The Eventful History Of The Mutiny And Piratical Seizure by Sir John Barrow

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'_London, April 2nd_, 1790.

'MADAM,--I received your letter this day, and feel for you
very much, being perfectly sensible of the extreme distress
you must suffer from the conduct of your son Peter. _His
baseness is beyond all description_, but I hope you will
endeavour to prevent the loss of him, heavy as the misfortune
is, from afflicting you too severely. I imagine he is, with
the rest of the mutineers, returned to Otaheite.--- I am,
Madam,

(Signed) 'WM. BLIGH.'

Colonel Holwell, the uncle of young Heywood, had previously addressed
Bligh on the same melancholy subject, to whom he returned the following
answer:--

'_26th March_, 1790.

'SIR,--I have just this instant received your letter. With
much concern I inform you that your nephew, Peter Hey wood, is
among the mutineers. _His ingratitude to me is of the blackest
dye_, for I was a father to him in every respect, and he never
once had an angry word from me through the whole course of the
voyage, as his conduct always gave me much pleasure and
satisfaction. I very much regret _that so much baseness formed
the character_ _of a young man_ I had a real regard for, and
it will give me much pleasure to hear that his friends _can
bear the loss of him without much concern_.--I am, Sir, etc.

(Signed) 'WM. BLIGH.'

The only way of accounting for this ferocity of sentiment towards a
youth, who had in point of fact no concern in the mutiny, is by a
reference to certain points of evidence given by Hayward, Hallet, and
Purcell on the court-martial, each point wholly unsupported. Those in
the boat would no doubt, during their long passage, often discuss the
conduct of their messmates left in the _Bounty_, and the unsupported
evidence given by these three was well calculated to create in Bligh's
mind a prejudice against young Heywood; yet, if so, it affords but a
poor excuse for harrowing up the feelings of near and dear relatives.

As a contrast to these ungracious letters, it is a great relief to
peruse the correspondence that took place, on this melancholy occasion,
between this unfortunate young officer and his amiable but dreadfully
afflicted family. The letters of his sister, Nessy Heywood (of which a
few will be inserted in the course of this narrative), exhibit so lively
and ardent an affection for her beloved brother, are couched in so high
a tone of feeling for his honour, and confidence in his innocence, and
are so nobly answered by the suffering youth, that no apology seems to
be required for their introduction, more especially as their contents
are strictly connected with the story of the ill-fated crew of the
_Bounty_. After a state of long suspense, this amiable and accomplished
young lady thus addresses her brother:--

'_Isle of Man, 2nd June_, 1792.

'In a situation of mind only rendered supportable by the long
and painful state of misery and suspense we have suffered on
his account, how shall I address my dear, my fondly beloved
brother!--how describe the anguish we have felt at the idea of
this long and painful separation, rendered still more
distressing by the terrible circumstances attending it! Oh! my
ever dearest boy, when I look back to that dreadful moment
which brought us the fatal intelligence that you had remained
in the _Bounty_ after Mr. Bligh had quitted her, and were
looked upon by him as a _mutineer_!--when I contrast that day
of horror with my present hopes of again beholding you, such
as my most sanguine wishes could expect, I know not which is
the most predominant sensation,--pity, compassion, and terror
for your sufferings, or joy and satisfaction at the prospect
of their being near a termination, and of once more embracing
the dearest object of our affections.

'I will not ask you, my beloved brother, whether you are
innocent of the dreadful crime of mutiny; if the transactions
of that day were as Mr. Bligh has represented them, such is my
conviction of your worth and honour, that I will, without
hesitation, stake my life on your innocence. If, on the
contrary, you were concerned in such a conspiracy against
your commander, I shall be as firmly persuaded _his_ conduct
was the occasion of it; but, alas! could any occasion justify
so atrocious an attempt to destroy a number of our
fellow-creatures? No, my ever dearest brother, nothing but
conviction from your own mouth can possibly persuade me, that
you would commit an action in the smallest degree inconsistent
with honour and duty; and the circumstance of your having swam
off to the _Pandora_ on her arrival at Otaheite (which filled
us with joy to which no words can do justice), is sufficient
to convince all who know you, that you certainly staid behind
either by force or from views of preservation.

