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Dublin 21st Septr 1808
Rt Honble Sir Joseph Banks
Sir
Every loyal Englishman views the mutiny that Major Johnston and his officers have effected in New South Wales with an eye of detestation.
This infernal plot has been in agitation from the moment the military officers or in other words the Military Huxters stationed in that Colony discovered Governor Bligh's fixed determination to abolish monopoly and put a final period to that degrading system of traffick for which the whole of those officers have been justly celebrated since the year 1794, with the exception of Colonel Paterson and Captain John Piper.
The Efforts that were made by Governor King to suppress the insolence of Major Johnston and the officers under his Command, involved that Governor into difficulties allmost tantamount to those which have befel that Gallant Veteran Governor Bligh. The incendiaries that have buoyed up Major Johnston to the Commission of this Crime are John McArthur & William Minchin, "the succession of Quarrels the former has been famous for with Governors - Hunter - King - Colonel Paterson and Bligh need no recapitulation, and the latter has been repeatedly tried by General Courts Martial. I refer you to General Grose for his character," as to that General what confidence can be placed in his integrity. The unfortunate officers - Atkins - Palmer - Gore & Campbell were the only men who made a stand in defence of Governor Bligh's authority and person, they have shared his fate, and if they escape assassination they will prove the atrocity of this revolution and share the necessity there is to remove Mr McArthur and the New South Wales Corps from that Colony. Perhaps Sir Joseph you are unacquainted with the particular Circumstances of this wanton act of Rebellion. The following is a correct detail. January 28th last Major Johnston ordered the drum beat to arms the Consequence was the Regiment assembled and a mob of about two hundred convicts, Major Johnston placed himself at their head and marched to the Government house, where he called aloud for the Governor to surrender 'the Governor alarmed for his personal safety concealed himself", the Major then ordered a body of Soldiers to rush into the house and by force of arms to bring the Governor to him, after searching some time the Governor was forced from his retirement and treated by the Soldiers and mob in a most cruel and insulting manner. Major Johnston in rude ungentlemanlike language demanded the Governors