settlement at Dalrymple a colonial brig
or vessel called the _Venus_, the property of Mr Robert
Campbell, a merchant of this territory, and the said vessel
then containing stores, the property of His Majesty, and a
quantity of necessary stores, the property of the officers
of that settlement, and sundry other property, belonging to
private individuals.'

Then follows the description of the crew, from which it will be seen
that there was every factor towards some criminal deed on board the
_Venus_. First of all the chief mate is mentioned:--

'Benjamin Burnet Kelly, chief mate; says he is an American.
He arrived in this colony as chief mate of the _Albion_, a
South Sea whaler (Captain Bunker); Richard Edwards, second
mate; Joseph Redmonds, seaman, a mulatto or mestizo of South
America 299 (came out from England in the _Venus_); Darra,
cook, a Malay man, both ears missing; Thomas Ford and
William Porter Evans, boys of 14 and 16 (Evans is a native
of Rose Hill in this colony); Richard Thompson, a soldier;
Thomas Richard Evans, a convict, formerly a gunner's mate on
H.M.S. _Calcutta_ (sentenced to fourteen years for desertion
and striking an officer); John Lancaster or Lancashire, a
convict, a very dangerous person; Charlotte Badger, convict,
a very corpulent person (has an infant in arms); Kitty
Hegarty, convict, very handsome woman, with white teeth and
fresh complexion, much inclined to smile, a great talker.'

Then comes an official proclamation, signed 'G. Blaxcell, Secretary,
Government House, Sydney,' cautioning 'all governors and officers in
command at any of His Majesty's ports, and the Honourable East India
Company's magistrates or officers in command, at home or abroad, at
whatever port the said brig may be taken into, or met with at sea,
against any frauds or deceptions that may be practised by the offending
parties,' and asking that they might be seized and brought to condign
punishment.

The _Venus_, under the command of Mr S. Rodman Chace, sailed out of
Sydney Cove (as Port Jackson was then called) for Twofold Bay at the
time before mentioned. Here she remained at anchor for about five weeks,
and here it was that the first trouble began.

Captain Chace had been ashore, and about dusk was returning in his boat
to the ship, when he heard sounds of great hilarity proceeding from
those on board. On comi