Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/376

 '3J6 GKOSfiVs TREATMENT 17to Portland's despatch. King's action endoned. Portland's opinion eonoerninfi: the mutinj. Dispntes between soldiers and setilen. Grose's Orders. Procednre in future the Duke of Portland intimated that he had received -tiie despatches of Grose from April to August^ 1794^ tog'ether with two letters from King. Having, considered this cor- respondence^ the Duke of Portland gave his decision^ which, on the whole^ was an approval of King's conduct. The only exception was the trip to New Zealand s — '' I have maturely considered the statement made by lientemsnt- Grovemor King of the transactions in Norfolk Island r^erred to in Lieut.-Governor Grose's letter of the 30th August, and I am .far from imputing to Lieut.-Govemor King any degree of blame which calls for serious reprehension. What I most object to is his quitting bis government and departing with the New Zealanders in the Britannia without previous communication with lieut.- Governor Grose. " With respect to the mutinous detachment that was sent from the island, I am truly sorry to observe that their conduct was such as to merit much severer treatment than it met with. The source of their disorderly conduct and of their disobedience clearly arose from their having been improperly permitted to mix and interfere with the other inhabitants, but particularly with tJie convicts^ from whom, as their situation ctnd their duties are per- fectly separate and distinct, so should their conversation and connections. The best proof I can receive that both the one and the other are properly governed will be that matters of dispute seldom arise between them, and for this plain reason, because they should neither of them ever be in the way of it. But when- ever such disputes do arise, strict and impartial justice must decide between the parties, for whoever misconducts himself must be considered as losing all title to preference or distinction from being of a different class or description. " I have thought it necessary to express my sentiments more fuUy on this subject, because I am inclined to think that the General Orders of lieut^ -Governor Grose, dated 25th Eebruary, 1794, transmitted to Lieut^Gk>vernor King, must have been hastily- conceived on the pressure of the moment, and without due atten- tion to the principle I have above mentioned, and which in the distribution of justice should never be lost sight of. ' - " I am of opinion it would be better, whenever such disputes arise, which I. trust Will be veryirarely, that the complaint in the