foreign
vessel entering the ports of the settlement should give security for
themselves in L500, and two freeholders in the sum of L50 each, not to
carry off any person without the Governor's certificate that such person
was free to go. This order had some effect in putting a stop to the
practice, but not a few persons managed to leave the colony and reach
American shores without there being evidence enough to show how they got
away. Muir, one of the "Scotch Martyrs," escaped in the American Ship
_Otter_ as far back as 1795; and although his story has been told
before in detail, we may here briefly mention that the _Otter_ was hired
expressly to affect his escape. Muir got on board safely enough, and
the ship sailed, but was wrecked off the west coast of America. After
sufferings and privations enough to satisfy even the sternest justice,
Muir managed to reach Mexico, and embarked in a Spanish frigate for
Europe. The vessel was taken by an English man-of-war after a sharp
engagement, in which Muir was severely wounded. His identity was
concealed from the English commander, and he managed to reach Paris,
only to die of his wound.

In October, 1804, there was serious trouble in Bass's Straits between
English and American sealers. Messrs. Kable and Underwood, Sydney
shipowners, had a sealing establishment in Kent's Bay, and among the men
employed were some "assigned" convicts. One Joseph Murrell, master of
the sealing schooner _Endeavour_, wrote to his owners a letter in which
he stated he was too ill to write coherently, in consequence of the
usage he had received from one Delano, master of the American schooner
_Pilgrim_. Delano's name was familiar to Governor King, inasmuch as
he had taken a part in the 1803 attempt to colonise Port Philip, as
follows: One of the officers, Lieutenant Bowen, on his way across Bass's
Straits in a small boat, had the misfortune to carry away his rudder,
and when in danger was rescued by Delano. Bowen, anxious to deliver
some despatches, hired the _Pilgrim's_ tender from Delano to carry them,
omitting to make a bargain beforehand; and for this paltry service the
American charged L400! The British Government growled, but paid.

But let Captain Murrell tell his story: "At four in the morning on the
17th I was suddenly seized by the chief mate of the _Pilgrim_, and
three other American ruffians" (they were really Chilenos), "two of whom
caught me by the hair, the other two by the arms. They