Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/538

424^ PHILLIP The order delivered. No Insult intended. 1789 last night on my return received your letter, stating that an 27 August insult had been offered you, as Lieutenant-Governor, during my absence, by the Judge-Advocate, in ordering a man employed under your directions to a different work. I will, sir, repeat to you what the Judge- Advocate says on that head, in his own words : — That he forgot to give the order the day I desired he would ; and when he did recollect it he gave orders for that purpose ; but on being told that the man was em- ployed by your directions at Lieutenant Kellow's hut, as he was certain I did not know he had any work in hand when I gave the order for his joining the bricklayers' " party." This, sir, if admitted, will, I presume, satisfy you that no insult was intended. I had myself informed you that I was going up the harbour for two or three days ; and with respect to any orders being left with the Judge- Advocate that should have been left with the Lieutenant-Governor, there is not a shadow of reason to suppose anything of the kind ever was intended, and of which you must be sensible. And in answer to your question as to what line of conduct I wish you to pursue, I have, sir, only to wish that the peace of the settlement may not be disturbed ; and that you will be so good as to be a little more guarded in your expressions ; for I am certain that you will think on reflection that the answer you gave to the convict, who came to tell you his time was expired, — " Would Ross toTgeta ^ ^^ ^7 *^™® ^^ expired too ! " — was not calculated to make him satisfied with his situation, till the necessary information is received from Government respecting those people, who draw their ow^n conclusions from what they hear, and perhaps very different from what the words are intended to convey. I did not, sir, take notice of the impropriety I saw in such a declaration, when you told me that was the only answer you gave to the convict (who was afterwards sentenced by the Criminal Court to a severe punishment, which he most undoubtedly deserved), as several officers were then present ; but I repeat it, sir, that I am certain you must see the impropriety of it. Mutual The time cannot be far distant when a legal inquiry can take forbearance, ^j^^ ^^^ ^jj complaints will then be attended to; till when, his Majesty's service requires some little forbearance on your part as well as on mine. A hint for the f utursb himself. Friendly considera- tion. Digitized by Google