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176 congratulation was aroused. While the question of "What are we to do with the Blacks?" still perplexed the anxious, the first duty of the Colonists was to thank His Excellency for his noble response to their repeated and troubled appeals. The Sheriff, Dudley Fereday, Esq., was requested to call a public meeting for this object.

This heartily unanimous meeting took place in Hobart Town, on Wednesday, the 22d of December, 1830. Political strife was still, and the "Rights of Men " were postponed for the consideration of the Rights of the Government. The following were the resolutions of the day:—

"1st. That the atrocious character of the Aborigines of this Island, manifested by their cruel and wanton murders of the white inhabitants, perpetrated without distinction of age or sex, and with increasing barbarity, renders the life of a Settler insecure, and operates as a most serious drawback to emigration to this country, and consequently to its commerce and prosperity."

"2d. That the magnitude of the present evil is beyond the power of the Colonists individually to grapple with, and calls imperatively for the immediate application of a remedy on the part of Government adequate to the evil."

"3d. That the Colonists have seen with gratitude the unwearied exertions of His Excellency Lieut-Governor Arthur to suppress the atrocities committed by the Aborigines, by capturing them, in order to place them in such a situation that their own civilization and the security of the colonists may be at the same time effected. And they respectfully, but most earnestly, solicit His Excellency that he will please to continue unrelaxed his efforts to accomplish so desirable an end."

The fourth resolution pledged the meeting to support the Government in their measures, and directed signatures to be procured for an address to Colonel Arthur.

Similar meetings were held in all the leading townships of the Colony. In the Richmond address occurs this passage:—" While we regret that natural obstacles have hitherto defeated every attempt for the capture or subjugation of the Aborigines," &c.

As Britons, it became the self-satisfied Liners to signalize their prowess in the campaign by the time-honoured formalities of a public dinner. At the grand festival, held at the