Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/533

AND THE MAJOR. 4<19 had had with the Judge-Advocate^ aad to read the letters which 1789 had passed between them, all of which were read to the officers hj a May. the adjutant. 2. To the best of my recollection the Major-Commandant said he had told the Governor that his conduct respecting Captain The Major Campbell was oppressive, and that officers were not to be driven in cases where they did not feel themselves at ease to act ; they were not to be compelled. I recollect that the Major made use twice of the word " oj^res- sive " in speaking of the Qovemor'a conduct. 3. He did not ask the officers to join Captain Campbell in refusing to sit as members of the Cnmioal Court — but it is my opinion that the whole tenor of Major Boss's conversation pointed Putting that way. My reason for thinking so is, that Major Boss more tolt! ^^ than once mentioned to the officers assembled that he had told the Governor that both he, and the officers at large, considered the sitting as members of the Criminal Court as what they volun- teered, not as a duty. As soon as the officers had left the Judge- Advocate, they went straight to the Major and informed him of what had taken place. His curiosity being naturally excited with respect to the questions put, he wished to knx)w what they were ; but instead of giving him the desired information. Referred his friends referred him to the Governor. It does not Governor, appear that he took any steps to satisfy himself on the point; as Phillip said — "Major Boss has never mentioned that business to me.*^ The consequences that must have followed had the officers in general been of their Commandant's opinion, will be obvious to their lordships ; but as no legal inquiry could be made respecting no means the conduct of the officer to whom, as the Lieutenant-Governor b/St^ and Commandant of the detachment, I was naturally to look for support, and from whom the situation of tliis colony at the time called for an address of a very different nature, I did not think it proper to direct any more officers to be sent for on the subject, unless Major Boss should desire it, when the officers informed him they had been examined respecting that meeting ; and which they did as soon as they left the Judge- Advocate, and being asked what questions had been put to them, they desired to refer him to the Digitized by Google