Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/450

This page needs to be proofread.
422
422

foirnd among Bligh's papers, further i>roved ** the extensive- ness of the plan upon which the Governor intended to proceed/' Though Johnston acquainted Paterson with what had been done hy the New Sontli Wales Corps, he questioned Colonel Paterson's view that that gentleman could leave his distinct appointment at Port Dah^ymple and assume the government in Sydney, where Colonel Foveaux, as Lt,- Governor of Norfolk Island, seemed entitled to succeed* For his own part, Johnston would rather err by resigning the command than, hy retaining it, expose himself to the suspicion of grasping at power. He seni his despatches by _ Grimes, the Surve^^or- General, in one vessel, and dnplicatesB by Dr. Harris in another. Lord Castlereagh niigiit rely upon the verl>al information which Mr. Grimes would afford. Colonel Paterson, wdien made acquainted with Johnston *s despatches, determined (14th Slay) to wait further information to '* correctly guide*' his conduct, and requested Johnston to place him by the earliest possible opportunity in possession of the first intelligence from England. Johnston, retaining Bligh under arrest at the Government House, administered the governniei:tt until Colonel FoveauxJ arrived from England on his way to Norfolk Island, in Julyl 1808. When Foveaux landed, the batteries saluted^ and] Johnston received liim with the utmost respect. Bligh deposed that he, **ha%nnga sanguine hope" that Foveaux would reinstate him, sent friends {of whom Commissary J Palmer was one) to wait upon Foveaux, but that '*Mr. Macarthur and his adherents got to the ship first." Blighl then wrote ** positive orders as Connnander-in-Chief that! Foveaux should put himself at the head of the New^ South j Wales Corps and reinstate" Bligh, Foveaux notified by m General Order {Wth July) that (as Bligli had been out ofl power for six months, and his suspension was submitted io His MRJesty 's Ministers) he tlit>nght it *' beymid his authority J to judge between Captain Bligh and the officer whom he found in actual command of the colony," Foveaux may be remembered as the disciplinarian who drummed mutinous soldiers out of his regiment without triiilf and was called to account by Paterson. After