ves, others sat at the
table and enjoyed the company of their masters. The results of these
extremes have been already described, and are always uniform.

Among those who resented the policy of Bourke, Major Mudie was the most
bitter and persevering. In his "_Felonry of New South Wales_," he
employed every epithet of horror and contempt in condemning the conduct
of this governor. The character of Mudie, as delineated by his friends,
is not repulsive: they have described him as a good master and a just
magistrate; but the style of his work awakens a suspicion that his
temper was not fitted for the control of his fallen countrymen. They
were sent to New South Wales to be punished: such was his theory.
Macarthur, who participated in many of his sentiments, yet describes his
own plan as the reverse. He knew that a severe gaoler could not be
esteemed as a good master: "he endeavoured to make his farm servants
forget that they were convicts."[218] Mudie spoke of those he employed
in the tone of an executioner--nothing could wash away their guilt, or
obliterate its brand. His descriptions of the "felonry"--a cutting term
devised by himself, are grotesque and amusing. He deserves the fame of a
satirist, but on historical questions his vehement language impairs the
force of his testimony, and lessens the weight of his opinions.

This gentleman was the proprietor of Castle Forbes, an estate of large
extent, where many convicts were employed. Their immediate
superintendence he intrusted to his nephew, of whom their complaints
were bitter and mutinous. Their remonstrances were punished: one man set
out for Sydney, and carried a petition to Governor Bourke; he was sent
back with a note to his master, written by the private secretary, who
interceded in his behalf; but his application was irregular, and his
absence unauthorised, and Mudie delivered him to the magistrate, by whom
he was flogged and condemned to chains. On this, several men rose in
rebellion: they attacked the house of their master, robbed him of some
race horses, and attempted the life of the overseer. At their trial, and
just before their death, they implored the governor to stop the
cruelties which had driven them to desperation and the scaffold.

Deferring to the strong feeling excited by their appeal, Bourke
appointed an enquiry. The evidence collected did not sustain the charges
of the men, who probably mistook their position, and exaggerated their
grievances; b