A Charge Of Mutiny - The Court Martial Of Colonel George Johnston For Depositing Governor William Bligh In The Rebellion Of 26 January 1808
Taken by Mr Bartrum
Introduced by John Ritchie
Facsimile Edition
Published by National Library Of Australia: Canberra 1988
"John Ritchie's introduction frames the Rum Rebellion as the only successful armed takeover of government in Australian history, setting the stage for the dramatic court martial of Lieutenant Colonel George Johnston. The book reproduces, in facsimile, the full proceedings of Johnston's 1811 trial in London, where he was called to answer for his role in removing Governor William Bligh from office. Ritchie contextualises the political, economic, and personal tensions that had been building in New South Wales—particularly the power struggles between the military, the civil administration, and Bligh's attempts to regulate the colony's lucrative rum trade.
The court martial transcript reveals the competing narratives presented by both sides. Johnston and his supporters argued that Bligh's governance had become tyrannical, arbitrary, and destabilising, leaving the colony on the brink of collapse. Bligh, in turn, portrayed Johnston's actions as an illegal military coup driven by vested interests and personal animosity. Witness testimonies, letters, and official documents expose the deep factionalism within the colony and highlight the blurred lines between military authority and civil governance in an early penal settlement still struggling to define its political identity.
The trial concluded with Johnston found guilty of mutiny but receiving a relatively lenient sentence—dismissal from the service—reflecting both the gravity of the offence and the British government's desire to stabilise the colony without inflaming tensions further. The facsimile edition preserves the original language, structure, and tone of the proceedings, offering modern readers a vivid primary-source window into the Rum Rebellion and its aftermath. Ritchie's framing commentary underscores the event's lasting significance in Australian colonial history, illustrating how the conflict between Bligh and Johnston shaped the evolution of governance, authority, and law in early New South Wales."
Dustjacket with light wear as shown. Book is very clean with no inscriptions. An excellent copy in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
