"I hear the fleet is now on its passage from Torbay, so that the time appointed for the trial will not, I hope, be much longer protracted. I have, by Mrs. Bertie's direction, ordered a suit of uniform for that occasion, which I shall wear with a crape round my arm, as a respect due to the memory of the best of parents,* whose death I have lamented with the most poignant grief, and whose loss I shall ever remember with the truest sentiments of duty and filial affection.

"Oh! my dearest mother, with what pleasure did I yesterday peruse the poetry written by my dear Nessy, dictated by a heart so generous and sympathetic.

"I have little more to add, than to entreat you to main

* His father, whose death has been mentioned.

† On the tedious and mournful absence of a most beloved brother who was in the Bounty with Captain Bligh at the time of the fatal mutiny, which happened April 28th, 1789, in the South Seas, and who, instead of returning with the boat when she left the ship, remained behind.

"Tell me, thou busy fluttering tell-tale, why,

Why flow these tears, why heaves this deep-felt sigh?

Why is all joy from my sad bosom flown?

Why lost that cheerfulness I thought my own?
When every hour in joy and gladness passed,
And each new day shone brighter than the last;
When in society I loved to join,

When to enjoy, and give delight was mine.
Now, sad reverse! in sorrow wakes each day,
And grief's sad tones inspire each plaintive lay.
Thou best of brothers-friend, companion, guide,
Joy of my youth, my honor, and my pride;
Lost is all peace, all happiness to me,
And fled all comfort, since deprived of thee.
Indulgent Heaven! in pity to our tears,
Vouchsafe to bless a parent's sinking years.
Again shall I behold thy much-loved face,
By manhood formed with every ripen'd grace;
Again shall press thee to my anxious breast,
And every sorrow shall be hush'd to rest.
Thy presence only can each comfort give,
Come then, my Lycidas, and let me live:
Life without thee is but a wretched load,
Thy love alone can smooth the thorny road.
But, blest with thee, how light were every woe,
How would my soul with love and rapture glow!
Kind Heaven! Thou hast one happiness in store,
Bestow him innocent-I ask no more."

tain serenity of mind by the assurance that I am as content as can be expected, and am ever my dearest mother's most dutiful and affectionate son,

"PETER HEYWOOD."

PETER HEYWOOD to NESSY HEYWOOD.

"Hector, August 9th, 1792.

“MY DEAREST NESSY, — I have sent you some of the sublime. Don't exert your risible faculties at my expense; 'tis but an endeavor at an art I have scarcely any notion of, and upon a subject I could not describe as it deserved. It happened (which is rather remarkable) on that unfortunate day which deprived us of our most regretted parent. The dream* which occasioned this poetical attempt I shall never forget; so powerful was its effect upon my mind. I owe to it all my present serenity, and it was this alone which enabled me to support the many troubles I have had to encounter. I hammered at it while at Tahiti, and after writing it I learnt it by heart, and now you have it from recollection.

"Adieu! my dear girl. I hope you keep up my mother's spirits, for I know you are well qualified to do so. My tenderest love and duty to her, and my beloved brothers and sisters. Your faithfully affectionate brother, "PETER HEYWOOD."

PETER HEYWOOD to MRS. HEYWOOD.

"Hector, August 15th, 1792.

The question, my dear mother, in one of your letters, concerning my swimming off to the Pandora, is one falsity among the too many of which I have often thought of undeceiving you, and as frequently forgot. The story was this: On the morning she arrived, I (accompanied by two of my friends, natives) was going up to the mountains, when, having got about a hundred yards

