APPENDIX.

THE fullest, clearest, and best substantiated account of the present state of the colony of New South Wales was produced in evidence on the trial of Lieutenant-Colonel George Johnson, major of the 102d regiment, late the New South Wales Corps, on a charge of mutiny exhibited against him by the crown, for deposing, on the 26th January, 1808, William Bligh, Esq. F. R. S. then Captain in his Majesty's navy (and since appointed Rear-admiral of the Blue) CaptainGeneral and Governor in Chief, in and over the territory of New South Wales and its dependencies, held before a general court-martial at Chelsea Hospital, Tuesday, May 7th, 1811. We shall therefore exhibit an abstract of the most material evidence adduced on this important trial, as far as it tends to elucidate the causes of that singular transaction, or to communicate a knowledge of the circumstances of the coJony. The court was constituted as follows :

MEMBERS.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL KEPPEL, President.

Lieut.-Gen. Sir D. Baird.

Hon. E. Finch.
Dowdeswell.

Major-General Kerr.

Colonel Anson.

Loglin.

Lieut.-Col. Lord Proby.

Lieut.-Gen. Milner.

M'Donald.

Major-Gen. Hon. E. Paget.

Colonel Burnet.

Fyers.

Buller.

Lieut.-Col. Paterson.

Rt. Hon. CHARLES MANNERS SUTTON, Judge Adv. Gen. The warrant for holding the court, together with the charge against Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson, were read by the Judge Advocate, as follows:

G. P. R.

WHEREAS it hath been most humbly represented unto us, that the following charge hath been preferred against LieutenantColonel George Johnston, Major in his Majesty's 102d regiment of foot, viz.

"That Lieutenant-Colonel George Johnston, Major as aforesaid, did, on or about the 26th day of January, 1808, at Sydney, in the colony of New South Wales, begin, excite, cause, and join in a mutiny, by putting himself at the head of the New South Wales Corps, then under his command and doing duty in the colony, and seizing and causing to be seized and arrested, and imprisoning and causing to be imprisoned, by means of the above-mentioned military force, the person of William Bligh, Esq. then Captain-General and Governor in Chief in and over the territory of New South Wales:"

Which charge we have thought fit should be inquired into by a General Court Martial :---Our will and pleasure therefore is, in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, that a General Court Martial be forthwith held on this occasion, which is to consist of Lieutenant-General William Keppel, Colonel of his Majesty's 67th or the South Hampshire regiment of foot, whom we appoint president thereof, and of a sufficient number of other officers of competent rank and quality, who can be conveniently summoned to attend the same. And you are to order the Provost Marshal General of his Majesty's forces, or his deputy, to give no 'ce to the said president and officers, and all others whom it may concern, when and where the said Court Martial is to be held, and to summon such witnesses as may be able to give testimony

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touching the charge above specified; the said Provost Marshal General and his deputy being hereby required to obey your orders, and give their attendance where it shall be requisite. And we do hereby authorise and empower the said General Court Martial to hear and examine all such matters and information as shall be brought before them, touching the charge against the said Lieutenant-Colonel George Johnson, Major as aforesaid, and to proceed in the trial and giving sentence according to the rules of military discipline. And for so doing, this shall be, as well to you as to the General Court Martial, and to all others whom it may concern, a sufficient

warrant.

Given at our Court at Carlton House, this third day of April, 1811, in the fifty-first year of his Majesty's reign. By the command of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty.

To the Right Hon. Charles Manners Sutton,
Judge Advocate General of his Majesty's
Forces, or his Deputy.

R. RYDER.

Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson having pleaded not guilty, Governor Bligh read to the court a statement of the case in substance as follows :--

"In the month of May, 1805, his Majesty was pleased to appoint me Captain General and Governor in Chief of the territory of New South Wales. With my commission, I had the honour to receive instructions under the sign manual accompanied by others from the Secretary of State, directing the conduct I was to pursue in my future government; and thus prepared, on the 28th of January, 1806, I sailed from England, having a commission as a post-captain of his Majesty's ship Porpoise, with a commander under me, and was afterwards directed by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to wear a broad pendant, constituting me a commodore,

and to hoist the same on board of such other ship as might be at New South Wales.

" I arrived there on the 5th of August following, and on the 13th read my commission, took the necessary oaths, and superceded Governor King in the command of the colony and its dependencies. On this occasion I received respectful addresses from the military and civil officers, free inhabitants, and others, congratulating me on my appointment and safe arrival, which were shortly afterwards followed by some others, that convinced me that dissentions prevailed in the settlement, and that much attention on my part would be necessary to preserve the peace and promote the unanimity of the inhabitants.

"To ascertain the state of the colony, I visited many of the inhabitants individually, and witnessed many melancholy proofs of their wretched condition. A want even of the common necessaries of life was too prevalent, particularly at the extensive settlement of the Hawkesbury; and although Sydney, the head-quarters, formed some exception to the general aspect, yet there the inhabitants and public storehouses were falling into decay; industry was declining; while a pernicious fondness for spirituous liquors was gaining ground, to the destruction of public morals and private happiness."

Governor Bligh then proceeded to state the measures he adopted to check the pernicious custom of bartering spirits; the committal of Mr M'Arthur; the conduct of the six officers that formed the criminal court appointed to try him; and his subsequent release by order of Major Johnson.

"Immediately after the order for the release of M'Arthur," he continued, "there followed an operation of the main guard close to the gate of the Government-House, and the regiment marched down from the barracks led on by Major Johnston and the other officers, with colours flying and musie playing as they advanced to the house. Within a few minutes after, the house was surrounded; the soldiers quickly broke into all parts of it, and arrested all the magistrates, Mr