Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/449

Paterson (12th March) desired Johnston to send a vessel to Port Dalrymple, in order that Paterson might repair to Sydney to take the command. He told Lord Castlereagh that he would have sailed (in compliance with "the calls and prerogative of superior civil and military rank) in the vessel which Johnston had written by, but that her size (being only a small oiling sloop) prevents it." He asked Johnston to send H.M.S. Porpoise, and added: "Should no arrival capable of transporting me hence take place in three months from this date, I shall, concluding I am not to expect one from Port Jackson, despatch an officer to the settlement at the Derwent to charter round the first ship in the name of His Majesty that may come in." He thought it necessary to "state that I do not at present purpose making any particular change in the arrangement you have formed at Sydney until I may hear from His Majesty's Ministers."

Johnston's justificatory despatch to England was not written until he had heard from Paterson. It was dated 11th April 1808.^[1] After explaining the necessity of what he had done,—if only "to prevent an insurrection of the inhabitants, and to secure (Governor Bligh) and the persons he confided in from being massacred by the incensed multitude; or if the Governor had escaped so dreadful an end, and retained his authority, to see His Majesty's benevolent and paternal government dishonoured by cruelties and merciless executions,"—Johnston proceeded to expose "shameful abuses" sanctioned by Bligh in expenditure of public stores and distribution of government live stock. He enclosed depositions of certain officers which would convince Lord Castlereagh of "the various frauds that have been committed" on the public property. Andrew Thomson, Bligh's bailiff, had made "a confession" which would in part disclose the arrangements made by Bligh "for the improvement of his private fortune at the expense of the Crown;" and Thomson's correspondence,