NARRATIVE OF THE MUTINY, &c. 223 



nant-Colonel Brougliton had with these deluded men, it evidently 

 appears there has been too much pains taken, by some villains 

 in this island, to misrepresent, or construe, every act of the Gover- 

 nor, as tyrannical and oppressive. On the contrary, he will venture 

 to say, that no former governor had ever been so attentive to the 

 comforts, as well as to the improvement, of the moral character of 

 the garrison. He has never ceased to do his utmost to augment 

 the produce of the lands, by which alone can the necessaries of 

 life be reduced in price, and thereby come within the reach of a 

 soldier's pay. It is true the issues of spirits have been disconti- 

 nued ; and this is by order of the Court of Directors. Tt is his 

 duty to obey ; and what tlie soldiers did demand, it is impossible 

 to give. The garrison may recollect the shameful excesses that 

 were committed lately, after the arrival of 12 casks of rum from 

 the Cape, and the great increase of patients in the hospital, which 

 immediately followed ; notwithstanding the soldiers were limited 

 to half-daily rations of spirits. Tt was for these reasons that the 

 Governor did recommend to Mr. Pringle, at the Cape, not to send 

 the remaining casks ; but, at the same time, he reciuested him to 

 send Cape wine, which is hourly expected ; in order to give a 

 trial and to ascertain if this substitute for spirits would be accept- 

 able : ifso, it would be provided in sufficient quantity to afford 

 regular issues, at the rate of one pint per day to each man. It is 

 also well known, when any soldier's term of service is expired, 

 that the Governor has never, in any instance, refused his discharge. 

 Wherefore, if any are dissatisfied with the changes that have 

 taken place on this establishment, they have it always in their 

 power to quit it, when tlieir term of service shall have been ex- 

 pired. Nay, the Governor will even go further; for if there be 

 any effective men here who dislike their situations, because they 

 have not an opportunity of committing excessive intemperance, 



