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[Page 7]
to proceed to Rio Janeiro without any further delay; & to request I would give an order to him to leave 12 Convicts on board the Porpoise to aid him in sailing the Ship. As the Admiralty had given Capt. Short a fixed complement of Men & he had not got their approbation to bear any supernumeraries I refused interfering.
Capt. Short also requested I would determine on going into Rio Janeiro, altho contrary to the order form the Admiralty, which also I refused. This is his kind of conduct, when in distress he wants my support, but otherwise very insulting. Lieut. Putland came with the message and related that he was Officer of the Watch, when by our sailing out of the river we were before in (wch. I have before mentioned) Capt. Short ordered the Two Guns to be fired at us. Poor Young Man he was much agitated, as in a violent rage Capt. Short ordered it to be done, & told him, with another gun ready Sir You are to fire into her if she does not bear down. He describes the rage & brutality of the Man beyond every thing & firstly remarks, could he got no one to fire but him who had a Father & a Wife on board.
You will understand my Dear Sir, that my orders are to direct the Course, therefore that may be done by signal or otherwise; & that Capt. Shorts conduct in this instance is highly reprehensible.