Secretary’s Office, Sydney 3rd Aug[us]t 1818 Revd Sir A most alarming report having just reached my Ears in which is involved the Personal safety of His Excellency Governor Macquarie, his Lady, their Child, His Excellency’s staff, the Revd Mr Cowper and several other Persons, who embarked for New Castle on Monday last on board the Elizabeth Henrietta, and that report being founded on information said to have proceeded from you, I feel myself called upon, as well by loyalty and affection as by official duty to request that you will furnish me as expeditiously as possible with such information as you may possess, on this mysterious subject— In order to your being enabled fully to meet the points which excite my chief solicitude I beg to observe that my information, which I cannot doubt, states that on Saturday night last, you mentioned as a matter of notoriety that 37 Convicts had left this Harbour in order to intercept and cut off the Govt Brig Elizabeth Henrietta, with His excellency the Govr and all his Family and staff onboard— that a number of Convicts at New Castle were to co-operate in said Piracy and that communication would be made from hence to them in the course of a very few hours— that the Seamen on board the Elizabeth Henrietta were also Convicts and equally in the conspiracy with the others— and finally that little doubt could remain that they would effect their purpose. These Sir are the leading and principal features of the diabolical purpose said to be in view, and altho’ I have the happiness to say that His Excellency has arrived safe at New Castle, yet as the measure may be still attempted I request your earliest communication on this most [f] highly important subject in order to my taking or suggesting such measures as may be deemed necessary to frustrate it— one object will be the result, which is that H M Brig Lady Nelson will be dispatched to New Castle as soon as possible after the arrival of the bearer hereof (a Dragoon) with your answer— The importance of the case and the necessity for promptitude will sufficiently point out the imperious necessity for your speedy answer, and leaves me only to express the utmost reliance on your loyalty and zeal on the occasion. I have the honor to be Revd Sir Your Obedt Humble servant (Signed) J.T. Campbell Revd. Saml. Marsden Principle Chaplain Parramatta