7203 gallons of spirits." King issued a proclamation (28th
May 1804) to the effect that,
"in consequence of the illicit and improper means that have been adopted, and still continue, to import and introduce spirits into this colony (in defiance of His Majesty's instructions, my orders consequent thereon, the proclamation of the Most Noble the Governor-General of the British Territories in the East Indies, and the communications made to the American Consuls . . .) for the purpose of impoverishing on the inhabitants, destroying their health, and subverting the regularity necessary to be observed for the prosperity of the colony . . . all spirits brought from the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope without my permission . . . there shall be paid an additional duty of £5 for every 100 gallons."
Moreover, spirits brought without permission were not to be sold by the importer for more than "six shillings per gallon, including duty of two shillings," with other deductions ad calorem and for wharfage. The vessel, it was hoped, would go to sea after landing her dry goods rather than undergo such charges. But the master pleaded that she was "too rotten." The Governor ordered a survey, the plea was confirmed, and the consignees thus forced one cargo upon the colony, the spirits being sold under the ordinary conditions.
The cases of the Myrtle and the Eagle demand notice. On the 19th Oct. 1804, the Myrtle, having cleared from Bengal for the north-west coast of America, arrived in Sydney, for which place her whole cargo appeared to have been selected. She was consigned to Campbell, and had 7500 gallons of spirits on board. King forbade the landing of the spirits, and as the master was insolent to the guard, a General Order was issued to prevent the master or any one on board from landing without written permission. The naval officer was commanded by the General Order to order the Myrtle to leave "before tomorrow evening, and not to return here again on any pretence whatever." A copy of the order was sent to the Governor-General in India.
At this time settlements had been formed at Hobart Town and at the Tamar in Van Diemen's Land. King had instructed the Lt.-Governors at Norfolk Island, at Hobart Town, and at Port Dalrymple, to carry out vigorously at those places the restrictions existing at Sydney with regard to spirit traffic. But Collins at Hobart Town was over-reached by the master of the Myrtle, and purchased some of the spirits carried to the Derwent.
