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[Page 3]
which he did by No. 4 addressed to William Bligh Esqre &c. &c. &c.
4th By Lieut. Colonel Foveaux I had the honor to receive a Letter from Mr. Cooke of the 31st December 1807, which gave me infinite satisfaction, as it expressed Lord Castlereagh's approbation of my conduct, in the measures I was taking to prevent the Barter of Spirits, and his Lordship's hopes that there would be no Officer, or Gentleman, or Planter in the Colony, who would not give me the most cordial assistance in any measure which had a tendency to remedy those Evils which the intemperate use of Spirits so universally generates. Had not the word "Private" been written on this Letter, I should not have got it; for all public documents, altho' directed to me, are taken possession of as belonging to the concerns of the Colony: besides the guilt of this act, it is a most afflicting circumstance to know, that these Persons should be in possession of any of the Secretary of State's Despatches.
5th Mr. Cooke's Letter informed me also, that, Lieut. Colonel Foveaux was to proceed to Norfolk Island, if not coactuated. Had I been in power, the partial coactuation might not have prevented Lord Castlereagh's designs being put into execution, but Lieut. Colonel Foveaux seemed