Historical Records of Australia

Series 1,  p. 537

Governor King to Under Secretary Cooke

Sydney New South Wales 20th July 1805

Extract of a letter from John Grant, a Convict (an Associate of Margarot, Hayes &c., to Gov'r King, dated 8th May 1805

"Now, Sir! I ask you, (as an Independent Englishman) viewing with astonishment the miserable State to which Thousands of unfortunate Men are reduced in this Colony, by what Authority do those in power at Home - by what Right do you - make Slaves of Britons in this distant quarter of the globe?"