56 GOVERNOR BLIGH. 
tween them ; and the third, the Vrijheid, almost 
a hulk, silenced, and striking to the British flag. 
The canton of the Dutch flag is in the possession 
of these ladies. 
The seamen had now all returned to their 
duty ; and on the 19th of December a public 
and solemn Thanksgiving to God was held in 
St. Paul's Cathedral, for the three great naval 
victories obtained by Lords Howe, St. Vincent, 
and Duncan. 
In 1801, Bligh commanded the Glatton at the 
battle of Copenhagen, under Lord Nelson, who, 
having sent for him after the action, thanked 
him before his officers, saying, " Bligh, I sent 
for you to thank you ; you have supported 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 parties 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 settlement; 
the colonists having been in the constant habit 
of bartering their goods for ardent spirits. In a 
vigorous attempt to abolish this evil, Bligh gave 
deep offence; and in January 1808, he was de- 
posed at Sydney by the New South Wales Corps, 
* Dated December 31, 1807 
