CONTENTS. 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- Page 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 The trial-evidence of the witnesses-Mr. Heywood's defence Heywood re-enters the navy — his gradual promotion—takes CHAP. V. Page 164-303 Captain Heywood's marriage-letter to Lord Melville declining - 304-333 ERRATA. P. 94, line 12, for "sed tout," read set taut. MEMOIR. CHAPTER I. PETER HEYWOOD, the fourth son of Peter John Heywood, Esq., was born at the Nunnery, near Douglas, on the 6th of June, 1773. His father was a Deemster of the Isle of Man, and Seneschal to his Grace the Duke of Athol. No particulars of his early years have reached us, except that he was educated by the Rev. Mr. Hunter, at Nantwich. Were it possible to trace the history of his boyish days, there is every thing in his subsequent life to inspire the belief, that he would be found honourably distinguished among his compeers by various traits of superior talent and generous disposition. At the early age of fifteen, he entered the Naval Service, on the 11th of October, 1786. Even at that age he was the object, not only of the warmest affection, but of the entire confidence and unqualified esteem of his family. In the words of a beloved sister, who will shortly be introduced to the reader's acquaintance, Nothing but conviction from his own mouth could possibly persuade her, 66 B that he would commit an action inconsistent with honour and duty." It is certain that his behaviour and letters, under the extraordinary and awful scenes of suffering which awaited him on his very entrance into life, display a strength and nobleness of soul to which no epitaph can do justice ;-which must reflect great credit upon his domestic training, and, without other evidence, attract our respect towards that family of which he was a member. Indeed, his conduct and sentiments, whilst he was yet a boy, exhibit a spirit so rare and extraordinary, as almost to justify the conviction, that the natures of some human beings are of a superior quality, setting them at once above the common level of their species-that, in the language of the great poet of human nature, "they are born great,”—and that circumstances are but the occasions of developing this native greatness-this inherent dignity, which attaches to them from the cradle to the grave. Peter Heywood made his first voyage as a Midshipman in the Bounty, a ship of about two hundred and fifty tons' burthen, which had been fitted up by government, under the care of Sir Joseph Bankes, for the purpose of conveying the Bread Fruit and other plants from Otaheite to the West Indies. This was done in consequence of the representations of the merchants and planters, that essential benefit would be derived from their introduction into the West-Indian colonies. On the 23d of December, 1787, the Bounty sailed from Spithead, under the command of Lieutenant William Bligh. The melancholy issue of the voyage is very generally known. For the details of its history, the character of Bligh, and the circumstances which sowed the seeds of discord between the crew and their commander, the reader may be referred to the twenty-fifth number of the Family Library, and Marshall's Naval Biography. It suffices here to mention, that, after a hazardous and unsuccessful attempt to sail round Cape Horn, the Bounty turned away towards the Cape of Good Hope, touched in Adventure Bay, Van Diemen's Land, August the 20th, 1788, and anchored in Matavia Bay, October 26th, where she remained six months. The vessel was on her way home, laden with bread fruit and other plants, in flourishing condition, having so far fulfilled the object of her voyage, when between the hours of 4 and 8, A. M., on the 28th of April, 1789, the unhappy catastrophe, fraught with so many terrible consequences, took place. Mr. Christian, the master's mate, who, in consequence of his skill as a seaman, had been doing lieutenant's duty the greater part of the voyage, was called at the appointed hour to relieve the watch. His mind had been deeply wounded by some angry and insulting words that had fallen from his commander in a dispute two days before; and it appears that he had formed the design of quitting the |