the 29th of March, 1808, did I, to your knowledge, wait on Captain Bligh? – A. Yes, you did.
“On that day, did I bring you the despatches, which I brought from Norfolk Island and the Derwent, and acquaint you that I had seen Captain Bligh, and that he had ordered me to bring the despatches to you; and that he had desired me to inform you, for your satisfaction, of the particulars of the conversation I had held with him, as he had pledged his word of honor, as an officer and a gentleman, not to assume any command, or have any intercourse with the officers and crew of the Porpoise? – A. You did.
[This question was objected to by the prosecutor, as too general.}
“Q. When you sent me my warrant, on the 12th of April, 1808, from Captain Bligh, appointing me acting commander of His Majesty’s ship Porpoise, did you inform me, that the peace of the colony, and the welfare of His Majesty’s service, required that I should have no further communication with Captain Bligh? – A. I did. He promised me, in writing, that he would have no communication with the ship; but before that, he stated to me, that he resigned ail authority into my hands, and said, he was very much obliged to me for the very handsome manner I had carried it into execution, and conveyed to him the wishes of the inhabitants.
“Q. To your knowledge, was Captain Bligh ever released from that pledge which he had entered into? – A. Never, to my knowledge.
“Q. Did His Majesty’s service absolutely require that His Majesty’s ship Porpoise should take down a supply of provisions and stores to Port Dalrymple, and bring Lieutenant-Govenor Paterson to head-quarters? – A. Certainly it did.
“Q. Could any other vessel have been taken up, to carry down stores, and bring up Colonel Paterson, without government incurring an enormous expence? – A. No certainly, there could not: we must have hired the vessels from the merchants there.
“Q. If I had refused to comply with your requisition, would you have endeavoured to compel me? – A. Certainly I would, by stopping all supplies of provisions to the Porpoise, from the store.
“Q. Did you ever attempt to give me any orders? – A. No.
“Q. Was the service of the Porpoise obtained by requisition, agreeable to the etiquette of the naval service? – A. By requisition.
“Q. Did you ever threaten to supersede me? – A. I cannot call it to my recollection.
“Q. When Lieutenant Symons left the Porpoise, on my taking the command, would you have prevented me from arresting him? – A. No.
“Q. Did you ever interfere in the command of the Porpoise? – A. Never, to my knowledge.
“Q. Did Captain Bligh give any, and what pledge? – A. The pledge he gave was in writing, contained in a letter of the 19th of March, 1808, from Mr. Bayley, my secretary, to Captain Bligh, and Captain Bligh’s answer of the 24th March.”
