Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/421

 BLIOH'S ADVISERS. 393 proceeding should be carried on during his absence; and that, with afterwards selecting the officers for particular duties, caused the Major to wait on him to ascertain the cause of such order, and he felt, like all great men in authority, indignant. Johnston informed him that he M'ould write to the Commander-in-Chief respecting his interference with the private detail of the regiment. ... It, however, gives me much pleasure to hear every description of persons heaping blessings on the head of my friend the late Governor. . . praying for his return. . . nay, even those who were most censorious are now his greatest advocates." Such was the testimony of the blufif Dr. Harris long before Macarthur encountered Bligh's wrath. It will be remembered that on one occasion, when Dr. Harris was upbraided for supporting King's measures, he was tried by a court-martial, one object of which was to ascertain whether Harris or Adjutant Minchin told the truth, at a time when some officers of the corps were intriguing against King. In 1807 khey were of one mind. By a singular coincidence, amongst manuscripts yet preserved is a letter written by the same Minchin to King on the 20th Oct. 1807. He also styled him *'Dear Governor,'' and said : "I can only say as an individual I was happy under your government. I am now unhappy, and if a military officer might be allowed to use the words tyranny and oppression, I would add that until now I never ex- perienced their weight." A word may be said about the cabal who formed Bligh's coimcil of advice. The perjured Crossley, who had become his friend, is already known. Mr. Palmer was the Com- missary, at whose house Crossley in 1805 prepared the petition intended to coerce King to permit the landing of a large quantity of spirits from the ship Ea{/le, on behalf of Campbell, for whom Palmer was acting as agent. Mr. Campbell, who had returned to Sydney, was the gentleman whom King commended for everything '' except forcing spirits on the colony." Another of the ** friends and direc- tors" enumerated by Harris was a freedman. Gore, the Provost-Marshal, had arrived in the colony with Governor Bligh, and had so conducted himself on the voyage that Bligh warned several persons in Sydney against association with him. Nevertheless, he himself associated with him.' When Gore was tried for stealing from a
 * Evidence at court-martial on Colonel 3oVa.ow,^.