friend of his, and he thus writes of that young gentleman:—
'One friend I cannot but mention, and I am sure you will esteem him for my sake, and that is a Mr Dawes … To give you his character in few words, he is a most amiable man, and though young, truly religious, without any appearance of formal sanctity. He is kind to everyone; but I am speaking of his many affabilities to myself.'
Others of his friends he mentions thus:—
'And as it is only between you and me, and I know you like such little fid-fad, I will name a few. Captain Campbell, the commanding officer of marines, and, when here. Major Ross; the author of the printed narrative. Captain Tench, polite and sensible; several other lieutenants, Mr Worgan, our surgeon, etc., are all very kind, and sometimes, when I can, I visit them.'
We have quoted young Southwell before, it will be remembered, and he had nothing to say against Phillip then. Early in 1790 he was placed in charge of the signal station at the South Head of Sydney Harbour, a somewhat lonely position for a youth of his temperament. He seems about this time to have begun to have doubts about the Governor.
He writes of Phillip as 'the pompous despot.' 'Our austere Governor's behaviour alters not for the better … and I can assure you I am not disposed to speak in his praise. … I am rather
