NARRATIVE OF THE MUTINY, &c. 213 



utmost attention to every fair and reasonable representation of 

 the soldiers throngli the medium of their officers; and will be 

 ready at all times to extend any necessary indulgence, as far as 

 may be consistent with the estaldished regulations, or compatible 

 with his duty ; but it must not be expected that he will ever depart 

 from these principles ; and of which no reasonable man can 

 complain. 



" With this view, he will issue immediate orders for assembling 

 a special court of inquiry, in order to ascertain on what plea or 

 pretext, the murmurs that began on Friday morning were occa- 

 sioned ; and he will afterwards adopt such measures as he may 

 deem proper, 



" The soldiers in this garrison should also be reminded that 

 similar inconvenience to the present (if it may be so called) has 

 not been unfrequent. In the year 1747 so great was the distress 

 for flour, rice, and meat on this island, that the rations were 

 limited to half a pound of meat per day, and to Jive pounds of 

 bread per week. In 1797, for similar reasons, the weekly rations 

 were regulated at three pounds of bread, at two-pence per 

 pound, and at eight pounds of potatoes, at a penny a pound. 

 These facts appear on the records ; but at those periods, even 

 although the rations were reduced^ no murmuring or dissatisfac- 

 tion shewed itself; all descriptions of persons submitted to the 

 existing circumstances, because they were unavoidable. 



" It gives the Governor sincere concern to be compelled to draw 

 these comparisons, yet he trusts the future conduct of the soldiers 

 (which he will do them the justice to say for these two years past, 

 would have reflected credit on any garrison), may hereafter con- 

 vince him, that the errors into which they have fallen, have only 

 proceeded from the causes he has conjectured." 



C. K. G. HODSON, 

 Town Major. 



