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[Page 3]
and purchase a Cask or two from the Americans from three to four shillings a Gallon, and sell it afterwards for two and three pounds. That in those times the Officers could live, cultivate their Farms and make money but at present, we can do nothing but barely subsist. That the Officers of the Porpoise when at the Derwent commanded by Lieutenant Symons received from the American ship Topaze belonging to the same Merchants as Captain Dorr upwards of eight hundred gallons of Rum, and one hundred and fifty of Gin. That about three hundred of it was only on account of the Ship, for which Bills were drawn on the Victualling Board, and the remainder was purchased by the Officers on their private Account, and afterwards sold at two and three pounds per Gallon.
Extract of Captain Dorrs letter to me of the 22d of March
"In your time I have not only been called upon but pressed against my inclinations by the Officers of the New South Wales Corps to enter into illicit practices, or rather practices against the rules and regulations of the Colony. Upon the suspicions of such practices you well know I have been lately brought before a Vice Admiralty Court held for that purpose, and what is more surprising, by the same man Lt. Govr. Johnston, who gave his free permission to the Officers under him to undertake the smuggling of my Spirits on shore when Wm Bligh Esqr. was Governor andÂ