Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 3]
as he was my servant had he not a right so to do? He then told me, that if he had gone into the woods with the party, he had reason to believe, that he would have deserted them and have informed the natives what was in agitation, and on that cause he had confined him, and should report him to the Governor in that light. He now contradicted himself, for it now appears he confined him on two distinct cases. Both of which I can safely say he was innocent. He then told me that he was of opinion, that I and the man were connected with the natives. This I denied, but he repeated the same several times, and said what was my nonsensical pursuit to the lives of the stockmen and stock. In the evening the man was released, and I have heard nothing of the matter since. This gentleman said there never would be any good done, until there was a clear riddance of the natives. Though he seemed to have such an enthusiastic rapture, by his words, for the welfare of the country, yet I shall not be backward in saying, that he is by far a better friend to himself than to what he alluded to; and with regard to calling my pursuit a nonsensical one, he ought to have been more deliberate, and instead of bringing your name in question, he ought to have been silent.
The next was in Nov. 1802. I happened to be coming from Sydney on horseback, and passed a curricle in which was a gentleman (if I must exaggerate) and a lady, I overtook them in a bad part of the road, and the horse being restive, made me to be upon my guard as I passed the carriage, at the same time I chanced not to pull my hat up. He called out to me in a loud haughty voice. I immediately stopped, and he held up his whip as if he was going to give me a cut. He then asked why I did not pull my hat up as I passed him. I told him I did not know that I was bound to do so. He instantly demanded my name and threatened to lodge a complaint to Governor about me; and that he would make me to pull up