Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/174

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I robberies had been checked, but considered that Phillip* 8 order **had put the soldiers under the command of the convicts." Phillip withdrew it regarding *^ soldiers fonnd straggling — driven to the necessity of withdrawing an order calculated for the public good."^^ Ross found fault with others as well as with the Governor. When Phillip reported the concession he had been compelled to make with regard to the night-watchj he added : — '* out of the sixteen officers remaining for duty in thy settlement, live have been put under art-est by their commandant and are only doing duty tiU a general court-martial can bo assembled ... a aixth ia suspended . , . both Adjutant and Quarter-mastei" have been equally under his displeasiu*©, whilst the Jndge-Advocattt'a conduct has been complained of by Major Ro&a as Commandant of the Detach mentj and as the Lt. -Governor: and the Judge-Advocate in his turn haa represented hia having been treated in such a manner by the Lt.-Uovernor and by Captain Campbell, before convicts antt otbera, that he wished to resign hia office." Fortunately for the colony, Phillip was highly regarded in England. Though it was long before the despatch (June 1789) reached him, he was informed that the obstacles with respect to trying officers of the marines by court-martial would probably have been removed by legis- lation if *' the detachment had been continued, • . , but as it is so shortly to be relieved, it is to be hoped that no further inconvenience will be experienced during their continuance abroad," Their discontent and desire to return had ** led to the making arrangements for relieving them.** A corps would be *' raised for that particular service.'* Three hundred rank and file, with a suitable number of officers, would be ready to embark in Oct, 1790. Any of the returning marines w^ould be allowed to t[uit the service m England, or '* to be discharged abroad upon the relief," and to settle **in the country if they prefer it." (This W'as to be encouraged.) If any of the detachment '* The original order was dated 7th Aug. 1789; the new (9th Nov.J declared that. notiitbatanding Aiticle 5, **the night- watuli is not in future to ato{> any soldier nuless he is found in a riot or coinnittting an unlawful act, iii which ease Buch soldier is immediately to be taken to the nearest guard, " Amongst the Reconls is preserved a" letter from Pliillip, in reply to petulant complaiuts from Uoas. *'The time cam^ot b« far distant when a legal inquiry can take place, and all complaints will then be ftttendud to ; till when His Majesty's service reqnirea some little for- bearanoc on yon r part as well as on mine,"