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[Page 4]
"self. The indulgence given to the soldiers, and the disappointment the community have and with, is certainly an unlimited stretch of power, and cannot answer and other and, than protecting you in your citadel, at the risk of increasing the weight of your burthen.
At length it was plainly seen to every one that the Colonial Secretary was in possession of the command, and that you had been made a tool of in the business to answer his ambitious views. This so incensed some of the settlers as to make the attempt of getting him dismissed, but finding it would be at the hazard of a prosecution, they gave up their hopes as fruitless.* If I am rightly informed, you said you could not pay any attention to their request, unless some charge was brought him. To the appearance of a stranger this is no more than a just demand. But suppose the stranger is made acquainted with the secretaries character, and that he alledged a crime against you in the year 1800, on account of which you went to England, then Sir, the demand will be declared unjust. The discontentment of the people was a charge sufficient to have told you no further enquiry was wanting. You may tell me your wound has long been healed. But, Sir, I say the scar still remains visible: and though I may admire the goodness of your heart in forgiving an enemy, yet it is a breach of honor, and an insult to the community, in suffering him to manage the affairs of the public. The discontentment of the people increasing, you sent circular letters to your officers, accusing them of neglect in supporting you after having urged you to arrest His Excellency, but speaking in terms of commendation of the secretary. By this one would suspect that you have some intention of throwing the greatest blame upon them; or that they are all equally criminal with yourself, and that it would be in vain for them to retreat after having gone to such a length. The contents of this letter becoming public has exposed you the more, for it is rumoured you are not the author, but the secretary himself.
The motley crowds which were encouraged, instead of being instantly suppressed; and the numbers you have let loose upon the public, would evidently open a source for the greatest evils; and from this I may attribute the numerous thefts and robberies which of late have been committed. Nothing can shew a specimen of worse management than a number of convicts seizing a ship in the harbour, and escaping from the Colony. It is a neglect of so foul a nature, as to insult not only to violate the law of nations, but to insult both justice and commerce. By the office of the Judge Advocate being vacant owing to your having set aside the legal one; and the one you had appointed being dismissed and quitted the colony, the rabble of the vulgar had imbibed a notion, let them commit almost any crime, there would be no capital punishment which greatly lessened your authority, you were reduced to the necessity of appointing another in order to preserve the command and to call a court to try and execute some of the culprits. However you may plead as this being the only resource to be adopted for the protection of private property, you did not confine yourself to these limits, but gave way to suffer an officer + of the establishment, who had been appointed in England, to be transported. Let him be guilty"
* Three Magistrates whom you had appointed, you now dismissed, on account of acquiescing with the Settlers.
+ The Provost Marshal