Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/356

 300 GEOSS'S TREATMENT X794 under." In saying that he should represent the ^' oppres- sion" he suffered, he meant, no doubt, that he would report it to his commanding officer in Sydney, as well as to the War Office, and there can be little doubt that Abbotfs representation of the case had a great deal to do with the anger which the proceedings excited in Grose's mind. King's For some reason, which is not explained. King did not letters to -.^ i.ii., oroee. send to Groso a separate statement of the reasons which induced him to go to New Zealand, and to appoint Nepean instead of Abbott, to take charge in his absence. Instead of doing that, he left open his despatch to Dundas, to which Grose was referred for information. This, in itself^ may have been regarded as a want of respect. On the 30th January, when the Francis was abont to return to Port Jackson, King wrote to Grose a long account ttS w&iere. ^^ niatters of far greater consequence — the mutinous conduct of a portion of the detachment, and the measures he had taken to protect the settlers and convicts. Grose's reply, written on the 25th February, 1794,* was ip. form an official despatch ; in substance it was an outburst of unreasonable oroee'8 anger and petulance : it dealt with King's action in regard to the return of the New Zealand natives, and also with the steps taken to subdue the mutinous soldiers. In regard to the former. King's action was declared to be an attempt to lessen the importance of Grose's office. The appoint- ment of Captain Nepean would, Grose alleged, have afforded Lieutenant Abbott good grounds for resisting King's orders 5 and the detention of the Britannia was unjustifiable and deserving of the highest censure. Grose makes it appear in this despatch that the chief causes of his displeasure were King's departure from hjB dis- Norfolk Island without permission, and the return of the pleasure. ■*■ New Zealanders before his intentions regarding them had been ascertained. But it is evident, from the little atten-
 * Historical Becords, vol. ii, p. 125.