ADMIRAL BLIGH. 65 
thanked him before his officers, saying, "Bligh, 
I sent for you to thank you; you have sup- 
ported me nobly." 
In 1805, Captain Bligh was appointed Go- 
vernor of New South Wales. The steps which 
he took, with a view to the benefit of the colony, 
in accordance with instructions laid down for 
him by the Government at home, dated St. 
James's, May 25, 1805, occasioned much dissa- 
tisfaction to some persons on the spot ; though 
his measures obtained the written approbation of 
His Majesty's Government. The instructions 
given him had been directed against the unre- 
strained importation of spirits into the settle- 
ment; the colonists having been in the constant 
habit of bartering their goods for ardent spirits. 
Lord Castlereagh, in a letter dated London, 
Dec. 31, 1807, wrote to Governor Bligh as 
follows: — "I am to express His Majesty's 
approbation of the determination you have 
adopted to put an end to the barter of spirits, 
which appears to have been abused to the great 
injury and morals of the colony ; and I am to 
recommend, that, whatever regulations you may 
find it most eligible to establish for the sale of 
spirits, you will never admit a free importation, 
but preserve the trade under your entire control ; 
and that you will not fail vigorously to levy 
the penalties you shall establish for preventing 
illegal import." 
In his energetic efforts to abolish this evil, 
and in the fearless discharge of his duty, Bligh 
gave deep offence. He was too inflexible to be 
popular; and in January, 1808, he was deposed 
e2 