* This letter contained a poetical version of the dream which is related in chap. v., p. 77,

from my own house, another of my friends (for I was, I may say, a great favorite amongst those Tahitians, and perfectly conversant with their language) came running after me, and informed me that there was a ship coming. I immediately went up on a rising ground and saw with the utmost joy a ship coming into the bay off Hāpīāno (a district two or three miles to windward of Maatavaye, where I lived). It was just after daylight, and thinking Coleman might not be awake, and therefore be ignorant of such pleasing news (living a mile and a half from me), and wishing to give any one such satisfaction as that, I sent one of my servants to inform him of it, upon which he immediately went off in a single canoe. There was a fresh breeze, and the ship working into the bay, he no sooner got alongside than the rippling capsized the canoe; and he being obliged to let go the tow-rope to get her righted, went astern, and was picked up in the canoe next tack, and taken on board the Pandora, he being the first person. I, along with Stewart, was then standing upon the beach, with a double canoe, manned with twelve paddles, ready for launching; therefore, just as she made her last tack into her berth (for we did not think it requisite to go off sooner), we put off, and got alongside just as they streamed the buoy; and being dressed in the country manner, tanned as brown as the natives, and tattooed like them in the most curious manner, I do not in the least wonder at their taking us for natives. I was tattooed, not to gratify my own desire, but theirs; for it was my constant endeavor to acquiesce in any little custom which I thought would be agreeable to them (though painful in the process), provided I gained by it their friendship and esteem, which you may suppose is no inconsiderable object in an island where the natives are so numerous. The more a man or woman there is tattooed, the more they are respected; and a person who has none of these marks is looked upon as bearing a most repulsive badge of disgrace, and considered as a mere outcast from society. You may suppose, then, that my disposition would not

suffer me to be long out of fashion. I always made it a maxim," when I was in Rome, to act as Rome did," provided it did not interfere with my morals or religion; and by this means I was a great favorite on shore, and treated with respect by every person on the island, in whose mouths my name ever was an object of their love and esteem. Perhaps you may think I flatter myself,* but I really do not. Adieu! my dearest mother. Believe me your truly dutiful and most obedient son,

"P. HEYWOOD."

COLONEL HOLWELL to PETER HEYWOOD.

"South Bro, Sept. 12th, 1792.

"Your last informs me, my dear Peter, that this is to be the awful day which we have no doubt will restore you innocent to society, and to the arms of your disconsolate relations and friends. Nevertheless, your aunt, as well as myself, can not help feeling somewhat triste on the approach of this interesting day, not a moment of which shall we cease to implore that Power who has so miraculously preserved you hitherto, to continue His goodness, and support you through the hour of trial. When you are at liberty, I hope you will let us embrace you in your way to the island. Had my health permitted, I should surely have been now with you, and would have brought you to our little cottage. When you have made up your mind, your road lies in this direction.

"Adieu, my dear nephew, in the hope of seeing you soon well and acquitted. I remain, with our united loves, your affectionate uncle and sincere friend,

"J. HOLWELL."

*That he did not flatter himself, Captain Bligh's second voyage to Tahiti proves, from the many inquiries the natives made about him of the ship's company, and the great esteem and respect they professed for his character, young as he then was.

CHAPTER VII.

Court-martial.-Correspondence of Members of Peter Heywood's Family. -Acquittal of some of the Crew.-Pardon of Peter Heywood and James Morrison.-Execution of two Prisoners.-Subsequent Career of Captain Bligh and other Officers of the Bounty.-Death of Miss Nessy Heywood.

THE Court-martial assembled on board H.M. ship Duke, under the presidency of Vice-admiral Lord Hood, and continued from the 12th to the 18th September, Sunday excepted.

The charges set forth were that Fletcher Christian, who was mate of the Bounty, assisted by others of the inferior officers and crew, armed with muskets and bayonets, had violently and forcibly taken that ship from Lieutenant Bligh, and that he, together with the master, boatswain, gunner, and other persons (being nineteen in number), were forced into the launch and cast adrift. It was further set forth that Captain Edwards, in the Pandora, was directed to proceed to Otaheite, and other islands in the South Seas, and to use his best endeavors to recover the said vessel, and to bring in confinement to England the said Fletcher Christian and his associates, or as many of them as he might be able to apprehend, in order that they might be brought to condign punishment, etc.; and that Peter Heywood, James Morrison, Charles Norman, Joseph Coleman, Thomas Ellison, Thomas M'Intosh, Thomas Birkett, John Millward, William Muspratt, and Michael Byrne, had been brought to England, etc., and were now put on their trial.