The next step I took was to order William Francis, John Thompson, Samuel Picket, and Joshua Peck to be taken into custody, on their return from cabbaging.

Messrs. Dunavan and Jamieson met John Bryant, and persuaded him to discover all he knew about the plot; presently afterwards, they brought him before me, when he was sworn on the cross, being a catholic, and I took his deposition; the substance of which was as follows: 

“That on the passage from Port Jackson to Norfolk-Island it was talked among the convicts to take the Golden-Grove transport from the officers and crew and run away with her, and on its being proposed to Bryant he said they could be only fools to think of such a thing.  That in going out to work on the 14th of this month with all the “convicts, Samuel Picket remarked how easy it would be to take the island, by making the commandant prisoner, when going to, or returning from the farm in Arthur’s Vale; after which, coming in and seizing the arms, and making prisoners of the marines and other free people.  It was soon after agreed that the rest of the convicts were to be consulted, and if they were willing, a meeting was to be held at John Thompson’s house in the Vale; Samuel Picket and Joshua Peck being inmates of his.”

The remainder of Bryant’s deposition, respecting how the island was to be taken, agreed in every particular with the testimony of Elizabeth Anderson and Robert Webb.

I next sent for Joshua Peck, and examined him on oath, and after much prevarication, he gave nearly the same account how the business was to be conducted as the others had done, except as to the manner how the officers were to be made prisoners, which was, “that after “they had secured me, they were to go to Mr. Dunavan’s house at “the entrance of the vale, and take him and conduct him to the farm, “where we were to be tied back to back; after which, one of the “convicts was to be sent in with a message as from me, to speak with “the surgeon, serjeant of marines, and the rest, and they were to be “secured one by one as they came out.”

To Bryant and Peck, I put the two following questions, telling them, that as their depositions and examination would be sent to the Governor, it was necessary that they recollected the nature of the oath they had taken, and to give a just answer.

Question.—­Can you assign any reason for the aforesaid plot being formed?  Answer.—­None, but the hopes of regaining our liberty.

Question.—­Have you at any time heard any convict on the island express any discontent at the conduct of officers, or on any other ground?  Answer.—­None.

It was now clear to me that a scheme had been entered into, in which all the convicts were concerned, except the rope-makers and carpenter already mentioned; and their succeeding in it, so far as regarded the taking myself and the officers prisoners was not to be doubted; for, I must own, that I was not sufficiently upon my guard against the description of people I had to deal with; as the apparent satisfaction which they often expressed at being on this island in preference to Port Jackson, added to the great indulgences they had frequently received from me, lulled any suspicion of their having the most distant idea of the kind.