THE FOUNDING OF AUSTRALIA 223 



Party spirit was fierce, and Mac Arthur was acquitted. 

 The Colony was a volcano in active operation. At length, 

 affairs culminated in the arrest and imprisonment of 

 Governor Bligh, by Major George Johnston, one of the 

 disaffected persons who were profiting by the trade in 

 ardent spirits. Johnston was presently sent home to be 

 court-martialed, and duly cashiered. This was very 

 damaging to Governor Bligh, who had only done his 

 plain duty, and with as much consideration as possible 

 for offenders. The Government at home were obliged to 

 recall him, and he returned to England. He was made 

 a Vice- Admiral in 1814. 



Colonel William Paterson remained in command : a 

 man very popular, who had been Lieutenant-Governor 

 under King. He was of the New South Wales Corps, and 

 made a good settler ; and was, besides, an indefatigable 

 Botanist. 



Sir Joseph Banks to Mrs. Bligh. 



" April 16, 1809. . . . The Government have not 

 altered their intention of recalling your husband. Good 

 often arises out of evil. His conduct, always in my 

 opinion honourable, just, and equitable, has been more 

 than once canvassed in his absence, where he has been 

 unjustly, indecently, and scandalously misused. Un- 

 fortunate as we are in the unwise decision of His Majesty's 

 Ministers to recall him, this evil must produce the good 

 consequence of his being able to answer for himself such 

 charges as may be brought against him. The result, 

 you and I cannot doubt, will be favourable ; and will 

 throw a light on former transactions, not a little impor- 

 tant to his good fame." 



All these things, however, thrust into Banks's hands 

 because high officials found him an indispensable adviser, 

 were not the affairs which gave him most concern. He 



