Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/363

 OF KING. 307 settlers, took the arms out of the barracks, without any I''®* opposition except that offered by the sergeant on duty, wbo^ on seeing Lieoteiisnt Abbott, desisted at once. On the return of the men from Phillip Island and Queen- borough, the ringleaders, twenty in number, nearly one- Arrest of the third of the detachment, were arrested and placed in ™* *"* confinement.* Having assembled the people, King read a proclamation, which set forth the reasons which had led to the disarming of the detachment, and the determination of himself and the officers of the settlement to maintain order. He took advantage of the occasion to remove the impression which appeared to have existed — quite unfounded, as the facts prove — that he had shown partiality to the convicts in their disputes with the soldiers. He denounced the person or King persons who had circulated the false report, and declared the that he would ''as zealously protect^' the soldiers "from injustice or detraction '* as he would exert himself to " pre- serve good order and to defend the liberty of the subject from all unlawful oppression." Those members of the detachment who " had a just sense of the iniquity of their refractory comrades" were assured that there was no in- tention of attributing any blame to them. The result of the proceedings was that the whole of the detachment, except the mutineers, took the oath of fidelity, and order was re- established. As a precaution, however, against further Re»toration aggression. King decided to embody as a mihtia the marine ®'°'^^- and seamen settlers, forty-four in number. They were de- scribed by King as '' very steady men, and good soldiers," The Government schooner Francis opportunely arrived not many hours after order had been restored, and King resolved to send the mutineers to Sydney for triah As the little vessel could not conveniently carry twenty prisoners, ten of the number were pardoned. Lieutenant Beckwith, four non-commissioned officers, and two privates were sent as a
 * Hifltorioal Becords, toI. ii, p. 148.