the most arbitrary, indecent manner taken advantage of my absence to suspend the Public Secretary, contrary to the opinion of the Council and of your colleague, who protested against the measure, and advised that the consideration should be postponed until my arrival. Instead of cordially co-operating with General Picton, you seem to have done every thing in your power to inspire him with disgust. The general dissatisfaction which your proceedings have given to the public bodies, magis. trates, and respectable people of the colony, is but too apparent. You are doing every thing you can to ruin the country; but you shall not effect it; we will not allow you.'

"This address silenced Mr. Fullarton; he did not attempt to make any reply whatever.

That the Commodore had officially written, requesting that his resignation might be accepted of, without giving me any information of such determination:

"That there never was a disagreement of any nature, or a difference of opinion of any kind, between the Commodore and myself, from the first day I had the honour of being in relation with him to the present moment; and that the imputed expressions and indecent scenes stated to have passed between us, are merely inventions calculated to impose upon your Lordship, and mislead the world."

Mr. Fullarton thus comments on this passage:

"In order completely to mislead the reader, he marks off with dots. or commas, proceedings supposed to have taken place on the 24th of March, and speeches framed for me and for Commodore Hood, as if they had actually been spoken, minuted at the time, and extracted verbatim from the records of that day's transactions."

"Although Commodore Hood has uttered many improper and inadmissible expressions ;"—(why did not Mr. Fullarton state, since he has such a propensity for stating, those expressions, that the public, who cannot be disposed to accept his ipse dixit for proof, might judge for themselves whether they were proper or improper; and why, too, we will ask, since they were in his opinion, inadmissible, did he admit them)?" Yet so far was he from actually pronouncing the speech composed, and printed for him by Colonel Picton, that I may venture any reasonable bet, he is incapable of getting it by heart, or of speaking it, even now that it is printed in his name."-We must here interrupt our quotation merely to notice, that while Mr. Fullarton disclaims all intention of insulting the Ministers, to whom he was indebted for his appointment, he is incessantly libelling them in the severest manner; for, we will appeal to every man of cominon sense, whether there can be a greater libel pronounced on Ministers, than that contained in the passage last quoted?-for, if Sir Samuel Hood were really the driveller, the ideot, which he is here represented to be, not only incapable of getting a few lines by heart, but even of reading them when printed, what criminality would not attach to the Ministers who appointed him to a situation of trust and importance? We, however, are not disposed to criminate the Ministers, on the

simple assertion of Mr. Fullarton, we would rather believe him, in this instance, to mistake the fact, than them to be guilty of such conduct; and, indeed, we know sufficient of the character of Sir SamuelTM Hood, to contradict such assertions by whomever advanced.-We now resume our quotation.

"With respect to the discourse fabricated for me, it violates the common rules of probability, without which even falshood ceases to deceive."

A more jesuitical sentence than this, Ignatius Loyola himself, or the most zealous of his disciples, never composed. Our readers will observe, that Mr. Fullarton does not say that the speech imputed to him was never spoken: that the assertion that it was is false; no such thing, he leaves the reader to draw the inference, from the alleged fact, that it violates the common rules of probability !—But, learned Sir, Mr. F. R. S., are you really to be taught, that "Tout ce qui est vrai n'est pas vrai-semblable?"-We proceed:

"The proclamation in question was pulled down by the printer, Mr. Gallagher, by my own order, communicated to him in person, as a matter of notoriety, in the presence of various gentlemen, because he had posted it up directly contrary to my instructions."

"It is perfectly true, for reasons already stated, that the Commodore did not receive any communications from me respecting the proclamation while he remained at Barbadoes."-(Where are these reasons stated)?" but the idea of my mentioning at any period, the proclamation having been pulled down by Mr. Picton's emissaries, is too preposterous to admit of a reply," (an answer, good F. R. S), "If any of Mr. Picton's adherents were foolish enough to make so incredible an assertion to Commodore Hood, it only affords an additional proof of the violation of all honour, honesty, and truth, with which these few unfortunate individuals, implicated in the crimes, and interested in the success of Mr. Picton, enveloped and distorted every fact,"-(it is a new figure of speech, to envelope facts with the violation of honour, &c., in other words, it is palpable nonsense), "and fabricated expressions, which no man shall ever dare to apply to me with im punity."-Bravo, bravissimo, Captain Bobadil!--but, unfortunately, such, and still stronger, expressions have been applied to you, by more than one man, and we have not yet heard of any dangerous conse quences resulting from the use and application of them.

