NARRATIVE OF THE MUTINY, &c. 209 



I found a garrison, as well as many of the inhabitants, immersed 

 in the grossest intemperance, from the facility of obtaining, and 

 their excessive use of, spirituous liquors ; and I found that abuses 

 obtained in some of the departments. The measures I resorted 

 to, in correcting so many existing evils, (and whicli have ])een 

 honoured by your entire approbation), must be in the recollec- 

 tion of your Honourable Court. 



Whilst I was carrying forward my official duties, upon princi- 

 ples of strict justice between the Company and individuals, I 

 was often assailed with reports of intended mutinies. These 

 were sometimes conveyed in anonymous papers, and circulated, 

 no doubt, with a view of intimidating me from persevering in a 

 system of reform, which had become necessary, and which I was 

 firmly resolved to pursue. Although these vile means, and some 

 other circumstances, evinced a general dissatisfaction, yet, con- 

 scious of the uprightness of my conduct, I totally disregarded 

 them, and those factious and discontented men, who took the lead 

 in these despicable and seditious attempts, finding that their mean 

 and unbecoming artifice had not the desired etfect, were apparently 

 lulled for many months past. Very lately, however, when a 

 temporary inconvenience was felt, arising from our reduced stock 

 of flour, and the total want of rice in the public stores, this 

 occasion was eagerly laid hold of, and became a plea for the 

 revival of unreasonable demands, accompanied with menaces of 

 mutiny and rebellion. 



The want of bread corn was the pretended cause of dissatis- 

 faction : but circumstances have since clearly shewn that the 

 sole object of the late violent measures, was to compel this govern- 

 ment to give spirits to the garrison ; an object in which every 

 drunkard on the island iV'lt'a deep and warm interest. 



The first symptoms of discantent appeared on Sunday morning 



Ee 



