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[Page 3]
orders for the Porpoise to proceed to Port Dalrymple for to bring him up to Port Jackson; and which sailed shortly after. The return of the Porpoise was awaited with anxiety by the inhabitants in general, but on her arrival, to the great surprise, Col. Paterson had declined coming up. I had a letter from him, and he says he has for some time laboured under a rheumatic complaint in his head, which if he did not get the better of in the course of the winter, he should think of taking an early opportunity of returning to England; but from various causes he had declined taking a passage to Port Jackson in the Porpoise. And he thought his presence would have but little effect, otherwise than increasing his present complaint. The public being thus disappointed in their expectation, Col. Paterson soon became the subject of censure, and I myself begun to be of opinion, that if Lieut. Col. Foveaux (who was daily looked for with the troops) arrived and Gov. Bligh was reinstated in the command, Col. Paterson would be seriously injured; and I resolved, if possible, to insense him of the danger. However, on Foveaux' arrival, fortunately for Col. Paterson, he acted otherwise, and in long a vessel was dispatched to Port Dalrymple; but as before, returned without Col. Paterson. The account in circulation for his not coming now, was the vessel not allowing the necessary accommodations; probably for his family. And the Porpoise was again to proceed for him, which at the present moment is upon the point of sailing. But though the general talk had been before, first, that Col Paterson had disapproved of what had been done - second, that he would have nothing to do with it - and now, that he had taken part with the rising party, and had actually given orders for Gov. Bligh to quit the Government House at Sydney, and to go to Parramatta; and hold himself in readiness for his voyage (to England I suppose). If this is a fact, I do not know what to say in his behalf. This is certain that a Mr Davidson * went to Port Dalrymple and being a tool of McArthur's, no doubt but with
* It has been given out that this young man is a nephew of Sir Walter Farquhar, and of considerable fortune. He came into the Colony with McArthur about three years ago; and has an extensive grant of land. I think his friends will have to lament that they have entrusted him to the entorage of such a dispicable fellow as McArthur. Though he is old enough to think for himself, yet I think he is to be pityed.