find the many marks of kindness and friendship which I have received from Mr. Heywood and my uncle Pasley. I there expressed my desire that none of my relations might come here to see me, as they certainly will not be allowed that privilege, and hope it may have prevented my dearest sister Nessy from proceeding on so long a journey, which I am sure must end in chagrin and disappointment. 'Tis impossible for her to wish more for such an interview than I do, but it can not be; and how disagreeable would she feel her situation on her arrival, unable to see me, the sole object of a long and tedious journey. Patience, therefore, is requisite for a time. "I have not as yet received the box you were so good as to send me, but it will most likely be here in a day or two. I am sorry, very sorry, to hear that poor little Henry has gone to sea-God help him! He, like me, knew not the troubles he was so soon to encounter-I wish he were safe at home again. I can not tell you how soon my trial may come on; but we must wait with patience and resignation for the time when I shall be freed from the load of infamy I now bear. I have many questions to ask you, but shall be content with my present knowledge till a more favorable opportunity. My best respects to Dr. Scott and all my other friends; and praying that God may preserve the health of my dearest mother, 66 "I remain your most obedient and dutiful son, "PETER HEYWOOD." He wrote at the same time a most affectionate letter to his sister, in which he said: "Notwithstanding my anxiety to embrace you, nothing, my beloved Nessy, could give me more pain than your ar rival here. It is for your own dear sake only, as the disappointment would occasion you a sorrow greater than at present you have any idea of, for you have not experienced the pain of such a restriction. To me, alas! it is quite familiar. I send you two little sketches of the man ner in which H.M.S. Pandora went down on the 29th of August, and the appearance we, who survived, made on the small sandy quay within the reef (about ninety yards long and sixty athwart), in all ninety-nine souls.* Here we remained three days, subsisting upon two ounces of bread and a single wine-glass of wine-and-water a day, and no shelter from the meridian (and then vertical) sun. Captain Edwards had tents erected for himself and his people; and we prisoners petitioned him for an old sail which was lying useless, part of the wreck, but, although in the latitude of 11° south, he refused it, and all the shelter we had was to bury ourselves up to the neck in the burning sand, which scorched the skin (we being without clothes) entirely off our bodies, as if we had been dipped in large caldrons of boiling water. We were nineteen days in the same miserable situation before we landed at Coupang. From this you may have some faint idea of our wretched condition. I was in the ship in irons, hands and feet, much longer than till the position you now see her in— the poop alone being above water (and that knee-deep)— when Providence assisted me to get out of irons and from her. With sincere love and duty to my dearest mother, "Ever your most affectionate brother, "PETER HEYWOOD." NESSY HEYWOOD to PETER HEYWOOD-(Extract). "Isle of Man, July 22d, 1792. "I think I have not yet, in any of my letters, my dearest Peter, mentioned one single article of news; indeed I was, and am still, too much interested in one subject to think with pleasure on any other; but it is selfish not to consult your gratification as well as my own, and 'tis natural to suppose you must wish to know something of our transactions during your long absence. I shall be sufficiently happy in affording you some amusement, be it ever so trifling. * Drawn by himself, and now engraved for this volume. "We do not live in the same house as when you left us, but in one Mr. Bacon had on the parade, where we have a fine prospect of the sea, and shall one day, I hope, look with longing eyes towards it for the vessel which will bring our adored Peter. Do you recollect the drawingroom? My organ (upon which I practise with unceasing assiduity, that I may entertain my loved Peter, and which, while sorrowing for his mournful and tedious absence, was my chief amusement and consolation) forms no inconsiderable part of its ornamental furniture; over the mantel-piece hangs your drawing of Nadir Shah, and round the room Mary's and my drawings. How often have I sat for hours in this very room (where I now write) to contemplate that picture, the performance of my dear brother. "Adieu! my best ever-loved Peter; take care of yourself, and may the God of mercies bless and preserve you from all dangers; may He protect your injured innocence, and soon, very soon restore you to those who love you better than any other earthly being. Mamma, brothers, sisters, and all friends desire to say every thing that love and tenderness can address to you. Keep up your spirits, dear, dear Peter, for the sake of your most fond and faithful sister, NESSIE HEYWOOD." Extract from a letter of PETER HEYWOOD to NESSY HEYWOOD. "Hector, July 22d, 1792. "MY BELOVED SISTER,—I am sorry to find that the supposition I had mentioned to my mother in my letter from Batavia, of Captain Bligh's suspecting me to be one of the mutineers, was not groundless. Was my conduct at any time such as to give him the smallest reason to distrust my behavior, or even my thoughts? The Omnipotent Searcher of hearts alone can prove it never was! Did he then write to you to that effect? Alas! and had he so mean an opinion of my disposition and morals? But I forgive his cruelty, and may God do the same; yet |