Lieutenant James Symons, late acting commander of the Porpoise, was transmitted to me by Lieutenant Symons, in which the colonel requests him to bring down the Porpoise to Port Dalrymple, with a supply of stores and provisions for that settlement, and to bring him up to Port Jackson, in order to his taking the government on him, during the suspension of Captain Bligh. Major Johnstone also made to me a similar request. I proceeded, therefore, in H.M. ship under my command, and arrived at that settlement on the 27th of the same month. After landing the stores, &c. I received a letter from Colonel Paterson, which I take the liberty to read.
“Sir,– I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, acquainting me of the arrival of His Majesty’s ship Porpoise, with a supply of provisions and stores for the colony, and for the purpose of conveying me to Port Jackson; but I must inform you, that a representation from Major Johnstone, referent to the intention I had formed, causes me to protract my leaving this settlement until I am possessed of some further information necessary on the subject of it.
“I have, at the same time to express my particular satisfaction at the alacrity with which you have complied with the request I had judged it expedient to make, for the benefit of His Majesty’s service; and to inform you I shall not fail to apprize His Majesty’s Ministers of the promptitude of your attention. I have the honor to be, &c.
“To Captain Kent, commanding H.M.S. Porpoise.”
“On the 16th of May I got under weigh, and in dropping down the harbour, the ship unfortunately struck on a sunken rock, which misfortune, with other adverse occurrences from bad weather, but not material to my case, prevented my arrival at Port Jackson till the 26th of May.
“This service of conveying stores and provisions to Port Dalrymple is the ground of the first charge; and I am accused of proceeding on that voyage, without the order of Captain Bligh, or any person duly authorised to give such order. But the Honorable Court will please to observe, that I did not sail till a written recognition of Captain Bligh’s suspension, under his own hand, was transmitted to me, in which he solemnly renounces any command whatever, or any interference in the affairs of the colony. Could I conceive that acquiescence in the request of the acting government, so recognised by Captain Bligh himself, would afterwards be made the vehicle of a charge, which in fact accuses me of the grossest act of insubordination? Could I, consistently with my duty, and having Captain Bligh’s written recognition of his suspension in my hand, which virtually exacted from me obedience to the acting government, refuse to go to sea? What defence could I have made, had I, by such refusal, entailed serious injury on the dependant colonies? The Court will perceive, by my