were a number of things to do yet, and a number of papers to complete, which I had not done. I said, of course, I would do them, if there were any.
“Q. Have you not mentioned to your friends, that Captain Bligh expressed his satisfaction at the Porpoise going down to Port Dalrymple? – A. No, never.
“Q. You have sworn, in your evidence of yesterday, that you were present when I waited on Captain Bligh, on my return from Norfolk Island, on the 29th March, 1808; was any other person present? – A. There was a lady or two present – Miss Palmer and Mrs. Putland.
“Q. You saw me offer the despatches I had brought with me to Governor Bligh? – A. Yes.
“Q. Did he receive or reject those despatches? – A. He did not receive them; he gave Mr. Kent permission to deliver them to Major Johnstone, considering them relative to the settlers being removed from Norfolk Island, and as he had not the power to attend to any application or request.
“Q. You have given in evidence, on the prosecution, that Captain Bligh had peremptorily refused to subscribe to the conditions prescribed to him by Major Johnstone? – A. I have, to those that were inclosed in Major Johnstone’s letter to him. In reply to Commodore Bligh’s, inclosing Lieutenant Kent’s acting commission.
“Q. As that letter contains an unequivocal pledge that Captain Bligh will comply with the conditions prescribed to him by Colonel Johnstone, in his letter dated the 19th of March (already read), explain to the Court your inducement for swearing before the Court yesterday, that he had given no pledge? – A. I believe I have said, that he would not subscribe to the conditions in Colonel Johnstone’s, in answer to Captain Bligh’s letter, inclosing Lieutenant Kent’s commission; Lieutenant Symons, who had appointed himself, had the command of the Porpoise at that time; the letters read are of a date antecedent to that I alluded to.”
[The letter from Commodore Bligh to Lieutenant-Governor Johnstone, dated the 24th of March, 1808, was shewn to the witness.]
“Q. In whose hand-writing is the body of that letter? – A. In mine.”
[Captain Bligh consented to a copy of a letter from N. Bayley being read as evidence, he not having the orignal by him. – Letter read. – Witness’s former evidence read to him]
Examined by the Court.
"Q. Were the customary papers, or log, on the ship’s return to port, given to Commodore Bligh by Lieutenant Kent? – A. No, there were no papers of that kind delivered.
"Q. Were they demanded? – A. No, I do not think they were. If I recollect right, there was a conversation as to the state of the vessel.
“Q. Did the commodore, on that occasion, give any directions as commodore of the squadron? – A. He gave him directions to keep himself separate from the persons who had him in confinement; and, as I have said before, not to obey any orders but his.
