Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/472

 pursuits for which the colony was so much his debtor. Lord Bathurst refused. It was hoiioumble in Macarthur not to accept a pienent benefit by saerittee of principle, but if be still thought his conduct in the colony proper, he. Blight aj^ain act as before. '* Whether there might not l>e clreHuiRtaiiceH in the colouy to imllm(L or to a certain degree to jimtify, Mr, Mrteartlmr'a coiiduct is another! questioij, l)iit we cannot auhscriUe to the opinion that the contliict was iiofc j injpvoper upon the very groniid U]jnii whith Mr. Mafvii thiir thinks it out I of his power to snbsurihe to tho contrury. 1 have stated freely to you j Lord Jiathnri^t's sentiments on this snhject. There is certainly every j dispiJHition to comply with Mr- Mavarlhur'a wish, hut Lord Bathnrst does | not think lie eau go iiirther than he httu done."^^ However tortnring the suspense, Macarthur besought bia | wife (IDth Aug. IBIG) not to suffer herself "to he dispirited at the apparent difticulrles that uhatruct niy return. Tiiey will, they must he overcome; and be asiHured that thi^y will tenoinate in the most repiitalde manner to me, to yon, and to aU our dear children, . ., It is clear thnt Mr. Watyoii Tayloi' tldnks I am correct in deciding 1 as I have done, not to Biibniit to anything which can east the «niallest j atain on my honour. It ia also evident that governnic:iit feel thenitielves i greatly eniharnissed, and aU my friends are of opinion that they must b« j sorry for having proposed anything which may provoke public distumsioii I of my conduct, or an examination of the motives that induce<i them to liLtat liligli to the rank of an admiral, and to^ give him a pension for the faithful discharge of his duty in New South Wales. Many tidnk they will not perfievere. . . others* think they wilt. There is, howevei", no good grouod upon which any correct judgment can Ije reared ; hecause when nien aet without regard to fixed principle, and make expediency alone the rule of their conduct, it is impossilde to iisay what they may or may not do." He implored his wife not to let his letters on the subject pass out of her own hands. He asked her for docunieuts , wbicb, in case of parliamentary incptiry, would enable him to prove Bliglf s deb'nquencies. For months the negotiations dragged their slow length along. Macarthur saw Mr. Goulburn, and told his wife"®| {Ist Oct. 1816) : &ny cnnsiderationj whether promiaing present eaaC| or threatening fntiut* ''^ Mr. Coulhnrn, 14th Aug. 1816. Macai thurj who answered the Florentine iiiagistrateB when they iiwite<l In 01 to apologize^ pay a iiiie, and return to hi« native city. '* If" ti^ante rcpJiettl *' E cannot return without calUiig Tuyaelf guilty, I wiU never
 * I IwjHeve I succeeded in convincing him that 1 am not to Im t^iiu[»ted by
 * Canuleii Park iU.S8. The reader ma be reniinded of a greJiter than