Transcription Page 5

continu here till Mr P- returns or
I receive further orders from you

 

I Am Sir
Your Most Obedt Hum Servt.
Wm. Thomas
Assistant Protector

 

P.S. I am not at all satisfied about that affair of
the 6 Blacks being Shot - I cannot learn if the Blacks
Bodies were buried, tho' not enjoin'd in your letter
of Instructions, to enquire into that affair I think much, very much of Mystery
surrounds it - I understand a letter was forwarded
to Melbourn , that the Police was sent down, with
regular Instructions , I think I know who wrote the
letter tho' he [ crossed out: begs ] wishes not to say too much on the subject,

 

Now if it is was necessary, (which I think was
the Case) to have the police- [ Insertion mark: see annotation ] why not a letter addressed
to you stating that such was the Case, & let one of us ac-
company the Police, & see that no firing takes place till
sheer necessity requires it, - besides not a friend for
them present, no attempt at parley, thus guilty & inno-
cent together fall victims- In England a Magistrates
presence is requir'd, & the riot act read (and I am sure
many have been the Insults the soldiers have experienced during
the same) but here there is no benefit or gap between-

 

I do think Sir that this subject requires your Superior
judgment in these matters to interfere, & institute an enquiry
into the same, - the Sargeant & others could be call'd to give

 

[Annotation: left]

 

[ Insertion mark ] It has been hinted
to me that Foot
Soldiers are use
less, the Blacks
being too nim-

ble

Transcription Page 6

upon oath their Evidence, If Mr Siev-
wright, & Dredge could be spar'd I think
a commission of enquiry amongst us would
bring to light circumstances, that would
prevent other occurnces. of a similar nature

 

I never was an advocate for Lynch
Law but I am sure that from the dis-
position I have been able to discover among
the Men, that the first Black that appears, near
any of the Stations where outrages have been com-
mitted will have no mercy - therefore I am
most anxious that one of us should see the Blacks be
fore they come to any of the Settlers - Never was there
a more urgent plea for a Native Police than at present

 

W.T-

 

Excuse this hasty Scrawl, I will write a regular
report when I come to Melbourne-