Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/455

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BLIGH, IN COMMAND OF "PORPOISE," BREAKS HIS PLEDGE.

going on board (20th Feb.), Bligh availed himself of the facilities afforded him in "communicating with his friends." Crossley was out of reach, having been transported; but others were accessible, and Bligh circulated through their agency what Paterson described as libellous and defamatory papers.

The ship Admiral Gambier was about to convey to England Johnston and other persons required as witnesses. As soon as Bligh's foot was on board the Porpoise, he pointed the guns against the Admiral Gambier, and prohibited the master from taking Johnston as a passenger. His word plighted to Paterson he cast to the winds, and saw no shame in doing so. He said at Johnston's trial (1811): "I took the Porpoise upon the terms they had proposed to me; and the moment I got the command I took care to keep it, and would not suffer any of their terms, or anything which they said, to have the least influence upon my mind."[1]

The officers and men of the Porpoise distinguished with a rough honesty between the lawful and the lawless. Bligh could not carry out his plans. Kent was put under arrest, but the memory of the Bounty repelled the ship's company from their angry commander, and he was a commodore without a crew. Neither officers nor men could be brought to wage war against their countrymen on shore. The deceived Paterson cut off communication with the deceiver. Foveaux's departure was deferred in consequence of the "exigency of public affairs at this moment."

As if to show that neither Johnston nor Foveaux had encouraged importation of spirits, Paterson (5th March) published an Order declaring that great inconvenience and injury were "experienced by prudent and industrious settlers from the length of time which has elapsed since they have been able to procure the least quantity of spirits," and that the master of the Admiral Gambier had been authorized "to import a supply for the express purpose of being divided in proportionate shares among them at 11s. 6d. per

  1. ↑ Johnston's comment was that this breach of solemn pledge might, perhaps, be vindicated, but he could not understand the code of honour from which such a vindication must be drawn."—"Johnston's Trial," p. 158.
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