and they were rapidly arriving in the colony at the close of Hunter's rule. Some of them at once intrigued against the government, and Maurice Margarot was an accomplice in their schemes. His diaries (some kept in English and some in French) teemed with notices of them. Every rumour, true or false, of a disaster to the British army was entered in them with glee. In 1801 he lamented the failure of an attempt to escape in an American vessel:—"McCarthy, &c., &c., cherchant a échapper ont été pris, ramenés, mis en prison, et aux fers!!!"[1] In March 1801 he has heard rumours that a revolution in England has been successful. In April 1801 there has been a decisive battle in Ireland. In May "les Russes ont exterminés la marine Anglaise." In November he thinks his own day of triumph so near at hand that he writes:-" l'on nous envoya de la viande pourrie que je garde pour la faire manger par le scelerat qui vole a la fois le gouvernement et le prisonnier." In Jan. 1802 an Irish convict escapes in an American vessel. In May 1802 "Tous les Irlandais sont ramenés, mis en prison," &c. On 19th July "Envoyai un permit a signer au Gouverneur; il le dechirer sans mot dire." On 5th March 1804, "loi martielle publiée par proclamation;" on the 10th March, "deux Irlandais furent pendus à Sydney, et je suppose que cela finit la trajedie;" on the 28th, "La Lady Nelson et la Resource avec les infortunés firent voile pour le Coal River" (the Hunter). On the 29th of the same month, 'le vaisseau Americain l'Union recut ordre de sortir du port pour n'avoir baissé pavillon à la Lady Nelson." In Jan. 1804 Margarot wrote, "d'aujourdhui je compte deux mois pour l'arrivée de bonnes nouvelles." In April no disastrous news told of the downfall of England, and he writes:—"d'un côté la peur augmente et du mien l'espoir, car certainement le retard des vaisseaux promet beaucoup. Dieu la veille."
- ↑ McCarthy's petition to King for pardon on this occasion is still in existence. He said, When the American captain made the offer of taking me away, the idea of my family at that time so forcibly occurred to my mind that I thought it would be even criminal in me to refuse. If your Excellency will look over this imprudent step of mine, I will to the hour of my death entertain the most grateful sense of your Excellency's goodness, and shall ever pray for your Excellency's happiness. The Governor's minute is: "Florence McCarthy to be forgiven. He was, 4th Feb. 1801."
