Copy of a letter received by Banks from William Bligh, titled 'An Account of the Rebellion', 30 June 1808 (Series 40.091) - No. 0081

[Page 81]

and health.  This Officer, I understand has publickly [publicly] disavowed the authority of the present rulers; and I beg leave to inclose Copies of two private letters from him the last of which is dated since my arrest and the other on the day it took place.  Both the Derwent and Port Dalrymple Settlements were in a state of Improvement, and advancing with this part of the Territory, but the unparalled [unparallelled] Act of Rebellion which has taken place, is a very great check to them, and will, I fear increase the public debt.  Had the Colony gone on in the way it was proceeding, every poor man would have paid his debt this year but what a melancholy reverse is now they will still remain embarrassed and require indulgence.  At present not a person dares to speak and their fears and anxieties are kept up by the Soldiery who give out as a cant phrase "the Colour of my Cloth", whenever it is required of them to say by what authority they make any demand, or do any thing improper to other classes of person.  These Troops are now kept in a pampered manner while the poor prisoner is in nearly a starving condition and the Friends of Government inform me that to a certainty the Inhabitants lament in

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