he was ordered to arrest john macarthur and george johnston who were the leaders of the rum rebellion but they had already sailed to england before he got to australia. there was a large increase in the number of convicts sent to australia while macquaire was governor. he used the extra convicts to build roads, building, and towns. he gave tickets of leave to well behaved convicts. this caused him problems with the free settlers, people who had not been convicts. they thought they should have special rights, and that the convicts should not be seen as their equals. they made many complaints about macquarie's government back to their friends in england.