliament relating to such paraouB. I have promised to intercede with your Excelleucy in favour of H. G. (the informer) to get him his free pardon. ... I have no doubt from the secret manner in which matters were conducted that had it not been for him we should all have been aacriiiced at their pleasure.'* One soldier received 500 lashes and was drummed out of the regiment for striking a sergeant in connection with the matter. Twentj-two convicts were severely punislied. On the 10th March, King commended Foveaus's meri- torioiiB conduct to the Secretary of State, and Lord Hobart expressed his ** perfect approbation of the promptitude and vigour displayed in suppressing the dangerous insurrec- tion." But Foveaux encountered unexpected opposition. Colonel Paterson called him to account (through Kin^O for dealing with soldiers ^'without any form of trial*" King advised Foveaux to transmit the written opinions of the officers he had consuh.ed. He sent also a free pardon for one convict, and a conditional pardon for another (sulisef|uently changed at Foveaux's request for a free one). Foveaux told King Jrivately that he did not tliink any one but Colonel 'aterson would have asked what authority he had for what be had done. 4 4 lat ^
 * ' Not feeling justified in taking the law entirely into my own hantls,-^