Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/243

 reported that sliijis had ** brought spuuts eooiigh to deluge" (the colony), ** M^^ positive refusal to suffer the poisonous article to be landed has given much offence, although every officer has been permitted to receive what he wanted for bis private accommodation/' When he thought of '*the various advantages which maDy of tlie military officers have had, which I have not shown any desire or iiiteDlioti to wrest from them, we cannot help eTtpressing astoniahment that they should have even thought of entering into trade of any kind, except that of disposing of, to the (lovernment, the produce of their agiicultiiral lahoiira." . . . . **The introduction of this destructive© trada which took place since the depar- ture of Governor Phillip, has done immense mischief," and ia» ** in the manner of it carried on here, highly ih'sgraceful to men who hold a com- mission signed by Hia Majesty. I have resolved to correct, aa far as I can, many such abuses. 1 have not assistance sufficient." What assistance could he given hy instructions from England he received. Mr. Dundas told him, ** It is certainly in your power, as well as it is your duty, to prohibit, by the most positive orders, all officers of govern- ment, civil and military, from selling any spirituous liquors to the convicts and settlers." An order was sent from England (171)9) that no vessel should *'be allowed to land ^y article, or break bulk, before the rettmi of such vessel her cargo is tilled up* This measure will he of the greatest use in preventing the importation of spirits with- out your license first obtained for that purpose/' Tidings that oflBcers w^ere engaged in tratlic in spirits reached England, The Duke of Portland called on Hunter (1799) for a report, and told him that King had been appointed to succeed hini. The Horse Guards desii*ed Colonel Paterson, then in England, to repair at once to Sydney that steps might be taken to crush proceedurgs of so *' infamous a nature," But it had become plain that the demoralization of the colony could not be arrested by Hunter. The Secretary of State (Nov. 1799) expressed disapprobation of the manner ''in which the government of the settlement" was ** ad- ministered in so many respects," and was ** commanded to signif}^ the king's pleasure" that Hunter should '* return by the first conveyance which offers itself after the arrival of Lt.-GoYernor King/* Himter was hurt at his recall, and at the manner of it. He attributed it to ''an anonymous letter" from the cqI^ws; ^