Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/176

of spirits, and the fear of being obliged to pay for their rations." Before his despatch reached England the able administrator, Henry Dundas, was at the helm in Whitehall and had written to Phillip (Jan. 1792) to praise him for his excellent services, to assure him of hearty support, and to apprise him that "as a condition of enlistment the New South Wales Corps had been promised the usual ration except spirits, without any deduction from their pay. This will be explained to you by Major Grose on his arrival, and will, I have no doubt, operate as a strong inducement to some of the marines to enlist in the additional company."

In April 1792 Phillip was able to write, "most of the marines who were selected to remain until a sufficient force arrived for the service of this country, have offered to enlist and form a company annexed to the New South Wales Corps, under the command of Capt.-Lt. George Johnston, whom I have nominated to the command. . . . (He is) in every respect deserving of the bounty which His Majesty has been graciously pleased to authorize me to bestow." Thus were secured for the colony the services of one who was to be the most effective instrument in repressing a serious rebellion, and a not less dangerous outbreak of lawless violence on the part of a Governor. It will be seen, however, that the evil example set by Ross infected the new military corps, was foolishly imitated by Grose, and continually tormented the colony until confronted by the firmness of Phillip's old friend, King, who became Governor in 1800.

Some writers have suggested doubts whether Phillip, or his superiors in England, paid sufficient attention to the religious requirements of the colony.

A commission under the King's hand was issued to the Rev. Richard Johnson in the same month in which Phillip's commission as Governor was issued (Oct. 1780), and on the same day as the commissions of the Lt.-Governor, the Judge Advocate, and the Surgeon. His salary was equal to that of the principal surgeon and other "high" officers.

He made no complaint against Phillip. "As yet (he wrote to Nepean July 1788) everything is, as you may easily suppose, very unsettled, but I hope in time our situation