I went one day to the king's ball the same as the rest of the world, and I went purposely in dress contrary to the regulations.
Here was the announcement of the affair in the Royal Gazette, which was reproduced in the Chronicle, the one important newspaper in the island: KING'S HOUSE, October 27th, 1797.
KING'S BALL.
There will be a Ball given by His Honour the Lieutenant- Governor, on Tuesday evening, the 6th day of December next, in honour of HIS MAJESTY'S BIRTHDAY.
To prevent confusion, Ladies and Gentlemen are requested to order their carriages to come by the Old Court House, and go off by the Long Room.
N.B .-- No gentlemen can possibly be admitted in boots, or otherwise improperly dressed.
Well, in a spirit of mutiny--in which I am, in a sense, an expert-- I went in boots and otherwise "improperly dressed," for I wore my hair in a queue, like a peasant.

What is more, I danced with a negress in the great quadrille, and thereby offended the governor and his lady aunt, who presides at his palace.

It matters naught to me.

On my own estate it was popular enough, and that meant more to me than this goodwill of Lord Mallow.
He does not spare me in his recitals to his friends, who carry his speech abroad.

His rancour against me is the greater, I know, because of the wealth I got in the treasure-ship, to prevent which he tried to prohibit my leaving the island, through the withholding of a leave-ticket to me.