402 CAPTAIN CAMPBELL ATTACKS 1789 Court, she was by yourself ordered into the custody of the Provost. I do not by this mean to say that it was entirely an act of your own, for myself among others desired it might be so, as we then appeared to be unanimously of opinion that she was a very proj>er object to make an example of. When the Provost informed you this morning of my having desired him to speak to you about the woman, he should have A message likewise informed you that I had, immediately after the Court ^-as Provost dissolved, and on my seeing the woman at liberty, desired him to make my compliments to you, and to know from you whether he had not misunderstood the orders you gave in Court — to take her into his custody — as I had myself been one of the members Tvho desired it ; nor could I till this morning possibly account for my not haying been acquainted with your opinion. Having this morning, by accident, heard that a Criminal Court . would be assembled the beginning of next week, I judged it a Duty to the discharge of a part of my duty to the publick to know what was to be done with Mary Turner, sensible that no power on this island could liberate her tUl she had undergone a triaL Provoat ^ therefore sent for the Provost, who, to my great surprise, had neglectful, ^jjg assurance to tell me that he never delivered my message to you, upon which I ordered him to go and do it without loss of time. » Campbell Now, sir, you have the cause of your being troubled with any sit agSn!'^ message from me this morning. How far such a message might authorize you to call upon me as a prosecutor, I know not, nor shall I at present comment upon it. One point you have certainly gained by it, that you have effectually precluded Captain Campbell from sitting as a member of any Criminal Court that it may be necessary to assemble here, and of which you are a part. As this business may undergo future investigation, I beg leave to recommend it to you to keep copies of such letters as you may Letters to be choose to write upon the occasion, as I. assure you I shall of mine. copied. ^ I at the same time think it proper to inform you that this is the only letter you will receive upon this subject. There was some ground for the indignation expressed in this letter, but there was none for the display of so much bad temper. The writer was justified in resenting the idea that he might be called upon to undertake the responsi- Digitized by Google
