Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/308

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MAGISTRATES REPORT ON MARGAROT.

Palmer, but was unable to do so, and was sent to Van Diemen's Land, where Sir H. B. Hayes was his companion.

At Hobart, Margarot attempted to deceive Governor Collins. "I am Governor King's prosecutor, and that he knows well: he sends me about in this manner that I may be drowned or lose my life, but I am a bit of good stuff." Collins treated Margarot with contempt, and sent the particulars to King. Some imputations against King were referred by him to the Judge-Advocate and the magistrates, who deemed it

"derogatory to the high office your Excellency holds to enter into any justification whatever on allegations coming from a man of Maurice Margarot's infamous conduct and principles: at the same time we think he has forfeited every pretension to the smallest indulgence. We beg leave to refer your Excellency to our opinions formerly given on Maurice Margarot's conduct. Maurice Margarot's behaviour of this day when before the Bench being so highly insolent and contemptuous, they beg leave to recommend to his Excellency that he should be put to hard labour."

The last recommendation was not enforced. King wrote to Collins that, as Margarot's "body cannot bear the punishment he has so often merited," he had sent him to Newcastle "to ruminate on his infamous conduct." King's letter (3rd Feb. 1806) to the commandant at Newcastle enjoined him to keep a watchful eye and prevent Margarot from having any correspondence with the soldiers. "Should he continue peaceable, you will of course let him remain so;" if his conduct should deserve punishment "you will cause it to be inflicted as far as twenty-five lashes, and work him at public labour the same as the other convicts."

Margarot eventually became free by servitude; returned to England; was (proh! pudor) summoned as a witness before a committee of the House of Commons; falsely imputed his "persecution" in the colony to his refusal to sign a combination bond about buying and selling; was a begging-letter writer in 1813;^[1] and, according to the 23rd

↑ From Hamilton Rowan he asked "the temporary assistance of £400. As a chrysalis warmed by the heat of a genial sun receives therefrom animation, so that assistance will afford new life, and without producing a butterfly, will nevertheless give me wings." Though Rowan had long abandoned the violent opinions (which he had shared with members of the British Convention whom he had seen in Edinburgh in 1793) he sent Margarot £100. Margarot replied: "That sum will enable me, if not to soar, at least to make my way in a more humble manner, somewhat like an ostrich."

[1] From Hamilton Rowan he asked "the temporary assistance of £400. As a chrysalis warmed by the heat of a genial sun receives therefrom animation, so that assistance will afford new life, and without producing a butterfly, will nevertheless give me wings." Though Rowan had long abandoned the violent opinions (which he had shared with members of the British Convention whom he had seen in Edinburgh in 1793) he sent Margarot £100. Margarot replied: "That sum will enable me, if not to soar, at least to make my way in a more humble manner, somewhat like an ostrich."

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