sinister interest in these changes, but those who
foresee and promote them may largely gain.

The principal objection to Launceston was the navigation of the river,
which was dreaded by vessels of tonnage; but its reputation was worse
than its dangers. Lighters, and even rafts, were employed to discharge
ships which would now approach the wharves. The _Aguilar_, Captain
Watson, spent several months at George Town, and charged the detention
on the river. This was resented by Arthur, who stated that the master
had dispatched the mate and seamen on a sealing voyage, and loitered for
the purpose of traffic; and sought to excuse the delay by defaming the
port.[146]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 141: _Barnwell and Cresswell's Reports._]

[Footnote 142: An obscure publication appeared at Jamaica in 1824,
designated a _Defence of the Settlers of Honduras_: a work intended to
refute the imputations on which his anti-slavery policy had been
justified. Whether the book itself really existed, or the passages
professedly extracted from it deserve any credit, is questionable: the
authority being an opposition paper.]

[Footnote 143: Colonel Arthur's letter to Lord Bathurst, 1820.]

[Footnote 144: The disorders of this period will be found described in
vol. ii, of this History.]

[Footnote 145: _Appeal to the British Nation._ By R. L. Murray, Esq.:
London, 2nd edit.]

SECTION II.

The newspapers of this hemisphere were long mere vehicles of government
intelligence, or expressions of the views and feelings of the ruling
powers. A censorship established from the first issue, was rigorously
exercised, and the founder of the Australian press spoke of its
vexations to the end of his life, with horror and tears.

This was George Howe, a Creole of St. Christopher. He arrived in New
South Wales in 1800: with the sanction of Governor King, he obtained
material from Great Britain, and sent forth the first-born of the
Australian press, named the _Sydney Gazette, and New South Wales
Advertiser_, on the 5th March, 1803. The conduct of a periodical was a
work of toil and anxiety: the default of material, the paucity of local
intelligence, the vices of the prisoner workmen, and the jealousy of the
authorities, severely tried the industry and patience of the intrepid
printer. He continued his toil until his death, having kindled the
unextinguishable torch of a free press, and taken his rank with the
benefactors of mankind.

Sir Thomas