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194 them to worse hostilities. The dreadful deeds of Mosquito, the Sydney monster, were paraded to the injury of the reputation of the imported guides. Perhaps no one more violently objected to their continued engagement than Mr. G. A. Robinson. Some asserted that his opposition was from spleen at their success; but he affirmed that they were untrustworthy servants, that they corrupted the Native women, and that they were drunken reprobates.

After skirmishing for a long time, the two leaders came to open rupture about the strangers. Mr. Robinson having officially complained of them, and reminded the Governor that they were from Mosquito's own part of the country, Mr. Batman combated for them. He gave instances of their good deeds, and related cases in which they had stood by him in great straits, and had one time helped him successfully to capture, without bloodshed, a mob of thirteen Aborigines. He defended their conduct at home, which had been assailed by the Conciliator, and declared, "In no instance, in New South Wales, have they been known to join the runaways." Warming at last beyond patience or prudence, he proceeded to personalities, and circulated a slander before raised. "I cannot think," wrote he, "of any other motive Mr. Robinson could possibly have for this assertion than his knowledge that the Sydney Blacks were acquainted with all his proceedings while in the Bush."

Mr. Batman, though directed to co-operate with Major Gray, was ordered to consult the magistrate at Campbell Town, James Simpson, Esq.; to whom I am much indebted for information about the early times of both Tasmania and Victoria, and who was a warm friend to poor John Batman. These two gentlemen were favourable in their reports, as may be seen from the following Government Notice of Sept. 9, 1830: "Mr. John Batman, having served the period of twelve months in pursuit of the Aborigines, the Lieutenant-Governor, placing every confidence in the certificates of James Simpson and William Gray, Esquires, J. P., as to the zeal which he has manifested, has directed a grant of two thousand acres of land to be made to him."

"The following rewards are also to be extended to the men who have served under Mr. Batman's orders during that period. To James York (Juliana), a conditional pardon; James Clark (Phœnix), ticket-of-leave; Howell Baxter (Prince of Orange),