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ere this, but unfortunately a large party (supposed to be the same) attacked the guard of marines (one sergeant and two privates), and insisted on taking their tent and everything they saw. They came to close quarters, seized the sergeant, and wanted to throw him over a rock into the sea. At last the guard were under the unpleasant alternative of defending themselves, and fired upon them, killed one, and wounded another. This unfortunate circumstance I am fearful will be the cause of much mischief hereafter, and will prevent our excursions inland except when well armed."

Neither Collins nor Paterson had the sagacity to follow the example of Flinders, who obtained King's permission to take two Sydney natives to assist him in opening communications with their countrymen. Their sight and memory seldom failed to recognize a person once seen, and they might have saved Collins and Paterson from doubts as to the identity of visitors at the settlements.

As affairs were managed, war to the knife was declared at both ends of Van Diemen's Land in 1804. Paterson's military force was considerable. He had with him seventy-four soldiers at a time when only 129 male convicts were at Port Dalrymple. Contempt and dread ever influenced the meaner order of the whites to maltreat their black brethren. The efforts of the better class could not remove the ill-effect of the misdeeds of the worse.

The small settlement at the Hunter River contained some of the most dangerous convicts. The appointment of Lt. Menzies, of H.M.S. Calcutta, as commandant, was approved by the Admiralty, and he remained at Newcastle until the effervescent assumption of a subaltern of the New South Corps caused him to resign. The commanding officer in Sydney was of opinion that Menzies had no right to command the military detachment. Menzies claimed to do so on the ground that a marine was stationed there. King declined to interfere "in point of military form," and Menzies continued to serve until insulted by the subaltern. A court-martial was held, and Ensign Cressey was condemned. The Governor suspended the sentence, because a sentence of cashiering or death required to be laid before the Throne. Another ensign, Draffin, was appointed as commandant on Menzies' resignation, but he soon became deranged, and King wrote, in April 1805: "Having no other person to put in charge of that productive and useful establishment, I have placed it under Mr. Throsby, an