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The voice in the cabinet ceased and I heard the deep, conciliatory murmur of the governor. Then Bligh broke out again. His grievances had lost nothing in the two years he had brooded over them.

“Major Johnston, sir? By God! The man should be taken out and shot! As for MacArthur, I took his measure the first time I laid eyes on him. ‘What, sir?’ I said, ‘are you to have such flocks of sheep and cattle as no man ever heard of before? No, sir! I have heard of you and your concerns, sir! You have got five thousand acres of the finest land, but, by God, you shan’t keep it!’ ‘I have received the land by order of the Secretary of State,’ replied MacArthur, coolly, ‘and on the recommendation of the Privy Council.’ ‘Damn the Privy Council!’ said I, ‘and the Secretary of State, too! What have they to do with me?’ ”

Again I heard the deep conciliatory murmur of the Governor’s voice, interrupted by Bligh’s strident tones: “Sydney, sir? A sink of iniquity! A more depraved, licentious lot of rascals don’t exist! The settlers? God save the mark! They’re worse than the convicts—the very scum of the earth! You must know how open I am to mercy and compassion, but, by God, sir, such qualities are wasted here! Rule them with a hand of iron! Rule them by fear!”