PHILILFS CHARACTER. 427^ the position lie occupied to another should have been sub- 1789 mitted to the Governor for his approval in the first instance. * February. By making the offer to Collins without any reference to the head of the Government, Ross meant to show his deter- mination not to consider him in the matter. I was the next day told by Major Ross that he intended to give commissions to the officers he promoted in consequence of Captain Ron Shea's death ; and some days afterwards he came to ask me if his ^^n. giving his son a commission as a second lieutenant would meet with my approbation. As Major Ross had not even at that time mentioned his having offered the company to the Judge- Advocate, or made any reference to me respecting the filling up the vacancy, I desired he would excuse me from giving any approbation to that appointment in particular.* Since it is manifest that the little differences of opinion which so often took place between Ross and Phillip are attributable to the official jealousy displayed by the former, Mistaken it is a singular illustration of mistaken judgment that the of ^lup^s weakness in question should have been attributed by some historical writers to Phillip, while Ross's share in the matter has been altogether forgotten. In a volume published in London in 1817, under the title of The History of New South Wales, the writer — James O'Hara — concluded his o'Ham's account of Phillip's administration with the following sketch ^*****'^* of his character, p. 143 : — Mr. Phillip was a man of undeniable merit ; at once ardent and firm in the execution of his duty. His faults could scarcely be called such ; a quickness of temper, a disposition more peremp- tory than is absolutely necessary in command, a too punctilious phiiiip'g jealousy of station, with manners founded upon these qualities. Jj^SSJon. But if that amenity was wanting which history has sometimes delighted to paint in the character of her favourites, he was not essentially harsh or severe. He scorned the display or semblance of that benevolence of which he had such well-founded claims to the reality.
- The son was appointed second lieutenant by the father notwithstand-
ing, and was presented by him to the Governor in that capacity, with other officers promoted at the same time. Digitized by Google
