Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/412

might be known. He duly submitted the whole case to Lord Hobart, and if that nobleman had risen to his duty he would thereupon have laid down rules which might have averted the irregular conduct which led to Bligh's deposition.

Though the repression of traffic in spirits and the prevention of the striking of convicts by their military masters made many enemies, they did not detract from the general respect in which King was held, and after 1804, when the corps was called into the field under Johnston, we find no further dispute between the civil and military authorities. Lords Camden and Castlereagh, wiser than Lord Hobart, kept King at the post from which Lord Hobart had been about to withdraw him.

For the founding of the new era which was to create a market for Australian products, though it happened under his sway, King cannot claim credit. He fostered whaling and seal-fishing and kept away foreign intruders, but to the sagacity of Macarthur and the goodwill of Lord Camden, must be attributed the success which made King's reign the seed-time of the harvest which was to justify Macarthur's predictions. It was probably in consequence of Macarthur's movements that the attention of settlers of education and possessed of worldly means was first practically directed to the colony. Phillip had sighed for such a class, and King earnestly pointed out the need of them. But they did not arrive until Macarthur's ideas had become known, and Lord Camden had sanctioned the granting of considerable tracts of land for pastoral uses.

No man could immigrate to New South Wales without permission from the government. In July 1805 Lord Castlereagh accorded that permission to two brothers of the name of Blaxland, and acceded to their request to be allowed to choose 8000 acres subject to King's approval. It was also arranged that free passages should be given to the family, and the emigrants were to be allowed to pay for live stock (selected from government herds and Hlocks) by bills on the English Treasury. For these and some minor advantages the brothers stipulated, on their part, to employ a capital of not less than £6000 in New South Wales. The aid to be extended in the colony (Lord