204 HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, ETC., 



and during the whole of his administration, which lasted till 1806, 

 provisions continued to be imported into the colony at the expense of 

 the home government, principally from the Cape of Good Hope and 

 Batavia. 



The military were gradually acquiring more power, and their 

 officers generally set the laws at defiance, assuming the right of 

 landing spirits from every vessel that arrived. Governor King endea- 

 voured to put a stop to this practice; but the military, who had become 

 powerful and influential, overawed him. In an evil hour, hoping to 

 check their power and influence, he gave licenses not only to the 

 constables, but to the jailer, to sell rum ; and the latter, it is said, was 

 allowed to keep a public tap-room opposite the jail door. 



In consequence of this state of things, the Governor's power was 

 very much weakened, if not entirely destroyed, and the whole settle- 

 ment was thrown into confusion. The convicts were under no effi- 

 cient control, and bands of them, under the name of Bush-rangers,* 

 traversed the country, and entered the houses of the settlers even in 

 the open day, committing the most fearful atrocities. Anarchy and 

 confusion reigned every where. 



The Castle Hill convicts now mutinied, but were overcome, and 

 some of them executed. 



Captain Bligh, R. N. (who had commanded the Bounty), succeeded 

 Captain King. During his administration, rum was the medium of 

 exchange, and the settlers had no other purchasers for their produce 

 but the privileged dealers in that article, who took every advantage 

 of them. 



In 1807, two stills for manufacturing spirits were imported by Mr. 

 M'Arthur and Captain Abbot, of the 102d regiment. The Governor 

 seized them, and prohibited distillation in the colony. Much discontent 

 grew out of this prohibition ; and other difficulties occurred, which 

 resulted in the arrest of Governor Bligh by the military, and other 

 turbulent persons in the colony, in 1808. The home government now 

 saw the necessity of putting down this lawless spirit, and reinstated 

 Governor Bligh ; but although he was also promoted to the rank of 

 admiral, he is said to have died of a broken heart. 



Governor Macquarie was his successor. He seems to have endea- 



* The Bush-rangers are still very troublesome at times. In addition to the runaway 

 convicts, of which their bands are principally composed, they also include soldiers who have 

 deserted. They occasionally commit great barbarities, and are consequently much dreaded. 

 Few indeed of the lonely settlements are safe from their depredations. In order to suppress 

 them, there is a body of mounted police ; but its numbers are too small to put an effectual 

 stop to the evil. 



