Arrival in Sydney Rum Rebellion

bligh

soon after arrival @ sydney, in august 1806, bligh given address of welcome signed major johnston military, richard atkins civilian officers, , john macarthur free settlers. however, not long after, received addresses free , freed settlers of sydney , hawkesbury river region, total of 369 signatures, many made cross, complaining macarthur did not represent them, blamed him withholding sheep raise price of mutton.

one of bligh s first actions use colony s stores , herds provide relief farmers had been severely affected flooding on hawkesbury river, situation had disrupted barter economy in colony. supplies divided according in need , provisions made loans drawn store based on capacity repay. earned bligh gratitude of farmers enmity of traders in corps had been profiting situation.

bligh, under instructions colonial office, attempted normalise trading conditions in colony prohibiting use of spirits payment commodities. bligh communicated policy colonial office in 1807, advice policy met resistance. robert stewart, viscount castlereagh, secretary of state war , colonies wrote bligh, instructions being received on 31 december 1807. instructions stop barter of spirits , h.v. evatt concludes in history of rebellion ... bligh authorised prevent free importation, preserve trade under entire control, enforce penalties against illegal import, , establish regulations @ discretion sale of spirits .

view of sydney artist john eyre, c. 1807

evatt argues enmity of monopolists within colony stemmed , other policies counteracted power of rich , promoted welfare of poor settlers. bligh ceased practice of handing out large land grants powerful in colony; during term granted on 1,600 hectares of land, half of daughter mary putland , himself.

bligh upset people allowing group of irish convicts tried revolt, court included accusers, , when 6 out of 8 acquitted, kept them under arrest anyway. dismissed d arcy wentworth position of assistant surgeon colony without explanation, , sentenced 3 merchants month s imprisonment , fine writing letter considered offensive. bligh dismissed thomas jamison magistracy, describing him in 1807 being inimical government. jamison highly capable (if crafty) surgeon-general of new south wales. had accumulated significant personal wealth maritime trader , friend , business partner of macarthur s. jamison never forgave bligh sacking him magistrate , interfering private business activities, , supported bligh s later deposition.

in october 1807 major george johnston wrote formal letter of complaint commander-in-chief of british army, stating bligh abusive , interfering troops of new south wales corps. clear bligh had made enemies of of influential people in colony. antagonised of less wealthy when ordered had leases on government land within sydney remove houses.