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To His Honor William Paterson Esqr. His Majesty's Lieutenant Governor, in and over the Territory of New South-Wales and it's dependencies.
Sir
We the undersigned freeholders most earnestly wish and anxiously hope for your honor's speedy, and safe arrival at Head quarters to take upon you the reestablishment of his Majesty's government, and to restore tranquility in this colony.
The particular state of the Colony is truly alarming to every man of observation and reflection.
His Majesty's Governor in chief a Prisoner, public officers appointed by his Majesty, Magistrates and other officers legally appointed, all removed, also five of the Magistrates created by the new ruling power, who acted, with impartiality, and justly opposed the present measures dismissed or resigned, their acting Judge Advocate sent home; the civil and criminal courts annulled, the independent and impartial judgement of the officers who composed them publicly censured and condemned, by proclamation of the 3d instant, the Superintendant of police (John Harris Esqr.) also under orders to leave the Colony, whose departure we might have much reason to regret, and whom we request you will be pleased to retain as a principal man now holding the confidence of the people and supporting their rights.
The whole government appears to be put into the hands of John McArthur Esqr who seems a very improper person, he having been a turbulent and troublesome character constantly quarrelling with his Majesty's Governors, and other principal officers from Governor Phillip to Governor Bligh, and we believe him to be the principal Agitator and promoter of the present alarming and calamitous state of the Colony.
We solemnly declare that we had no foreknowledge act or part of the strong measures taken on the 26th day of January last: We protest against the man adopted to obtain signatures to a paper carried round to sanction what was done, on that day threatening