'How strange does it seem to me that I am now engaged in the
delightful task of writing to you. Alas! my beloved brother,
two years ago I never expected again to enjoy such a felicity,
and even yet I am in the most painful uncertainty whether you
are alive. Gracious God, grant that we may be at length
blessed by your return I but, alas! the _Pandora's_ people
have been long expected, and are not even yet arrived. Should
any accident have happened, after all the miseries you have
already suffered, the poor gleam of hope with which we have
been lately indulged, will render our situation ten thousand
times more insupportable than if time had inured us to your
loss. I send this to the care of Mr. Hayward, of Hackney,
father to the young gentleman you so often mention in your
letters while you were on board the _Bounty_, and who went out
as third lieutenant of the _Pandora_--a circumstance which
gave us infinite satisfaction, as you would, on entering the
_Pandora_, meet your old friend. On discovering old Mr.
Hayward's residence, I wrote to him, as I hoped he could give
me some information respecting the time of your arrival, and
in return he sent me a most friendly letter, and has promised
this shall be given to you when you reach England, as I well
know how great must be your anxiety to hear of us, and how
much satisfaction it will give you to have a letter
immediately on your return. Let me conjure you, my dearest
Peter, to write to us the very first moment--do not lose a
post--'tis of no consequence how short your letter may be, if
it only informs us you are well. I need not tell you that you
are the first and dearest object of our affections. Think,
then, my adored boy, of the anxiety we must feel on your
account; for my own part, I can know no real joy or happiness
independent of you, and if any misfortune should now deprive
us of you, my hopes of felicity are fled for ever.

'We are at present making all possible interest with every
friend and connexion we have, to ensure you a sufficient
support and protection at your approaching trial; for a trial
you must unavoidably undergo, in order to convince the world
of that innocence, which those who know you will not for a
moment doubt; but, alas! while circumstances are against you,
the generality of mankind will judge severely. Bligh's
representations to the Admiralty are, I am told, very
unfavourable, and hitherto the tide of public opinion has been
greatly in his favour. My mamma is at present well,
considering the distress she has suffered since you left us;
for, my dearest brother, we have experienced a complicated
scene of misery from a variety of causes, which, however, when
compared with the sorrow we felt on your account, was trifling
and insignificant; _that_ misfortune made all others light,
and to see you once more returned, and safely restored to us,
will be the summit of all earthly happiness.

'Farewell, my most beloved brother! God grant this may soon be
put into your hands I Perhaps at this moment you are arrived
in England, and I may soon have the dear delight of again
beholding you. My mamma, brothers, and sisters, join with me
in every sentiment of love and tenderness. Write to us
immediately, my ever-loved Peter, and may the Almighty
preserve you until you bless with your presence your fondly
affectionate family, and particularly your unalterably
faithful friend and sister,

(Signed) 'NESSY HEYWOOD.'[12]

The gleam of joy which this unhappy family derived from the
circumstance, which had been related to them, of young Heywood's
swimming off to the _Pandora_, was dissipated by a letter from himself
to his mother, soon after his arrival in England, in which he
says:--'The question, my dear mother, in one of your letters,
concerning my swimming off to the _Pandora_, is one falsity among the
too many, in which I have often thought of undeceiving you, and as
frequently forgot. The story was this:--On the morning she arrived,
accompanied by two of my friends (natives), I was going up the
mountains, and having got about a hundred yards from my own house,
another of my friends (for I was an universal favourite among those
Indians, and perfectly conversant in their language) came running after
me, and informed me there was a ship coming. I immediately ascended a
rising ground, and saw, with indescribable joy, a ship laying-to off
Hapiano; it was just after daylight, and thinking Coleman might not be
awake, and therefore ignorant of this pleasing news, 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 the next tack and taken on board the
_Pandora_, he being the first person. I, along with my messmate Stewart,
was then standing upon the beach with a double canoe, manned with twelve
paddles ready for launching; and 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 themselves, and I _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 endeavour 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 having none of these marks is looked
upon as bearing an unworthy badge of disgrace, and considered as a mere
outcast of society.'

Among the many anxious friends and family connexions of the Heywoods,
was Commodore Pasley, to whom this affectionate young lady addressed
herself on the melancholy occasion; and the following is the reply she
received from this officer.

'_Sheerness, June 8th_, 1792.

