Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/465

 there had been no alternative but the ineaaure taken "to preserve His Majesty 'a Government from the dishonour of a popular insurrection, and his colony from all the horrors which would inevitably have ret^nlted from the success or failure of such an attempt/' He eonlidently looked for justice under the circumslances of perplexity in which he ■ had been placed by Bli«^di, who had violated rights of pro- perty, arrested persons lawlessly, 'threatened magistrates with vengeance/' and '"overawed, or attempted to overawe, tbe Supreme Court of Jurisdiction w^ith an accusation of high treason, for no other cause than that they had declined to become servile instruments of Ins tyranny/' An enraged ]>opu!ation had clamorously appealed to Johnston for rehef from J3ligh '*and the wretched associates under wdiose advice he was known to act/' He might have participated hi Bligl/s disgrace, but **tu have maintained his authority would have been a vain and fruitless attempt/' He was prepared, and *'most anxious to exhibit proof of the high Berimes and misdemeanors exhibited by Governor Jiligli , •, of gross frauds and shamehd robberies connnitted upon the public property entrusted to his care/'and, lastly, of heretofore unlieard of '' and disgraceful cowardice/' • Johnston, nieanwiiile, w^as with bis regimeut,^^ and it seemed at one time as if Bligl/s conduct woidd l>e aban- doned as indefensible* But Johnston pressed for in(|uiry. He apphed (21st Nov.) to the Adjutant-General for "permission to remain in London in order that he might be read}^ to substantiate the charges he had desired permission to prefer against'' Bhgh. The Commander of the Forces was *" of opinion that the viciruty of the quarters of the 102iid Regiment to London will enal^hi you H to attend to the business stated in your letter without ^ interfering with the performance of your regimental duty/' The iionoural)le acquittal of Lt. Kent strengtbened the hopes of Johnston's friends, and on the 7th May a court- ^-Macfirtlmr wrote to his wife, otli Dec, 1810: *^ Colonel JolmstoOt as you will BL-e, ha.B been ordered to join, ami ia now (ftithuugli the proclaimed mutineer) eoinmiimling His Majesty *s l(J*2tid Reginitot. This doe« not much accord with fche opiuioua wtdcli we bear have been circnbiied. But there is a time for all things. 1 am coutinnally engaged from morning until night with my lawyeris in arranging the plan of a formidable atta^^ upon Mr. Bligh/'— Cam<k'n Park MBS.