Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/331

 UKBEE GBOS£« 281 ground wlifle graves were altered — sometimes while they ^'^^ were being made. Having recounted these disadvantages^ Mr. Johnson went on to explain his position :— ^*From these different circumstances you may judges sir, whether * I have not sufficient reason to be discontented. The soldier, it grierMioes. seems, is properly supplied with his regimentals ; the surgeon has an hospital provided for his patients, and is supplied wi^ medi- cines. Persons bearing other offices are furnished with what is needful for them to do their duty; and, for the same reason, I do not see why a clergyman should be denied what is necessary for him in the discharge of his duty. But such has been all along my situation, and I have had neither church, nor clerk (except my own free servant, who fills up his place at Sydney), nor sexton, for want of which conveniences and assistance I have seen it needful to complain. difference that has taken place between the Lieutenant-Governor and myself. When refused this request, so just, reasonable, and necessary, I could not forbear signifying that I conceived myself extremely slighted, and that as chaplain to the colony I had reason to expect greater support. This occasioned some warm dL<3pute and altercation, when some ill-natured and ill-founded An reflections were thrown out upon me, which I trust and flatter myself my general mode of conduct has not merited." Grose said nothing in his letters about any dispute or altercation ; but he complained in a despatch written on the 29th April, 1794,* of Johnson's behaviour, which he Grose state . bis case. described as " disorderly " (although he did not state of what the disorder consisted), adding that he had received from him "treatment very unbecoming his character as a clergy- man to offer, and not very consistent with my situation to put up with." He accounted for his previous silence on the subject by stating that he had refrained from making any representations '^ in pity to a large family." It is worthy of remark that Grose made these statements when replying to a despatch informing him of the appointment of Johnson's
 * <It was this last circumstance that gave rise to an unhappy
 * Historical Becordi, toI. ii, p. 209.