April 1828, Arthur issued a proclamatiou, declaring that all previous measures had failed to repress the wanton outrages of whites and blacks, that the latter were gradually increasing in art and systems of attack, that the intercourse hetween the races must be regulated, and special districts be assigned for the exclusive benefit and occupation of the blacks. Military posts were to be estabUshed ^* along the confines of the settled districts/' and all aborigines were eomraanded ^'to retire and depart from" such districts. Magistrates were authorised to expel them. All practicable methods were to be employed to coninimiicate the proclama- tion to the blacks, and to persuade them to retire. If they would not retire, *' capture of their persons without force is to be attempted," and *' whenever force cannot be avoided it is to be resorted to with the greatest caution and forbear- ance." In explaining the condition of aifairs to the Secretary of State, Colonel Arthur said (Jan. 1828) that
- the quarrel of the natives with the Europeans occasioned
by an unfortunate step of the officer in command of the I garrison on the first forming of the settlement, was daily aggi^avated by every kind of injury coinmitted against the defenceless natives by the stock- keepers and sealers, with W'hom it was a constant practice to fire upon them whenever they approached, and to deprive them of their women whenever the opportunity offered." lie had proclaimed that acts of aggression by Europeans would be prosecuted. In April he reported that the provoked animosity of the I ** wretched people** had ov-erconae his *' reluctance to proceed 'to any coercive measures." Therefore he had proclaimed the exile of the blacks from their native liaunts, and asked to be allowed to give to them food and clothing necessary for their support. Sir George Murray said that the King deplored the state of affairs. Arthur w^as authorized to natives in 1826 for the murder of a atock-keeper, reiterated hiia warning that on those who might injure or annoy the natives the severest penalties of the Inw would be ioaicted **mthout the slightest interposition of mercy" (Sept. 182ti'), How idle such prouhimationa wevo may he inferred from the fact that in Melville's '* History of Vau Die men 'a Land" (London, 1835) [it is affirmed that '^not one »inffh imlividnfit was ever brought to a Court of tJuitice. fur oj^^.nces committed afffuuift th€*e hirvile^s crtaiure*^^ (p- 60). The italics are Mr. Melville's. He had spent many years in Van Diemen's Land.
