Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/338

 284 RELIGIOUS IN8TEUCTI0K l'** in support of his cliarges. He certainly stated that lie had Grose nukes refrained from reporting Johnson's " disorderly behaviour " charge. f rom motivcs of pity ; but having allowed benevolence to get the better of his judgment^ it was clearly his duty, not only to Johnson, but to the British Government, to set forth in what the disorderly behaviour consisted. In the absence of any such information it was quite impossible for the authorities in England to decide whether Johnson was, or was not, fitted for the post. Johnson, on the contrary^ as soon as he learned that he had been attacked, opened a correspondence with the Home deuoied ' Department, in which he made a full statement of his case ; ™*° supporting his accusation of unfair treatment on the part of the Lieutenant-Governor with details, by an examination of which the truth or otherwise of his complaint could be tested. He also wrote letters to the Bishop of London, Mr. William Wilberf orce, the philanthropist, and the Rev. John A irtter Newton.* A letter, addressed to the Archbishop of Canter- Awhbishop. bury, in which a copy of a sermon was enclosed, was also sent to Mr. Newton, but it was decided after consultation with friends that the letter should not be presented to the Archbishop, '^ as it seemed improbable that a copy of the sermon had been sent to him, and if not it was not necessary that he should see it."t It would appear from this that Johnson had delivered a sermon to which exception had been taken, possibly by Grose. friends^n Johnsou had influential friends in England, where he England, enjoyed a good reputation. One of them was Wilberforce, whose knowledge of his character and readiness to serve him stood the Chaplain in good stead. By the same vessel that took to England Grose's letter disapproving of Hie application which had been made for reimbursement of the money expended on the temporary church, Johnson sent a Historical Records, rol. ii. t Historical Becords, toI. ii, p. 79.
 * Extracts from the replies of the Bev. John Kewton will be found in the