Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 2]
to repel an attack, and which I prefer rather than to stand motionless to be jeered and bullied, for such is the treatment that I have oftentimes met with. The office of a Governor must and ought to be respected, yet I consider such language beneath the dignity of one in such a situation. But good nature would wish to lay aside such proceedings, yet I have two cases that I cannot help informing you. The first happened in Nov. 1801. The man that was with me at that time was well known by the natives, and they were very partial to him. The Revd Samuel Marsden fixed upon him one evening, for him to conduct a large party of soldiers and others for to apprehend the natives by force in the night. The man came and informed me of it. I well know what would be the case by such proceedings. I went and told Mr Marsden of it. He answered me what was my life, or his own, or any other man's to to the colony at large. I said I considered my life as sweet to me as any other person did theirs, and that what he had just said was a bolder word than I could say. He then said he both must and would have him, and what was Sir Joseph Banks's plants and bother to the welfare of the colony. I then immediately withdrew. Early the next morning the man sent me word that he was in prison. I went and asked him what he had been doing, he said he had done nothing amiss, and that he did not know what he was confined for. I then waited upon Mr Marsden to know the cause, who said it was, because he refused to go. I told him I had reasons to believe otherwise. He then told me that he had an opinion, that I had persuaded him not to go. This I denyed, and requested him to explain his opinion. His answer was because the man had informed me that he was fixed upon for to go,