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[Page 8]
& reflection in that community. On this account I did not think it right to expose Mr Fulton to the mortification he must certainly feel by being placed where there are a number of Officers who will know how to draw that line of distinction which I have stated."
It will appear something extraordinary to you Madam, that Mr Marsden should be a better judge of what was mortifying to me than I am myself. I might ask Mr Marsden whether, when he insinuates that I was excluded from the Officers company, he means the Officers who were likely to turn Rebels or those who would sooner perish than have their fidelity or loyalty called in question. He has been long among them & knows them, if he says the former I would think their company dishonorable & dangerous, if he says the latter, I have transmitted to his Lordship the Bishop of Derry, certificates from each of them, shewing I partook of Gov. King's hospitalities, & that they frequently dind & suppd in company with me at Gov. Bligh's table, but as I said before I never receivd any mortification of the kind he mentiond, except from himself since I came to the Colony. It's true I was two or three years in the country before any person askd me to dine with them, except Mr Johnston the former Chaplain, & I beleive I dind once with Mr Marsden before I was two years in the Country. I have kept the best company in the colony or none. Since I came here, & certainly the Governor, or any other Gentleman may ask me to dine with him or not, without any insult to me, whatever character I may bear, but Mr Marsden knows well that Mr Bellasis an Officer from India, transported for Murder, was emancipated on his arrival & admitted into the first society in this Country & to Gov King's table. It's true neither the manners nor morals of