which accused him of "conniving at, if not participating in, that mean species of trade which has so often been with me subject of complaint, and which I have so long in vain been struggling to repress." His admission that he had struggled in vain was testimony to the necessity of his recall, but it was natural that he should be blind to the fact. Conscious of rectitude of intention, he may be pardoned for thinking that he had done all that was possible. His successor, on whom fell the invidious task of replacing him, far from impugning his character, wrote "His public conduct has been guided by the most upright intentions, but he has been most shamefully deceived by those upon whom he had every reason to depend for assistance and advice." But Hunter could not be comforted.
Sir J. Banks, informing King of Hunter's arrival in England, said "Hunter was received, as you might expect, civilly, but not warmly. He began to complain, but the answer was obvious. The king's pleasure to remove. him did not imply any censure of his conduct. Another man might be thought fitter without any fault being found with his proceedings. The state in which that "other man" found the colony was described by him in a memorandum which is still in existence.
"From the visits received and the warmth of attention shown me, my arrival and remaining in the government seemed to be generally well liked and anxiously looked for. Still I could not help foreboding that many of those who now smiled on the rising sun would change their ideas when the proceedings which the good nature of my predecessor had sanctioned should be any ways checked, which was the principal object of my mission. Vice in every shape appeared to be tolerated; not by authority, for that was blinded, but by the artifice and cupidity of those whose interest was so much concerned in those excesses not being noticed. One ship-load of spirits was not disposed of; cellars, from those of the better sort to those of the blackest characters in the colony, were full of spirits; the Supply hulk was the receptacle of upwards of (sic) ———— gallons of spirits, the property of a commissioned officer. The information I gained sufficiently informed me that a total change in the measures hitherto pursued was absolutely necessary. But at the same time I was well assured that measures must be adopted with caution, and persevered in, as violent or sudden steps would by no means answer.
"I could not help reflecting that the colony I was shortly to direct and to perform the unpopular task of becoming a reformer in, was composed of persons in authority who, for some time past, had been, if not sanctioned, allowed to carry on the most oppressive monopolies, to the prejudice and ruin of the other description, who, although banished their native country for the worst of crimes, could, if their industry had not been
