THE NEW SOUTH WALES CORPS. 103 taken up cliiefly with matters personal to herself and her ^^^ husband^ it is of interest as bearing on the conduct of the men who had charge of the convict vessels in those days. Mr. and Mrs. Macarthur underwent many trials on board the Neptune. Trouble began before the fleet left England. While the Neptune was at Plymouth, Macarthur had a dispute with Captain Gilbert, the master of the vessel, and fought a a dud. duel with him on shore.* Captain Nepean, who was in charge of the detachment on board, sent an account of the affair to his brother the Under Secretary, and Captain Gilbert was superseded by Captain ^J^^ Trail. So far as the Macarthurs were concerned, the change aupcraeded. was for the worse. They were subjected to serious annoy- ances, which are fully described in Mrs. Macarthur's journal, and no redress could be obtained from either Captain Trail or Captain Nepean. Affairs on board the Neptune came to a . chmax one day, when Macarthur, having brought his superior officer on deck to hear a complaint against Captain Trail, was reprimanded, instead of receiving the support he looked for. Upon this Macarthur applied for permission to Macarthur •*••*• 'exchanges exchange to tho Scarborough, and as no opposition was Jjo^ offered he completed the voyage in that vessel. The master J^^'L of the Scarborough, Captain Marshall, is very highly spoken
- Accounts of the affair ^t into the London newspapers. The Morning
JPost, of 2nd December, 1789, gives the following version : — "Saturday, in consequence of a private dispute on board the Neptune, Captain G-ilbert, the commander of that ship, attended by his second, Mr. Kelson, of Plymouth Bock, met by appointment Lieutenant Macarthur, of the Botany Bay Bangers, with his second, the surgeon's mate of the Neptune, at the old G-un Wharf, near the Lines. The distance of ten paces being measured, both gentlemen fired their pistols together ; Lieutenant Macarthur's ball passed through Cap- tain Gilbert's coat. They then fired a second pistol each, without effect, when the seconds interposed, and the business was settled by Lieutenant Macarthur declaring Captain Gilbert's conduct was in every respect that of a gentleman and a man of honour. In the evening Lieutenant Macarthur declared the same on the quarter-deck of the Neptune, to the satisfaction of all parties. It is said the quarrel originated on a refusal of Captain Gilbert to admit Lieutenant Macarthur into his own private mess ; at the same time he offered him every accommodation for himself and his family the ship would allow. This brought on some dispute, which occasioned very high words, but we are happy ike duel ended without bloodshed."
