Richard Blanshard

"No doubt Governor Blanshard urged and perhaps originated a good deal of this grumbling - and he was backed by the parson Staines, Yates, Cooper, Dr. Benson - the Langfords, Skinners, & others. Langford was in some way a connection of Blanshards - the latter hated the HBC for some reason or other - he was in fact a disappointed man. He soon found that altho Governor Mr Douglas had all the power and all the men - in fact Blanshard was troubled with tic doloreux (sic) of a bad kind - he had been in malarious countries - smoked a great deal and had to take morphine for his attacks and so being in bad health was a pessimist and blamed the condition of things, when in fact the drawback was in his own health. Blanshard however was a gentleman - very agreeable to his friends - of rather military carriage and military moustache - but a barrister if not by profession at least by grace of the Temple. Under different conditions he would have been a very different man. As it was the divided authority led to much ill feeling and doubtless was the cause of much of the early dissatisfaction."

"...Since my arrival here I have suffered so severely from continual ague and subsequent relapses that I am now enfeebled to a degree which renders me incapable of the slightest exertion."

"This gentleman, except for Mr. Staines, seemed to be a very lonely person, having no occupation and apparently no authority. Even in my boyish fancy I seemed to feel his position keenly. His only amusement was riding in a solitary state. He occasionally addressed a few words of welcome to the boys of the school. The whole situation was most anomalous, and I am sure it was felt to be quite a relief, when shortly after, he departed in one of H.M. ships for home. I may say here that the statements I have heard mentioned in regard to his habits are, as far as my experience goes, quite unfounded."