Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/395
several from this colony who have gained much influence with the chiefs whom they have assisted in their warfare." He regarded the act of an English master,[1] Campbell, of the Harrington, in seizing two Spanish vessels on the coast
- ↑ This case occupied reams of despatches. William Campbell, the master of the Harrington, owned in Madras, was the man who in 1802 refused to hoist his flag in honour of the French because the English flag was not placed high enough in the French ships. He was chased on the South American coast, and lost a boat and thirteen men. The peace of Amiens interrupted his reprisals. He returned to Sydney (Jan. 1804) with letters of marque, issued at Fort St. George, against France and Holland. Before he sailed for the coast of Peru the Governor warned him that he must be careful not to make reprisals against powers not included in his letters of marque. Nevertheless (26th Sept. 1804) he captured a Spanish brig at Coquimbo. At Goasco the Spanish Governor unsuspiciously went on board the Harrington. At Callera, Campbell fired upon a Spanish cruiser (Estremina) and when the crew ran her on shore the daring privateer carried her off (2nd Oct.). On arriving at Norfolk Island, Campbell, finding that there had been no war between England and Spain in Sept. 1804 feared to take his prizes to Sydney. He sent them to cruise on the coast and await his orders. He arrived in Sydney 4th March 1805. King found erasures in the log of the Harrington, and issued a proclamation commanding all persons who might fall in with the Spanish vessels, "hovering about some part of this coast," to cause them to be sent to Sydney, and to hoist the Spanish flag "in its proper place until it is known whether war did exist (on the 26th Sept. and 2nd Oct.) or not." The Lady Nelson, despatched by the Governor, seized the Estremina in Jervis Bay. Robbins, in the little Integrity cutter (59 tons), found the brig (St. Francisco St. Paulo) off Kent's Group, and took charge of her. The Harrington was detained at Port Jackson.
King wrote a long letter to Don Lewis de Guzman, Captain-General, Governor, and President of the Royal Audience of the Kingdom of Chili, Rear Admiral, &c. This he entrusted to Robbins, who took charge of the Integrity, and sailed for Peru with a certificate under King's hand, and precise instructions as to hoisting colours, flag of truce, and seeking audience. The vessels seized were sold in Sydney to avert loss by decay, and the proceeds were eventually handed to the Spanish Government. King sent Robbins under a flag of truce, in case hostilities should have since commenced, to request the Government of Chili to cause proper persons to be sent, not only for reclaiming those vessels, but as witnesses on the trial of the commander and crew of the Harrington, for seizing and bringing away the ships and goods belonging to a power at peace with His Majesty. Lord Castlereagh (21st Nov. 1805) sent his approbation of the spirit and "principles" under which King had acted. The Harrington and her master were then released. In 1808 the Harrington was seized at night in Farm Cove, near Campbell's own house, and carried to sea, the chief officer and others being sent back in boats from the open sea. The Harrington was taken shortly afterwards by a man-of-war off Luconia: and the ringleader, Stewart, was taken to Calcutta. The last trace of the gallant Robbins (only twenty-three years old when he bore the despatches to Don Guzman) is his departure from Sydney in the Integrity. He was then rated as Acting-Lieutenant in H.M.S. Buffalo. Minute search at the