Mr. Campbell had permission to import 4000 gallons of
spirits for the domestic use of the officers and inhabitants.
He imported 14,631 gallons, although the Marquis of
Wellesley had recently issued a very stringent proclamation
against unauthorized shipments of spirits from India.
Campbell pleaded that as he was a loser by the cattle
speculation he ought to be allowed to sell the spirits thus
surreptitiously put on board. King enlarged his permission
to 8000 gallons, but sent more than 6500 gallons away.
He reported the fact to the Marquis of Wellesley with
earnest entreaty for "kind interference in preventing such
quantities of spirits being sent down here." He told the
Secretary of State (May 1803):
"Against great opposition and with much anxiety I had put a stop to the inundation of spirits. Every settler and individual has felt the benefit, and I did hope that by confining the quantity imported to a sufficiency for the inhabitants' domestic use, every comfort and none of the incouveniences would be felt. However, the quantity brought by this ship from India will, I feel, be an inducement to other adventurers, notwithstanding I have refused Mr. Campbell permission to land a part of the spirits brought by his ship, and informed him that not more than 2000 gallons will be allowed to be landed here from any one ship."
He enclosed a copy of his letter to the Governor-General of India, and added: "If spirits are once more suffered to be brought here, the same beggary and ruin will inevitably ensue to those unfortunate people who are now almost rescued from the destructive effects of former importations."
It is necessary to pursue closely the proceedings of Governor King with regard to traffic in spirits for several reasons, some of which concern popular errors respecting the deposition of Governor Bligh in 1808. King was sent to effect a reform, and though he effected it, his labours have been unnoticed by some writers, and he has been accused by others of having created or fostered the evils he repressed. The principal scandal was so completely removed that all reference to misbehaviour of officers, civil or military, was withdrawn from the instructions issued to his successor, Bligh.[1] Merchants were as troublesome as
- ↑ Dr. Lang's "Historical and Statistical Account of New South Wales" made no mention of any attempt by King to restrain improper traffic in spirits. It even declared that the " grinding monopoly established in
