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[Page 2]
"To Major Johnston of the New South Wales Corps.
New South Wales, July 7. 1808
Sir
"I shall not make any apology for writing to you through the medium of a newspaper, thinking the compliment would be of very little use; but before I enter upon the chief design of my letters, I shall explain the reason why I have not addressed you with the rank of Lieut. Governor, else, you might imagine I was void of civility, and paid no respect to men in office. The manner which you have obtained this rank, fully convinces me it is fictitious, and, consequently, what you are not entitled to, therefore to adopt it, would not only be conceding, but sanctioning the fraud.
It is a common saying, they who live nearest to the seat of the British Government, enjoy the greater liberties; by the same rule, the inhabitants of this colony may be said to enjoy the least; if daily experience did not prove the fact. Though the law means nearly the same, yet through licentious abuse, the similitude is so unlike as scarcely to admit of comparison*. However, in countries groaning under despotism, a latent spark oftentimes remains, that the most absolute tyrants, with all their vigilance, can not extinguish; which at times blazes out afresh, and threatens to consume the fabric of the despot: such is the law of nature! Then, Sir, do not presume to think, though clothed in a coat of mail, that you are invulnerable.
The subterfuge manner in which you acted, when the soldiers became so mutinous on the trial of one of their late officers, is too barefaced for me to pass over in silence. Various reports were rumoured, intimating that you had fallen out of your chaise and was dangerously hurt: that you were even dead; and really, some of your well-wishers were so disturbed, as to repair to your home to know the truth of the assertion. When His Excellency the Governor sent for you, instead of waiting on him instantly, at so critical a juncture, you delayed the time; and when you made your appearance, it was not in the manner he expected to see you. It is evident, you pushed behind the curtain while every preparation was making necessary for your appearance upon the stage. On the Judge Advocate committing the person on trial being committed to prison on a charge of having escaped from justice to prison for his insolent behaviour in court the soldiers became the more outrageous, and now, both the Jail and Government House are threatened with destruction. The business now being ripe to gratify your mistaken zeal, you are sent for post haste. + On your arrival, as an officer, and commander of the troops, you ought to have used every exertion in restoring public tranquility, but instead of making the least effort, you became the ring-leader of the faction, headed the munitous soldiers, marched them up to Government House with flying colours and a band of music, took possession of it, con[fined]
* In England it is customary to remove soldiers from the county towns on holding the assizes; whether it is done for the better accommodation of the public, or to prevent any encroachment on the civil power, is a matter I have not enquired into, but in both views it appears salutary. Here on the contrary the soldiers have been suffered to put the Judge Advocate in fear when exercising the functions of his duty.
+ His residence was distant about three miles.