Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/176

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&f spirits, and the feai' of being obliged to pay for their ^tationa." Before his despatch reached England the able administrator, Hemy DiindaK, was at the helm in Whitehall md had written to Phillip (Jan. 1792) to praise him for his Bxcellent services, to assure hira of hearty support, and to apprise him that **as a condition of enlistment the New South Wales Corps had been promised the nsnal ration except spirits, without any deduction from their pay. This will be explained to you by Major Grose on his arrival, and will, I have no doubt, operate as a strong inducement to some of the marines to enlist in the additional company/' In April 1792 Phillip) was able to write, ** most of the marines who were selected to remain until a sufficient force arrived for the service of this country, have offered to enlist and form a company annexed to the New South Wales Corps, under the command of Capt,-Lt, George Johnston, whom I have nominated to the comniandl, . • » (He is) in every respect deserving of the bounty which His Majesty has been giraciously pleased to authorize me to bestow/' Thus were secured for the colony the services of one who was to be the most effective mstrument in represshig a serious rebellion, and a not less dangerous outbreak of lawless violence on the part of a Governor. It will be leen, however, that the evil example set by Eoss mfected le new military corps, was foolishly imitated by Grose, id continuall} tormented the colony until confronted by the firmness of Philhp's old friend, Ivhig, who became rovernor in 1800, Some writers have suggested doubts whether Phillip, or his superiors in England^ paid sufficient attention to the religious requii'ements of the colony. A commission under the King's hand was issued to the Kev. Eichard Johnson in the same month in which Phillip's commission as Governor was issued (Oct. 1780), and on the same day as the commiBsions of the Lt.- Governor^ the Judge Advocate, and the Surgeon. His salary was equal to that of the principal surgeon and other '* high" officers. He made no complaint against Phillip. ** As yet {he wrote to Nepean July 1788) ever^^ thing is, as you may easily suppose, very unsettled, but I hope in time om* situation < I I I