After the strictest search the Governor was
obliged to return without having gained any information. The laudable
perseverance of his Excellency to throw every light on this unhappy and
mysterious business did not, however stop here, for he instituted the
most rigorous inquiry to find out, if possible, whether the convicts
had at any time ill treated or killed any of the natives; and farther,
issued a proclamation, offering the most tempting of all rewards, a
state of freedom, to him who should point out the murderer, in case such
an one existed.
I have thus impartially stated the situation of matters, as they stand,
while I write, between the natives and us; that greater progress in
attaching them to us has not been made, I have only to regret; but that
all ranks of men have tried to effect it, by every reasonable effort
from which success might have been expected, I can testify; nor can
I omit saying, that in the higher stations this has been eminently
conspicuous. The public orders of Governor Phillip have invariably
tended to promote such a behaviour on our side, as was most likely
to produce this much wished-for event.
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