'Would to God, my dearest Nessy, that I could rejoice with you
on the early prospect of your brother's arrival in England.
One division of the _Pandora's_ people has arrived, and now on
board the _Vengeance_ (my ship). Captain Edwards with the
remainder, and all the prisoners late of the _Bounty_, in
number ten (four having been drowned on the loss of that
ship), are daily expected. They have been most rigorously and
closely confined since taken, and will continue so, no doubt,
till Bligh's arrival. You have no chance of seeing him, for
no bail can be offered. Your intelligence of his swimming off
on the _Pandoras_ arrival is not founded; a man of the name of
Coleman swam off ere she anchored--your brother and Mr.
Stewart the next day; this last youth, when the _Pandora_ was
lost, refused to allow his irons to be taken off to save his
life.

'I cannot conceal it from you, my dearest Nessy, neither is it
proper I should--your brother appears, by all accounts, to be
the greatest culprit of all, Christian alone excepted. Every
exertion, you may rest assured, I shall use to save his life,
but on trial I have no hope of his not being condemned. Three
of the ten who are expected are mentioned, in Bligh's
narrative, as men detained against their inclination. Would to
God your brother had been one of that number! I will not
distress you more by enlarging on this subject; as
intelligence arises on their arrival, you shall be made
acquainted. Adieu! my dearest Nessy--present my affectionate
remembrances to your mother and sisters, and believe me
always, with the warmest affection,--Your uncle,

THOS. PASLEY.'

How unlike is this from the letter of Bligh! while it frankly apprises
this amiable lady of the real truth of the case, without disguise, as it
was then understood to be from Mr. Bligh's representations, it assures
her of his best exertions to save her brother's life. Every reader of
sensibility will sympathise in the feeling displayed in her reply.

'_Isle of Man, 22nd June_, 1792.

'Harassed by the most torturing suspense, and miserably
wretched as I have been, my dearest uncle, since the receipt
of your last, conceive, if it is possible, the heartfelt joy
and satisfaction we experienced yesterday morning, when, on
the arrival of the packet, the dear delightful letter from our
beloved Peter (a copy of which I send you enclosed) was
brought to us. Surely, my excellent friend, you will agree
with me in thinking there could not be a stronger proof of his
innocence and worth, and that it must prejudice every person
who reads it most powerfully in his favour. Such a letter in
less distressful circumstances than those in which he writes,
would, I am persuaded, reflect honour on the pen of a person
much older than my poor brother. But when we consider his
extreme youth (only sixteen at the time of the mutiny, and now
but nineteen), his fortitude, patience, and manly resignation
under the pressure of sufferings and misfortunes almost
unheard of, and scarcely to be supported at any age, without
the assistance of that which seems to be my dear brother's
greatest comfort--- a quiet conscience, and a thorough
conviction of his own innocence--when I add, at the same time,
with real pleasure and satisfaction, that his relation
corresponds in many particulars with the accounts we have
hitherto heard of the fatal mutiny, and when I also add, with
inconceivable pride and delight, that my beloved Peter never
was known to breathe a syllable inconsistent with truth and
honour;--when these circumstances, my dear uncle, are all
united, what man on earth can doubt of the innocence which
could dictate such a letter? In short, let it speak for him:
the perusal of his artless and pathetic story will, I am
persuaded, be a stronger recommendation in his favour than any
thing I can urge.[13]

'I need not tire your patience, my ever loved uncle, by
dwelling longer on this subject (the dearest and most
interesting on earth to my heart); let me conjure you only, my
kind friend, to read it, and consider the innocence and
defenceless situation of its unfortunate author, which calls
for, and I am sure deserves, all the pity and assistance his
friends can afford him, and which, I am sure also, the
goodness and benevolence of your heart will prompt you to
exert in his behalf. It is perfectly unnecessary for me to
add, after the anxiety I feel, and cannot but express, that no
benefit conferred upon myself will be acknowledged with half
the gratitude I must ever feel for the smallest instance of
kindness shown to my beloved Peter. Farewell, my dearest
uncle. With the firmest reliance on your kind and generous
promises, I am, ever with the truest gratitude and
sincerity,--Your most affectionate niece,

NESSY HEYWOOD.'

