Memoir of the late Captain Peter Heywood, R. N.

lover of the beautiful works of God with that deep and peculiar feeling of fond admiration, that comprehension of all their latent sources of interest and value, which time and familiarity have wrought for them in the heart of one who has been their companion from the rising to the going down of the sun, who has watched their varying aspect in stillness and in storm! Captain Heywood's was no ordinary mind. With that reserve which is always more or less the accompaniment of self-respect, never obtruding himself on the attention, he had 'that within which passeth show.' He was one of those richly-endowed beings, with respect to whose minds every succeeding interview impresses upon you the conviction, that there is still many an undiscovered vein of valuable ore to become the prize of some further acquaintance.

While the author confesses these disqualifications, he will be happy to see his omissions supplied, his errors corrected, by others who have enjoyed superior opportunities. Aware that many of Captain Heywood's letters are in the possession of his friends, and that a large collection of them has been made, he has of course been often tempted to wish that he could have enriched his volume with more of Captain Heywood's correspondence. The author owns he has no reason to make the observation from experience;-but it is a difficult and delicate thing to apply as a stranger to strangers-more

especially when the purpose of the applicant might be viewed with a very doubtful eye. He has been checked, too, by the remembrance of Captain Heywood's peculiar modesty and reserve, his disinclination to have his name and sentiments paraded before the public eye-a disinclination sufficiently manifested by the fact that he destroyed a considerable number of manuscripts before his death, perhaps the only materials for a faithful representation of his whole mind.

To the Mutiny of the Bounty the author owes more than general acknowledgment. With a few verbal alterations, the general arrangement and connecting links of the correspondence which took place previous to the trial have been adopted from that volume. It appeared unnecessary to attempt an improvement. But in the course of transcription for the press, some passages have escaped that reference to their source which ought to have been observed, particularly the introduction of the quotation from Lord Byron, with the preceding remarks in the narration of the shipwreck of the Pandora, which appeared too apt to be torn from their association; and the observations on Christian's motives for detaining Heywood, with the note, pp. 150152. Yet in this part of the Memoir some additions have been made to the correspondence from that family volume to which the historian of the Mutiny of the Bounty acknowledges his obligations.

The author has only to add, that for the appearance of this volume and its contents he alone is responsible. The diaries, from which some extracts are given, were entrusted to his hands by Mrs. Heywood out of regard to the interest which that lady knew the author to feel in Captain Heywood's memory, and to enable him to see better what Captain Heywood was, but without any view to publication. Upon himself, therefore, must entirely rest the blame, if there be any, arising from their appearance. He has endeavoured to avoid every thing which could apply otherwise than pleasantly to any living individual. To have done otherwise would have been injustice to Captain Heywood's memory as well as to the parties concerned.

He hopes that, although he may not have been successful in giving a perfect picture of this beloved and respected man, there may yet be found in this volume a sufficiently rude outline of his life and character to render it not unworthy the occasional contemplation of those who knew and loved him best. 'Passing sweet are the domains of tender memory;' and in these domains no spots are sweeter than the haunts of departed worth-the spots where we can meet and converse again with the honoured and virtuous dead.

CONTENTS.

CHAP. I.

Birth and parentage of Peter Heywood-makes his first voyage

in the Bounty-Mutiny-unfavourable sentiments of Lieu-

tenant Bligh-Pandora sent in search of the Mutineers—

Heywood hastens on board the Pandora, and is confined in

irons-wreck of that vessel, and Heywood's sufferings-

Heywood's letter to his Mother from Batavia-Miss N. Hey-

wood's letters to Mr. Heywood, of Maristow, and Commo-

dore Pasley-Heywood's arrival at Portsmouth after great

sufferings

CHAP. II.

Correspondence of Peter Heywood with his Mother and Sisters

during his confinement on board the Hector awaiting his

trial-letters from Commodore Pasley to Miss N. Heywood

and Peter-Miss N. Heywood anxious to visit her brother,

but is dissuaded-lines composed by Peter Heywood at Ota-

heite-Peter Heywood's letter to his Mother, correcting the

story of his swimming off to the Pandora, and describing his

conduct on the island-letters from Colonel Holwell, Dr.

Scott, and Commodore Pasley

The trial-evidence of the witnesses-Mr. Heywood's defence
-Heywood found guilty, and is sentenced to death, but re-
commended to mercy-remarks-Nessy Heywood's impa-
tience to join her brother-Mr. Graham's consolatory letter
to Dr. Scott-Heywood's letter to the same, expressing his
resignation-touching letter to his mother-Nessy Heywood
visits Mr. Graham in London-Peter Heywood's remarks on
material points of the evidence transmitted to the Earl of
Chatham-Nessy Heywood's letter accompanying them-
despatch of the warrant granting a full and free pardon to
Heywood-consequent correspondence-Heywood's restora-
tion to his family-lines written by Mr. Heywood on the
days of his condemnation and pardon
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