THE DEPOSITION OF BLIGH. 45 



a mutiny. His naval promotion went on and he died a Rear- 

 Admiral of the Blue, but he never again had a ship nor admin- 

 istered a government. With poetic justice, Macarthur was the 

 one of the three to suffer most. Ministers could not prohibit 

 his return to New South Wales if he desired to go. But by a 

 course of inaction they could effectually keep him an exile 

 from the wife and daughters to whom he was sincerely devoted. 

 For he knew that his enemies in New South Wales would set 

 prosecutions on foot against him, and that his return thither 

 was dangerous unless the Government would extend their pro- 

 tection to him. For five years he remained in Europe with his 

 sons, superintending their education and studying fruit and 

 vines and wool culture, while his wife managed the flocks and 

 fields in New South Wales. Then in 1816 he approached the 

 Colonial Office and asked that the past might be buried in 

 oblivion. All seemed favourable until Macarthur discovered 

 that Lord Bathurst, then the Secretary of State for War and 

 the Colonies, promised the indemnity he asked for only under 

 the belief that Macarthur was ready to express contrition and 

 regret for his behaviour in the past. Macarthur refused such a 

 condition with indignation. 1 He would not accept permission to 

 return if it could even be supposed "to imply such an acknow- 

 ledgment ". Lord Bathurst was reluctant to let him go without 

 his making some show of submission. Macarthur would do no 

 more than promise to leave public affairs alone for the future. 

 His family supported him in this stand.- It was claimed for 

 him that his honesty and firmness of character were sufficient 

 guarantee for the future. 3 Lord Bathurst thought that to let 

 an impenitent rebel return without making a contrite confession 

 was dangerous. After a long correspondence this opposition 

 was withdrawn, and Macarthur and two of his sons returned to 

 Australia. There is no record in the Colonial Office Papers 

 of the reasons why this favour was granted. According to 

 Macarthur it was due to his threat to disclose the facts which 

 Johnston had been frightened into suppressing. 4 



For the remainder of Macquarie's governorship Macarthur 



1 C.O., Domestic Correspondence, i4th October, 1816. 



2 C.O. Same. Edw. Macarthur to Goulburn, iyth November, 1816. 



3 Same. 4 See H.R. VII., Introduction, xlii. 



