Wednesday 31 August 1836

31^st Rose at ¼ to 6 A.M. & finding that neither men nor officers were stirring (I had arranged that M^r Dawsea was to call the men this morning at ½ past 5) I sounded the call on my trumpet & soon had the men out, no officer of higher rank appearing to take my orders I at 10 minutes past 6 called M^r Wallan the oldest of the Islanders & a man whom I introduced here & always treated as an officer & to him I explained at length the way in which I wished to have a store built to receive “John Pirie’s” Cargo. I directed him to take all hands with him & set about it immediately. All this time I was out in my shirt shoes & dressing gown & at ½ past 6 as I was going to my tent to dress I saw M^r Beare approaching. I took no notice but went into the tent & prepared to dress, when he came in front & without prefixing or adding any other word called out (I supposed to me) “what are the hands to go about today”. I replied “I have told M^r Wallan” & M^r Beare retired. I may as well here record that this was the first morning M^r Beare had ever appeared to receive in any way my orders as from the severe affliction of his wife I had permitted him to remain with her & had further allowed him some hands to assist him occasionally, & had had his 4 Children under the care of his sister living under a tent by me & at my expense. Two nights before this (up to this time I had every reason to pity & respect him) I had mentioned to him that on the morning of 31^st I should begin to build a store &c, & that if he would speak to me in the morning (of the 30^th) I would explain to him how it should be done he did not however do so   ——

When about ¼ past 7 this morning I went to call Miss Beare I was surprised to find her much agitated & to hear from her that after leaving the front of my tent her Brother called at hers & told her to get the children dressed for his duty to the Company was ended & he must do the best he could for himself. I took no notice till the Evening when Capⁿ Martin being with me, I sent a message with my Compliments to M^r B. & if disengaged I would be glad to see him. – he answered “he was busy”. About 7 P.M. I sent a similar message & he replied “he would come immediately”. At about 8 (as he had not arrived) I sent to say that unless he could oblige me by stepping up at once I should be unable to see him, as I had some other engagements. The answer was “M^r Beare is already gone”. I did not however either see him or hear from him up to midnight when I retired to bed. This forenoon some of the Sailors who had deserted from the L.M.P. came in & asked for employment. I appointed to meet them at 4 P.M. & at that time being under my tent with Capⁿ Martin gave an audience to 4 of them (of this I have made a separate memorandum).