Our references to this matter have been entirely to [Sidenote:  1829] the minutes of the court-martial and to writers who wrote long enough ago to have had a personal knowledge of the subject or acquaintance with actors in the events.  The lady whose letter we have quoted in the first pages of this chapter refers us to Lang’s History for a justification of Bligh, and Dr. Lang, as is well known to students of Australian history, wrote more strongly in that governor’s favour than did any other writer.  Dr. Lang tells us that the behaviour of certain subordinates towards MacArthur was highly improper, and that MacArthur’s speech in open court was “calculated to give great offence to a man of so exceedingly irritable disposition as Governor Bligh.”  Again, Dr. Lang says that Bligh by no means merited unqualified commendation for his government of New South Wales, and that the truth lies between the most unqualified praise and the most unqualified vituperation which the two sides of this quarrel have loaded upon his memory.

Judge Therry, who came to New South Wales in 1829, in a judicial summing up of the causes of this revolt, gives Bligh full credit for his attempt to govern well, and condemns in strong terms the outrageous conduct of the New South Wales Regiment; but he describes Bligh as a despotic man who “had proved his incapacity to govern a ship’s crew whom he had driven to mutiny, yet had been made absolute ruler of a colony.”  Says Therry:—­

“The extravagant and illegal proceedings to which these men” (the Judge-Advocate and his blackguard attorney) “had recourse contributed perhaps more than even the shortcomings of Bligh himself to the catastrophe that ensued.  The governor’s conflicts with many, but especially with MacArthur, were bitter and incessant through his career.”

Says Dr. West, writing in 1852:—­

“The governor resolved to bring to trial the six officers, who had repelled the Judge-Advocate, for treasonable practices; and, as a preliminary step, ordered that they should appear before the bench of magistrates, of whom Colonel Johnston, their commander, was one.  It was now supposed that Bligh intended to constitute a novel court of criminal jurisdiction, and that he had resolved to carry to the last extremes the hostility he had declared.  Colonel Johnston, as a measure of self-defence, was induced to march his regiment to Government House, and place His Excellency under arrest, demanding his sword and his commission as governor.  This transaction throughout caused a very strong sensation, both in the colony and at home.  Opinions widely differ respecting its origin and its necessity.  That it was illegal, it may be [Sidenote:  1811] presumed, no one will deny; that it was wanton is not so indisputable.  The unfortunate termination of Bligh’s first expedition to Tahiti, the imputations of harshness and cruelty for ever fastened to his name, and