Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/447

 JOHNSTON'S APPEAL TO THE OFFICERS. 419 7000 gallons from other vessels, and the supply on shore was deemed sufficient. Johnston resisted all solicitations, and sent a colonial schooner to escort the American vessel to sea. Four days afterwards she was taken to Broken Bay to smuggle her cargo. Johnston sent armed boats from H.M.S. Porpoise. The American ship was seized in Jiagrante delicto. A Vice- Admiralty Court was assembled, but although the evidence was strong, would not condemn her as lawful prize. The American master protested, and appealed; and Johnston plaintively said: **Your Lordship will be convinced that the condemnation of a ship for smuggling will not easily be accomplished in New South Wales." He succeeded in getting rid of the vessel at last, and gave offence to many on shore by so doing. His opponents blamed him for preventing public meet- ings, lest they should be adverse to him ; but the charge was aimless. Before and after Johnston's day no meetings were permitted except under sanction of the Governor; and Macquarie, as will be seen, adopted strange measures on the subject. But there is proof that disaffection reached Johnston's ears. A remarkable appeal made by him to officers, military and civil, still exists. It was written exactly three months after Bligh's deposition : — prevailed amongst a few oflBcers with the greatest concern ; and as I have unquestionable evidence that the discontent has entirely arisen from the confidence I have reposed in Mr. Macarthur, Secretary to the Colony, I have now assembled all of you together who are doing duty at head- quarters, and have sent a copy of this letter to the detached posts, that those officers, having anything to allege against that gentleman, may come forward and distinctly state in writing what it is they have to charge him with. If he has committed any offence, it is not my intention to shut my ears against the proofs of it. If anything improper in his conduct can be made to appear, he shall be immediately dismissed from his office ; and I hope some of you, gentlemen, will have public spirit sufficient to supply his place, and to perform the laborious duties Mr. Macarthur now discharges without reward or emolument. 'I o preserve the peace of the settlement, and to promote the prosperity and honour of His Majesty's Government, are my only objects, and I am confident those objects cannot be secured but by the annihilation of the party spirit that has unfortunately too much prevailed almost ever since the day when you all urged me to assume the government, and pledged your words of honour to support me in the measure. How far a desire to deprive me of the services of Mr. Macarthur at such a crisis as the present can be considered as an observance of that promise it will rest with those gentlemen who are adverse to him to explain. For my own part, I think uo ot^<ift^ vnW %.N«t
 * Gentlemen, — I have observed the discontent which has for some time