The peace-loving Joseph
Hone, Esq., was chairman of this warlike meeting: most of the leading
speakers belonged to the profession of the gown. Mr. Kemp, one of the
elder colonists, once an officer of the 102nd regiment, who had seen the
process of extermination throughout, declared that the English were
chiefly the agressors. Dr. Turnbull contrasted the effects of a vigorous
resistance by government and the conflict of individuals: united effort
might be followed by bloodshed, but would tend to repress the habits of
violence, and, at least, save a remnant from destruction. A tribe, one
hundred and sixty strong four years before, that frequented the
Elizabeth River, was reduced to sixty by daily skirmishes with the
stock-keepers. A question, however, arose, whether it were lawful to
shoot aborigines refusing to surrender on challenge. Against this
construction of law, Mr. Gellibrand earnestly protested; and
maintained, in warm terms, their claims to sympathy and
compassion--himself, alas! destined to die by the hands of the race. It
seemed, however, generally understood, that capture should be attempted
by the most merciful methods, but accomplished at all events.
Colonisation by the French, was exhibited by Mr. Hackett, the distiller,
in contrast with English; but Dr. Ross rose in reply, and stated that
there was a rock which bore the name of _The Leap_, from which the last
sixty natives of Grenada were precipitated. Mr. R. L. Murray treated the
prevailing notion of danger with derision: three women, he said, would
put a whole tribe to flight; but Mr. Home reminded the meeting, that the
grass had not yet covered the graves of a mother and her children,
recently slain. Thus, like the warriors of the heroic age, they debated
before they armed; but it is difficult to reconcile the civic temper
with military subordination: the committee nominated by the meeting to
enrol the town guard, suggested that volunteers should be allowed to
choose each their own company, as well as their own officers. One party
of twenty-four, required the choice of their post, and the right to act
as an independent division.

On the 22nd September, the plan of the campaign was minutely described
in a government order, and operations were fixed for the 7th of October.
Its main features may be briefly stated:--The Oyster Bay and Big River
tribes, as the most sanguinary, were first marked out for pursuit. They
were to be driven within the county of B