NEW SOUTH WALES. 405 



to drive a spear through his body, and thus 

 ended his career, and left them to expect his 

 return at some future period in the shape of 

 another white man. 



It may be remembered in the former part of 

 this work, that the natives of Port Stephens, 

 entertained a similar idea, when four white men 

 had been thrown among them ; Wilson having 

 heard this circumstance, availed himself of it in 

 his visitations with the wood natives. 



Some very serious rumours were circulated 

 early in September, respecting the prisoners 

 lately sent from Ireland for sedition, and being 

 concerned in the late rebellion. It was asserted 

 that they had formed a plan for gaining posses- 

 sion of the colony, that many pikes were in 

 great forwardness ; these reports caused the 

 Governor to nominate a committee of officers 

 to examine all suspected persons, and endeavour 

 to ascertain if any such design existed. 



In the routine of their inquiries, they found 

 occasion to imprison Harold the Catholic priest, 

 who both from his language and behaviour was 

 suspected of being concerned in the intended 

 attack on the Government. He confessed the 

 reports were founded in truth, and undertook 

 to discover the weapons concealed, of which it 

 had been said several hundreds were made. He 

 implicated several of his countrymen, and they 

 on being questioned, accused several others ; 

 indeed, from what transpired on the examination, 

 the committee thought them all deserving of 

 punishment; Harold however was unable to 



