made an attempt to leave the port. Molle and Macquarie were on bad terms, and Campbell, always very faithful to his chief, was anything but cordial to the Lieutenant-Governor; but at midday on the 2nd September he warned him that the Chapman was to be carried off the next night. No attempt was made, however, until next morning, when she "hoisted a Blue Peter and fired a gun as a signal for her leaving the port". Molle did not know what to do, and sent round to Campbell, who refused to assist or suggest. He pointed out that he had warned Molle the day before, and as he had not heard what measures had then been taken, he could not presume to offer advice on the situation.[1]
Molle then sent a military guard on board with orders to fire on the officers "in case the ship offered to move".[2]
On the 4th September, Drake wrote to the Governor stating that his ship was ready for sea and demanding the cause of detention; and not receiving an answer, applied to the Judge-Advocate. He learned that certain officers must be detained, but the ship might depart as soon as he had replaced them.[3] On the 24th he asked for the ship's register, and the naval officer of course refused to give it up.
"I stated," Drake wrote to Macquarie on the 14th October, "to the Special Committee … on the 4th instant, that I had nothing further to offer in evidence. The same indecision seems still to pervade their councils, the ship's register is withheld, the ship is occupied by a military force and laying at heavy expenses ready for sea."[4] He wrote again in a similar strain on 28th October. The Secretary replied: "I have it now in command from his Excellency to inform you that he cannot possibly interfere in your case until the Court of Enquiry shall have reported on the circumstances of the charges alleged against you. His Excellency desires it to be perfectly understood that the detention of certain officers of the ship Chapman on criminal charges need not at all interfere with the ship proceeding