"It is necessary to inform the reader, that in the meeting which is stated as the scene of this very extraordinary display of philippic oratory, I was in uniform and with a sword."-Hear this, ye BrigadierGenerals, ve Colonels, and ye Commodores, and tremble!" If the Commodore, captivated with the ready-manufactured eloquence held forth for him, should be pleased to adopt as his own, the speech provided for him by Colonel Picton, then, I presume, two things will appear!""first, that if Commodore Hood, sitting as his Majesty's Commis sioner in Council, could possibly"-(there certainly was no impossie bility, either physical or moral, in it)" express himself in such terms

as are fabricated for him, he not only proved himself unworthy of a seat at any board, but unfit to be admitted into the company of any gentleman."-" In the second place, I trust that, on the supposition of his choosing to admit the utterance, or the wish to utter such words, even if the faculty of utterance were deficient, I may claim some credit at least for moderation, in abstaining from personal extremities, which, however indecorous in a council-room, his subsequent conduct undoubtedly proves, that in other instances he has completely deserved."

The confidence with which Mr. Fullarton appeals to his readers, and insults them, in the same breath, is truly astonishing. Does he really suppose that all his readers are so ignorant of human nature as to believe that moderation is the only feeling which induces men to abstain from the resentment of personal insults?-True, it would have been indecorous to display such resentment, in the way here indicated, in such a place; but, it is evident, if there be any truth in Mr. Fullarton's statement, that subsequent to this insult, the gallant officer whom he abuses completely deserved chastisement. How then did it happen, that, with this conviction on his mind, Mr. Fullarton did not inflict that chastisement?-Sir Samuel Hood did not stand in the same relation to Mr. Fullarton, as either Colonel Picton or Lieutenant-Colonel Draper; he was neither party, nor witness, in the prosecutions commenced against the former Governor of Trinidad; the same plea therefore as has been urged by Mr. Fullarton, in different parts of his publications, for not proceeding to personal extremities against those gentlemen, could not possibly apply to the Commodore. Was it a spirit of moderation, then, that deterred him? He will hardly say so. If he did, we should answer, Credat Judæus! We should as soon believe it, as we should believe that in the invasion of Egypt, Buonaparte consulted the interests of the Porte, and that in the murder of the Duc D'Enghien, he was actuated exclusively by principles of justice !-But, fortunately for some persons, though unfortunately for his country, this gallant officer has recently lost his right arm, in the service of his King! Verbum Sat.

"There is another point, to which, although of little moment, I must give an explicit contradiction. Colonel Picton states, that Commodore Hood had officially written, requesting that his resignation might be accepted of, without giving him any information of such determination."-Our readers must be aware that Colonel Picton could only mean, either that Commodore Hood had so written, previous to the meeting of this council, or that he so wrote afterwards without giving to him (Colonel Picton), any other information, than he had publicly given to Mr. Fullarton himself, and to the other members of the council. The expression cannot admit of any other interpretation, for Colonel Picton makes use of it immediately after he has reported the proceedings of the council, at which Commodore Hood had expressly declared that he would write for that very purpose. It is most absurd and ridiculous then in Mr. Fullarton to re

present

present this, as he does, as a falshood." This assertion is directly contrary to the fact; insomuch that Commodore Hood informed Colonel Picton and the whole council, in my hearing, as can be attested by Mr. Adderley;" (as has been attested by Colonel Picton himself, in the passage already before our readers)," a member of council, now in England,"-" that he wished not to act longer with the First Commissioner, who had so traduced his colleague, and that he meant to apply for leave to resign his office as commissioner. To which my answer was, if such are your sentiments, the sooner you apply the better.”

No doubt Mr. F. wished to get rid of his colleagues with all possible expedition. But, with his usual want of judgment-for cunning will sometimes over-reach itself-he has here suffered his anxiety to convict Colonel Picton of falshood to betray him into an involuntary, and certainly unintentional, corroboration of that gentleman's statement. For, though the whole of his observations are intended to make the reader believe that no such conversation as that affirmed by Colonel Picton to have occurred at the council, did really take place, he here expressly admits a very important part of it. And certainly from this admission, we, and we have little doubt that our readers will concur with us, are led to give Colonel Picton credit for the accu racy of his whole statement.

