damned, if ever that fellow goes out of this ship that ran away with my broad pendant.’
“Q. Was ever Lieutenant Symons on board the Porpoise, after he discharged himself? – A. I think he was.
“Q. Was the prisoner permitted to go on shore at Port Jackson, after Colonel M‘Quarrie arrived? – A. He was.
“Q. Was it generally considered at Port Jackson, especially among the navy, that Lieutenant Symons was a deserter from the service? – A. No.
“Q. Was the confinement of the prisoner more rigorous than that of officers usually under an arrest? – A. As far as I could see, he had the whole range of the ship.
Mr. John M‘Millan, Surgeon of the Porpoise, sworn, and examined by the Prisoner.
“Q. Did I write to you at the Derwent, after being some months under an arrest, requesting you to apply to Captain Bligh, to have a medical survey taken on the ill state of my health, that I might avail myself of the joint opinion of the medical officers? – A. Yes.
“Q. Did you apply to Captain Bligh? – A. I did.
“Q. What answer did you receive? – A. I cannot convey an idea to the Court, unless I am permitted to shew his attitude [which being granted, he continued]. He, in the most insulting manner, brandished his fist close to my nose, and said that he would not let that fellow go on shore, who ran away with his broad pendant.
Captain Porteous examined by the Prosecutor.
“Q. When I directed you to place Lieutenant Kent in arrest, did I inform you of my reasons? – A. Yes.
“Q. Did you communicate it to him? – A. Yes.
“Q. Was not the conversation on firing on the town, a mere general observation that a captain of a man-of-war might hear when his commanding officer was in prison? – A. No, I do not conceive it was a general observation. Captain Bligh was violent at the time, and said, if I knew my duty, I would go on board and blow the town down.
“Q. Who was present at the time? – A. I do not recollect that any one was present.
“Q. Was it at table, when Mr. Griffin and ladies were present? – A. No, it was not; it was in the forenoon.
Question by the Prisoner.
“Q. Could not the fort have blown the Porpoise out of the water? – A. Yes; it might have sunk her; it was directly above us.
Question by the Court.
“Q. From the state the colonial affairs were in, and taking into consideration the circumstances attendant on the confinement of Commodore Bligh, should you, as the captain of the Porpoise, think yourself justifiable in attacking the fort? – A. No; but if I had received a written order from Commodore Bligh, I must have obeyed it.
