Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/420

On the same day, writing to Mrs. King as "My ever honoured and much respected Madam," Harris said that Bligh's measures

"became so very glaring and irksome to me that I resigned the office of naval officer, and he, to be revenged, dismissed me from being magistrate. . . . He has turned every person who held the least appointment under Governor King from any situation, and is surrounded by a few who find it their interest to do whatever he may dictate. God only knows the horrid measures that are adopted. It is completely the reign of Robespierre, or that of terror."

He described the pompous state affected by Bligh:

"Nothing less than a coach-and-four in waiting; six or eight light horsemen with a sergeant, two or three footmen or outriders, and he himself riding in a small sulky with a canvas awning over him with brails, and the sides of this vehicle stuck round with pistols and a blunderbuss. . . . Shortly after your departure he began finding fault with everything Governor King had done, and, as is natural to all cowardly fellows, making use of most vile abusive language and degrading epithets before the prisoners and other low vagrants, or those who he knew or thought would be pleased therewith. He happened once or twice to forget that I was present, and I do assure you I did not forget him nor pass it easily over. . . . I have heard much of Bounty Bligh ere I saw him, but no person could conceive that he should be such a fellow. He has been every day getting worse and worse, and if some steps are not soon, nay, very soon, taken, this place is ruined. Caligula himself never reigned with more despotic sway than he does. He destroys and makes away with all private property, saying everything is his; that that fool King had no power or authority to grant leases; takes any part of them he chooses, and gives to any creature of his own who will tell him any lies. . . . The greatest swindler, the most absolute thief and cheat (and who is the Governor's friend) is Gore, the Provost-Marshal; he has everybody in some way or other under contribution to him through Sydney. . . . In short, everybody is in a state of dread. . . . Such then is the land we exist in (not live); how long it can remain in such a state I know not, but I think not long. . . . Crossley has got (from Bligh) two bullocks and a cow for pleading and assisting Gore at his trial for stealing some green tale curiosities, and on another indictment for fraudulently obtaining payment twice for the same bill. . . . Mr. Wentworth has been tried and reprimanded by a general court-martial on the public parade for not taking a man into the general hospital by order of Captain Abbott, who is factotum at Parramatta; and, strange to say, the day after the reprimand the Governor thought fit to suspend him from further duty until His Majesty's pleasure is known, and refuses to give any reason why or wherefore he has done so.^[1] . . . When he went last to Parramatta and Hawkesbury he sent down word that no Civil Court or any judicial