_George Turnbull had received his commission in the Royal Americans in 1756 at the time this famous fighting force was being recruited “to avenge Braddock’s defeat.” In 1758 he had been wounded in the costly British attack on Ticonderoga. After the French and Indian War, Turnbull was promoted to captain in 1765, and before coming to Michilimackinac in 1770 he had been the commander at Detroit for three years. While at Detroit he had been involved with some of the local citizens in a dispute over property rights on Belle Isle, but, according to the adventurer, Jonathan Carver, who visited Detroit in 1768, Turnbull was respected by the inhabitants and traders “for the propriety of his conduct.” This record should be borne in mind as one reads what Morison has to say about Turnbull._ Michilamackinac July 9th. 1771. Betwixt the hours of 3 & 4 [in the] afternoon, Capt. Turnbull sent for me to his house upon an affair in which he had not the least concern. No sooner I appeared than he Opened upon me with Volleys of scurrilous Language (in presence of Lieut. Donald McAlpin of the 2d. Battn.) viz: That I was a scandalous fellow, a man of no principles, of a bad heart &c. lastly ordered me go out of his house & commanded me to keep my Distance, which I am determined punctually to observe. N. B.: All these Epithets (to the conviction of many) are imputations that more peculiarly belong _altenarly_ [alternately?] to himself when his character is canvassed by proper judges. If [such things as] Oppression, Detraction, Melediction, Violence, fornication, adultery, breach of Sabbath, tradeing, selling of common rum, Molasses, Wine, Spirits &c., Supporting a Suttlery in which he himself is principally [interested], which is Diametrically opposed to a Military Character, [be considered], he himself is justly entitled to these Epithets & imputations which cannot be attended with much difficulty to prove. Upon these considerations I left his house, whose dirt I shook off from my feet & left the Dirt where I found it. Monstrum horrendum Ingens! The 26th. augst. 1771. Sent the weekly return by my servt. as I happened to be sick on that morning. Capt. Turnbull enquired of my servt. what my sickness was. My servt. answered, it was a severe attack of the Rheumatism to which I was subject. The Commandant asked my servt. if he could cure me. My servt. replyed he would if he could. After many frivolous questions of this nature, he at last ask[ed] him what did he think I deserved, to which my servt. Replyed, he did not know, “but Sure I am Sir, my master deserves well at my hands.”