- ' magistrates' meetings sliow that in 1798 " Margaret
complained of persons who used his hoat ^vithout his leave." A man was hronght forward, but he ** declaring that Mr* Margarot^s servant^^ had given him permission to make nse of the hoat, and the servant appearing and confessing that he had done so, the matter was dismissed/' Most of the other Scotch political prisoners, and notably the other four martyrs, comported themselves peaceably iii Sydney. Bat Margarot was ever on the watch for mischief, and the arrival of Ii'ish convicts furnished materials for disali'ection which he was t|uiclt to use. Careless inquirers coukl not appreciate the magnitude of the evil with which the presence of large numbers of trans- ported United Irishmen threatened the young colony. Pitt, nothing daunted by the obloquy cast upon him for the transportation of Gerald, Margarot, and others, pursued the threads of conspiracy which the London Corresponding Society was endeavouring to weave, and both Houses in 1794 suspended at his request the Habeas Corpus Act, on the ground — stated in the preamble to the Bill^ — ** that a traitorous and detestable conspirac}^ had been formed for subverting the existing laws and constitution, and for introducing the system of anarchy and confusion which has 60 lately x>revailed in France. In the following year the Treasonable Practices Bill and the Seditious Meetings Bill were passed by large majorities, and the scope formerly left by law to such organizations as the London Corresjionding Society was considerably narrowed. The Society was equal to the emergency. If it failed in the light of day, it could work in the dark. It conspired with United Irislimen to encourage a Frencli invasion. But the hand of Pitt followed it. In 1799 its practices were unveiled. It was, with kindred societies, suppressed by law, and fragments of it were transported to New Soutli Wales. The Irish rebellion of 179B furnished recruits to the convicts who were called by their friends political prisoners,
- Margarot had an asaiffned ser^^ant. Amongst M88, belonging to the
family of Governor King t-nere ia one in Margarot'» tiandi^Titiug^ 8a>1ng» '* Mr. Divine (superintendent of convicta) having ordered i*way my (fovernmont man, I have to entreat your Excellency to return lun^ to again. , , ,*' i i 4 I my ^ me ^M