CHAPTER V

THE 'PANDORA'

--O! I have suffer'd
With those that I saw suffer! a brave vessel,
Who had, no doubt, some noble creatures in her,
Dash'd all to pieces. O, the cry did knock
Against my very heart! Poor souls! they perish'd
Had I been any god of power, I would
Have sunk the sea within the earth, or e'er
It should the good ship so have swallow'd, and
The freighting souls within her.

The tide of public applause set as strongly in favour of Bligh, on
account of his sufferings and the successful issue of his daring
enterprise, as its indignation was launched against Christian and his
associates, for the audacious and criminal deed they had committed.
Bligh was promoted by the Admiralty to the rank of Commander, and
speedily sent out a second time to transport the bread-fruit to the West
Indies, which he without the least obstruction successfully
accomplished; and his Majesty's government were no sooner made
acquainted with the atrocious act of piracy and mutiny, than it
determined to adopt every possible means to apprehend and bring to
condign punishment the perpetrators of so foul a deed. For this
purpose, the _Pandora_ frigate, of twenty-four guns and one hundred and
sixty men, was despatched under the command of Captain Edward Edwards,
with orders to proceed, in the first instance, to Otaheite, and not
finding the mutineers there, to visit the different groups of the
Society and Friendly Islands, and others in the neighbouring parts of
the Pacific, using his best endeavours to seize and bring home in
confinement the whole or such part of the delinquents as he might be
able to discover.

This voyage was in the sequel almost as disastrous as that of the
_Bounty_, but from a different cause. The waste of human life was much
greater, occasioned by the wreck of the ship, and the distress
experienced by the crew not much less, owing to the famine and thirst
they had to suffer in a navigation of eleven hundred miles in open
boats; but the Captain succeeded in fulfilling a part of his
instructions, by taking fourteen of the mutineers, of whom ten were
brought safe to England, the other four being drowned when the ship was
wrecked.

The only published account of this voyage is contained in a small volume
by Mr. George Hamilton, the surgeon, who appears to have been a coarse,
vulgar, and illiterate man, more disposed to relate licentious scenes
and adventures, in which he and his companions were engaged, than to
give any information of proceedings and occurrences connected with the
main object of the voyage. From this book, therefore, much information
is not to be looked for. In a more modern publication, many abusive
epithets have been bestowed on Captain Edwards, and observations made on
the conduct of this officer highly injurious to his reputation, in
regard to his inhuman treatment of, and disgraceful acts of cruelty
towards, his prisoners, which it is to be feared have but too much
foundation in fact.

The account of his proceedings, rendered by himself to the Admiralty, is
vague and unsatisfactory; and had it not been for the journal of
Morrison, and a circumstantial letter of young Heywood to his mother, no
record would have remained of the unfeeling conduct of this officer
towards his unfortunate prisoners, who were treated with a rigour which
could not be justified on any ground of necessity or prudence.

The _Pandora_ anchored in Matavai Bay on the 23rd March 1791. Captain
Edwards, in his narrative, states that Joseph Coleman, the armourer of
the _Bounty_, attempted to come on board before the _Pandora_ had
anchored; that on reaching the ship, he began to make inquiries of him
after the _Bounty_ and her people, and that he seemed to be ready to
give him any information that was required; that the next who came on
board, just after the ship had anchored, were Mr. Peter Heywood and Mr.
Stewart, before any boat had been sent on shore; that they were brought
down to his cabin, when, after some conversation, Heywood asked if Mr.
Hayward (midshipman of the _Bounty_, but now lieutenant of the
_Pandora_) was on board, as he had heard that he was; that Lieutenant
Hayward, whom he sent for, treated Heywood. with a sort of contemptuous
look, and began to enter into conversation with him respecting the
_Bounty_; but Edwards ordered him to desist, and called in the sentinel
to take the prisoners into safe custody, and to put them in irons; that
four other mutineers soon made their appearance; and that, from them and
some of the natives, he learned that the rest of the _Bounty's_ people
had built a schooner, with which they had sailed the day before from
Matavai Bay to the north-west part of the island.

