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up fresh attempts, so long pursued in Ireland, and which had now failed in the colony. He was about to form a post at the Hunter river, and send some of the most daring insurgents thither; others he would keep in separate gangs, working "with no other intermission than the time allowed for their meals and the Sabbath." The five troopers had been of infinite use, and were highly praised by Johnston. King asked permission to raise their number to thirty. He would increase it to ten in the meantime, appointing "English convicts of whose fidelity there can be no doubt," and ensuring its continuance by giving them conditional pardons.

The presence of H.M.S. Calcutta had been opportune. It enabled King to obtain from Captain Woodriff the services of Lieut. Menzies (Royal Marines) in establishing a post at the Hunter, whither thirty-four of the most unruly Irish were sent in March 1804, divided in three small vessels to guard against surprise on the voyage. Newcastle was fixed upon as the name of the new settlement by King, and the containing county was called Northumberland.

Again the Governor urged that two artillery officers and three non-commissioned officers should be sent to the colony. He could find well-behaved convicts to work under them. Then, with the active, loyal, and zealous New South Wales Corps, the Associations, and the free settlers, it might be trusted that a foreign enemy could be repelled and internal disorder prevented. Soon afterwards the Governor wrote that he had been compelled to stop the salary of the "Romish priest Dixon for very improper conduct, and to prevent the seditious meetings which took place in consequence of the indulgence and protection he received." The desperate characters at Newcastle were not slow to concoct a plan to assassinate Lieut. Menzies and the guard, but Menzies discovered it, and the ringleaders. received severe corporal punishment." "Two of the worst" were sent back by King's order to Sydney, "double-ironed and handcuffed," in June 1804. The Armed Association at Sydney was increased to fifty; that at Parramatta to forty men. "A citadel" in Sydney was commenced without delay.

A deserter from the Calcutta being found "to have been