Officially he sent the opinions of the officers, and a deposition of the informer. He said:—
"In this remote part of the world, where we are not even acquainted with the laws of our country, it is, I conceive, the duty of an honest man to secure life and property, to enforce order and obedience, and to protect the innocent from the base and wicked designs of dangerous and disaffected villains. Such has been my endeavour during my command here."
The officers who advised the execution of the culprits were T. Hobbins, Judge-Advocate; T. Davies and W. Pattullo, lieutenants; J. Brabyn and N. Bayley, ensigns; and J. Mileham, a surgeon. Hobbins added this rider to their general statement:—
"Be it remembered that the Judge-Advocate, or any other person on this island . . . is not in possession of or ever has been supplied with any of the late Acts of Parliament relating to high treason, sedition, unlawful assemblies, the administering of illegal oaths, &c., and therefore the speedy trial of the offenders is impracticable."
Foveaux sent through King a long defence of his conduct. King commended and Lord Hobart highly approved of it. In his despatch, written while Margarot was watching his movements, King reported that "a second attempt still more diabolical than the first" had been discovered in New South Wales. The circumstances were clear
"to every one's conviction, yet no two evidences could be brought against a third person, such is the art with which they carry on their plans. Though everything was ready for general insurrection and massacre, yet as no overt act had taken place I did not conceive myself justifiable in adopting more rigorous measures, which I conceive our situation might have excused, than some severe corporal punishment on the most guilty, and forming them into a gang in constructing batteries and repairing roads under the immediate eye and inspection of the military."
He added that the desperadoes brought by the Ann, including a notorious and rebellious priest, had raised the numbers of rebels to 600, "thirsting to put their diabolical plans into execution." "I do not wish in the most distant manner
"to impress your Grace that I an alarmed, or that I have any idea of their plans succeeding. The steady behaviour of officers and men of His Majesty's New South Wales Corps, the discipline and good behaviour of the Associations and the greater part of the English inhabitants, are so many sureties to me of peace and tranquillity being observed. Still, the state of suspicion we must be necessarily in prevents those public exertions in cultivation which would otherwise take place."
