The little community was in a ferment. The eyes o£ | England, if Dot of Europe, seemed to watch whether it was worthy of defending the honour of Okl England. Conscious of importance, Harris had an interview with Baudin. Harris thought, perhaps erroneously, that Baudin said the colours had heen hoisted *' promiscuously," and that had he known that remarks would have been made, the English flag would have been placed at the fore4opgallant mast- head- Harris added that Baudin said, *'As he did not understand enough of Enghsh, or I of French, he would w^ait on your Excellency and explain it to you." Baudin demanded from his people, in a letter which he described as amere et de reproches a tons mes officiers," an explanation. The French answer %vas complete. Eon- sard, ofiQcer of the guard, and Freycinet, lieutenant, reported to their *'Citoyen Commandant" that the despised position, *'a tribord a la grande vergue," was "celle d'honneur a la marine Franyaise, and that it was **par exc^s de dt^f6^ence que nous Tavons accorded aux couleors Anglois/* Baudin wrote a long letter to Harris, and sent a copy to King. He complained of *Ma conduite l^gere et pen reflechie" of Harris in his report. *'Ce qui est arrivee au Casnmina est trop puhlique pour etre revoqude sans doute," but he ex23ected Harris to explain that it was by error or on false report that he had for a moment doubted the intention of the French officers to show the respect due to the flag of His Britannic Majesty. Harris wrote so violently in reply that it is creditable both to Baudin and King that the affair, which might have caused much trouble, was lulled to rest. King acknowledged that ** instead of any slight being intended to the English flag, the utmost attention had been paid to it ;" and, to allay excitement in Sydney, published an extract from the French Marine Instructions designating
- ' the starboard main yardarra'* as the place of honour.
It was arranged that the dignity of the CasuHrina should he recognised. She was to sahite the English flag with thu'teen ** coups de canon ; and Baudin hoped that the Governor would order ** la forte r esse sur laquelle on arbore le pavilion Anglais de hii rendre son salut en meme nombre
