Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/470

 had been compelled to aWuiclon the oversight of his affairs, and ** to suhinit to the wevere sufferinp^ of Hvinor separated from his family/' *'And as I am inforroed that the same cause whiiih has m lon^ imposed this painful separation still exists with unabated vi^onr, I am coni)ielled to throw my- self upon your Lordshiji's candour, liumauity, and justice, for rehef/' (Of the accusations under which lie lalioured he was—) '^almost entirely ignorant, but the fearlessness of an upright heart i>rompts rae to declare that I am, and ahvays have been, prepared to snlimit both my private and public life to the severest scrutiny/' He was sensible of the delicacy of the subjectt but owed it to himself **and his family to submit in silence no longer/' •' Your Lorilfcihi|> lui« the p(jwer ta give me the opportunity of stripping the^e unjust tn'ctisations of their l>»i*ri;>we<l garb^ and it m the only favour that I at. preaent piesimie tn jvsk. Let me, my Lord, be iiiformiHl upon what L'vidence the proi^criptioii itmler shieh I now suffer was issued, tmd wliy it was thought right to spk'c't me iia a solitiiiy victim from an almoat t'lJtire population.' -. . *' 1 shall be able to offer such a jiistifi cation as will convince yoor Lortlship that I a^n at least entitled to expect from Hipi Majesty's tiovcmiiient the fullest sceurity that the remainder of my life may be passed in the l>oaom of my family, free even from the poasi- liility of uioleatation on account of the part that 1 felt myself compelled to taUe ill the affair, from the couHeipieuces of wiiicli I am now on many acconnts bo anxious to obtain relief. Every act of mine in the unhappy transaction to which 1 am solicitous to draw your Lordship^a attention proceeded from the impulse of a fatal necesaity, and to prevent conse- ipienccH which no man would l>e more ready tc* deploie than your Lordahip; end if I might be perniitted the iuilul^euco of a short interview 1 cannot fear but that I should produce the inost convincing pro^*f of w hat I atfirnu" The ilraffc was showu to the Under-Secretary, Mr. Goulburn, wlio saw objections to its terms. The prudent frieed'^"' who exhibited it disr^uaded Maearthnr from sending Hut'h a bold, tlioiTgli imploring letter. Another was prepared, wbich dwelt upon Macarthur*s patriotic efforts in promoting pastoral and agricultural pursuits, and trusted that " it might be reconcilable with Lord Batburat'a strict aense of propriety to ilirect an act of oblivion to tic piLssefl . . . as to all those measures in which I wau mo«t reltictantly iiumIv* il, juid thereby enable me, with my two Bona,** to return to the colony u* i" b'^som of my family, where my ^ Mr. <!et)rge Watson Taylor. the time of exile by trav^elling with them on the contbient ami studying olive and vine cultivation. Sir William ^Macartlnir was known to more l)inn one generation ns the aniinble an^l wiae dtHpenser of the knowledge he acquired in youth.
 * ^ James ami Willfjtin. With cuatonniry energy their father rnaJe use of