Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/441

troops for conduct which "had endeared them to every well-disposed inhabitant," and superseded Atkins as Judge-Advocate, appointing Edward Abbott in his room. Abbott declined to act. Messrs. A. F. Kemp, J. Harris, T. Jamison, C. Grimes, W. Minchin. G. Blaxcell, J. Blaxland, and A. Bell, were appointed magistrates, "and those persons who heretofore performed the duties of that office, are to consider themselves dismissed." Lieut. Lawson was made aide-de-camp; Nicholas Bayley, Secretary and Provost-Marshal (Gore being suspended from the latter office). Palmer, the Commissary, was suspended, and Campbell (the Treasurer, naval officer, and collector of taxes) was dismissed, and "directed to balance his accounts and deliver them to His Honour the Lt.-Governor." The Rev. Mr. Fulton was suspended from the office of chaplain; the officers, civil and military, were ordered to attend Divine Service on the following Sunday, and every well-disposed inhabitant was "requested to be present to join in thanks to Almighty God for His merciful interposition in their favour by relieving them without bloodshed from the awful situation in which they stood before the memorable 26th inst."

Johnston knew the dangerous ground on which he stood, and his friends strove to support him. On the 27th Jan. another paper was prepared. He was thanked for his manly and honourable interposition in rescuing the subscribers from "an order of things that threatened the destruction of all which men can hold dear." He was entreated not to lay down his power to any superior officer who might arrive, before His Majesty's pleasure as to Bligh's supersession might be known, without obtaining from such officer a stipulation to confirm Johnston's wise measures. This address, unlike the former, was headed by names of officers of the New South Wales Corps. Major Abbott, on whom Bligh had partly relied, was the first to sign. The last name was that of the overseer of labour who had so significantly threatened Macarthur at his leasehold a fortnight before, but who now ranged himself with the stronger battalions. Grimes, Macarthur, Macarthur's eldest son, Gregory Blaxland, and D'Arcy Wentworth were amongst the eighty-three signers.