Page:Life and Adventures of William Buckley.djvu/151

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LIFE OF BUCKLEY.

greatest kindness on all occasions, I do not attribute any intentional wrong to Mr. Faulkner, believing him to have been misinformed by interested persons, and that I was sacrificed by their malignity.

With Mr. Batman I remained until the arrival of a King's ship from Sydney, having on board Captain Lonsdale, of the King's Own Regiment of Foot, my old corps, with which I had served in Holland. He came to assume the command, not only as a military officer, but as the resident magistrate of the new colony. A detachment of the Fourth accompanied him for the protection of the settlers; who were, by this time, numerous, many of them being also very wealthy, and influential. The new Commandant enquired very particularly into my history and sufferings, and ultimately offered me employ, with the same pay and advantages I had had before I was discharged from the Company's service; but considering all I had done, I said I thought myself entitled to at least an advance of pay, which was at length agreed upon; so that I was in future to receive sixty pounds per annum, and rations, instead of fifty, as heretofore. This being arranged, I began the duties of my office as Interpreter and attendant on the new Commandant, pointing out to him localities for his consideration, for the building of barracks, a store-house, and such like; Captain Lonsdale however retaining his quarters on board, until a suitable temporary building was erected for his accommodation.

After a little, time, I succeeded in getting the natives to work in carrying loads of goods, building materials,