Transcription

[MS 238]

he then left his returned situation to see the new — production which was a paper drawn up he supposed by Mr McArthur for the arrest of Govr Bligh and further  ------- ----- [indecipherable] because I saw my friend Blaxlands name to the paper with whom I had dined that day  I rote my own under- but did not read the paper. By this time the troops was marching in battle array and before sunset [crossed out - the Govr was] his Excellency Govr Bligh was deposed - the grounds of the arrest as noted by Major Johnson is as follows
"Head Quarters  26 Jany  1808

SAO-
The present alarming State of the Colony having induced the Princible Inhabitants to call upon me to interpose the military power for their relief and place His Excellency Govr B in arrest I have with the advise of my officers considered it necessary for the good of His Majesties service to comply with the requisition of the inhabitants - I do therefore hereby proclaim Marshall Law in this Colony to which all present are commanded untill measures - can be adopted for the restoration of the Civil Law on a permanent foundation - " Thus the whole colony was convulsed, and your superior penitration will be how unjustly all those ---- [indecipherable word and one crossed out] way that has thrown us into so much confusion and distress - as to the Inhabitants requesting Major Johnson to put His Excellency in arrest not Ten of them knew any thing about it until after it took place and you may learn from Dr Townsend's declarations above that they was not determined upon it themselves I am informed from good authority 

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