"

As for the disagreements which were currently and generally reported to have occurred between the Junior Commissioners during my absence from Port of Spain, after the 29th of March, 1803, I have already sated, that it is impossible for me to have any personal knowledge of the facts." Mr. Fullarton has now been taught, what, it appears, he did not know before, that fama mendax est" Their agreements, however, unfortunately for the Colony "Erratum-for Colony," read Mr. Fullarton, F. R. S.-" and for Commodore Hood's " erratum secundum, for "Commodore Hood's " read, Mr. Fullarton's-character, are of absolute notoriety, and upon record. The enumeration of them affords a melancholy instance of the pernicious influence of l'esprit fort, sur l'esprit foible. It might be tedious and improper, in this place, to enlarge upon the abuse of power which the Commodore's name was used to screen and shelter, as an indication to the Colony that the same system of severity was to be continued, which had dismayed the inhabitants during the domination of Governor Piton.

In our first account of these productions, we quoted the opinions of these dismayed inhabitants respecting the government of Colonel

* Has Mr. Fullarton already forgotten his positive assurance—“ I havé imposed on myself the obligation of submitting every assertion which I make, to the test of proof, by authentic vouchers, documents, and indisput able evidence ? We may be allowed to ask him, under which of these' characters he means to designate the proof of common report ?

NA

Picton;

Picton opinions given under the solemn sanction of an oath, and at a time when they could have no possible motive for concealment or disguise. They all gave a flat contradiction to the assertion implied in this last sentence.-We have here suffered Mr. Fullarton to speak for himself; and if there can be any persons, of common sense, who can conceive that the passages which we have quoted are a good and sufficient answer to the allegations of Colonel Picton, with such we will not pretend to argue. To us it assuredly appears, that they are no answer at all; and that they rather tend to confirm, than to confute, the facts to which they refer. We shall here subjoin, as connected with the subject, a Letter from Commodore Hood to Earl Camden.

"Centaur, Carlisle Bay, Barbadocs, 1st Sept, 1804. "MY LORD. I should do great injustice to myself and my late colleague, Brigadier-General Picton, if I did not (after reading a publication of Mr. Fullarton's respecting the Commission at Trinidad last year), inform your Lordship at an early period, of the fabrication in various passages said to have been spoken by me. The very harsh expressions, and the acrimony with which Mr. Fullarton brings forward this epistle, false almost in every page, that I trust your Lordship, and others of his Majesty's Ministers, will view it as it deserves. Mr. Fullarton states my consulting the Brigadier before council was assembled, of the matters we were to enter upon: I declare upon mine honour no such communication ever took place; neither did ever the Brigadier make use of one expression out of the Commission that could tend to lead me on his side; but I was guided by honourable sentiments, and not by such duplicity and intriguing as was exhibited in every part of Mr. Fullarton's transactions; but Mr. Fullarton used every art, even to get his Lady to aid, to lead me into a track that must have soon destroyed the tranquillity of the Colony. This false philanthropy must now be sufficiently brought to light, that it needs no comment. He attributes words spoken in council, in my house, in not agreeing with my colleague: I give the most perfect contradiction thereto; and I cannot allow this to pass over without remarking on the means adopted by persons whom he calls Gentlemen, that should listen to any conversation where their business did not require, and it not was probable that my servants should listen, and carry my conversation to the house of the firs: Commissioner; and I conceive such allega. tions can only tend to prove how ready Mr. Fullarton has been to catch at subjects I should shudder to repeat, had 1 made use of such ignoble means to gain the information stated. I will not trespass longer on your Lordship's time, and I shall conclude this in saying, the upright and just measures adopted by the late Governor saved the Island; and I rest assured his character cannot be spoken of too highly, or traduced by the artful measures of an old intriguing politician.

"I have the honour to be, &c.

"Earl Camden, K. G. &c. &c."

SAMUEL HOOD."

So much still remains to be noticed, in these publications, and we have already extended this article so far, that we must postpone our

farther