He goes on to say that, on this intelligence, he despatched the two
lieutenants, Corner and Hayward, with the pinnace and launch, to
endeavour to intercept her. They soon got sight of her and chased her
out to sea, but the schooner gained so much upon them, and night coming
on, they were compelled to give up the pursuit and return to the ship.
It was soon made known, however, that she had returned to Paparre, on
which they were again despatched in search of her. Lieutenant Corner had
taken three of the mutineers, and Hayward, on arriving at Paparre, found
the schooner there, but the mutineers had abandoned her and fled to the
mountains. He carried off the schooner, and returned next day, when he
learned they were not far off; and the following morning, on hearing
they were coming down, he drew up his party in order to receive them,
and when within hearing, called to them to lay down their arms and to go
on one side, which they did, when they were confined and brought as
prisoners to the ship.

The following were the persons received on Board the _Pandora_:

PETER HEYWOOD Midshipman.
GEORGE STEWART Ditto.
JAMES MORRISON Boatswain's mate.
CHARLES NORMAN Carpenter's mate.
THOMAS M'INTOSH Carpenter's crew.
JOSEPH COLEMAN Armourer.
RICHARD SKINNER }
THOMAS ELLISON }
HENRY HILLBRANT }
THOMAS BURKITT } Seamen.
JOHN MILLWARD }
JOHN SUMNER }
WILLIAM MUSPRATT }
MICHAEL BYRNE }

In all fourteen. The other two, which made up the sixteen that had been
left on the island, were murdered, as will appear presently.

Captain Edwards will himself explain how he disposed of his prisoners.
'I put the pirates,' he says, 'into a round-house which I built on the
after part of the quarter-deck, for their more effectual security in
this airy and healthy situation, and to separate them from, and to
prevent their having communication with, or to crowd and incommode, the
ship's company.' Dr. Hamilton calls it the most desirable place in the
ship, and adds, that 'orders were given that the prisoners should be
victualled, in every respect, the same as the ship's company, both in
meat, liquor, and all the extra indulgences with which they were so
liberally supplied, notwithstanding the established laws of the service,
which restrict prisoners to two-thirds allowance; but Captain Edwards
very humanely commiserated their unhappy and inevitable length of
confinement.' Mr. Morrison, one of the prisoners, gives a very different
account of their treatment from that of Edwards or Hamilton. He says
that Captain Edwards put both legs of the two midshipmen in irons, and
that he branded them with the opprobrious epithet of 'piratical
villains': that they, with the rest, being strongly handcuffed, were put
into a kind of round-house only eleven feet long, built as a prison, and
aptly named '_Pandora's_ Box,' which was entered by a scuttle in the
roof, about eighteen inches square. This was done in order that they
might be kept separate from the crew, and also the more effectually to
prevent them from having any communication with the natives; that such
of those friendly creatures as ventured to look pitifully towards them
were instantly turned out of the ship, and never again allowed to come
on board. But two sentinels were kept constantly upon the roof of the
prison, with orders to shoot the first of its inmates who should attempt
to address another in the Otaheitan dialect.

That Captain Edwards took every precaution to keep his prisoners in safe
custody, and place them in confinement, as by his instructions he was
directed to do, may be well imagined,[14] but Mr. Morrison will
probably be thought to go somewhat beyond credibility in stating that
orders were given 'to _shoot_ any of the prisoners,' when confined in
irons. Captain Edwards must have known that such an act would have cost
him his commission or something more. The fact is, that information was
given to Edwards, at least he so asserts, by the brother of the King of
Otaheite, an intelligent chief, that a conspiracy was formed among the
natives to cut the ship's cables the first strong wind that should blow
on the shore, which was considered to be the more probable, as many of
the prisoners were said to be married to the most respectable chiefs'
daughters in the district opposite to the anchorage; that the midshipman
Stewart, in particular, had married the daughter of a man of great
landed property near Matavai Bay. This intelligence, no doubt, weighed
with the Captain in giving his orders for the close confinement of the
prisoners; and particularly in restricting the visits of the natives;
but so far is it from being true that all communication between the
mutineers and the natives was cut off, that we are distinctly told by
Mr. Hamilton, that 'the prisoners' wives visited the ship daily, and
brought their children, who were permitted to be carried to their
unhappy fathers. To see the poor captives in irons,' he says, 'weeping
over their tender offspring, was too moving a scene for any feeling
heart, Their wives brought them ample supplies of every delicacy that
the country afforded, while we lay there, and behaved with the greatest
fidelity and affection to them.'[15]

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