Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/295

Mr. Marsden was doomed to a cruel death, in a contemplated outbreak in 1802; but that vigilant gentleman caused one Corporal Cregmore to conceal himself under a bed in the house of a conspirator, and there the plotters were overheard. A report was sent to the Governor to the effect that there had been "manifestly an intention to overturn His Majesty's Government in this territory, to sacrifice the lives of many of His Majesty's subjects and generally to disturb the peace and tranquillity of the country; and we are further of opinion that some vigorous and effective measures should be speedily adopted for the purpose of preventing similar attempts.—W. Paterson, Richard Atkins, Samuel Marsden, J. Harris, James Thomson, William Cox. 28th March, 1802."

In April 1802 there was a general search for arms. Only one musket was to be left to each settler. Officers' houses were not searched, but lists of all arms in them and in the barracks were required. Fragments of the Seditious Meetings Act, 36 Geo. III., had reached the hands of the Governor. He reminded the inhabitants of its provisions." No meetings of more than twelve persons could be held. "By 36 Geo. III. cap. 8, if twelve or more persons (two in this colony) who may have assembled contrary to this Act shall continue together one hour (in this colony half-an-hour) after having been required by a magistrate to disperse (or in this colony any person of the description of a free man), they shall suffer death." Unlawful oaths and engagements, tampering with any person in His Majesty's service, were dealt with. Seditious speakers were to be exemplarily punished. A hearer of seditious words, not informing, was to be punished as an accomplice. A house in which a seditious "meeting may take place will be erased to the ground."