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were treated with great rigour, not being allowed ever to get out of this den; and, being obliged to eat, drink, sleep, and obey the calls of nature here, you may form some idea of the disagreeable situation I must have been in, unable as I was to help myself, (being deprived of the use of both my legs and hands,) but by no means adequate to the reality.

'On the 9th May, we left Otaheite, and proceeded to the neighbourhood of the Friendly Islands, where we cruised about six weeks in search of the Bounty, but without success, in which time we were so unfortunate as to lose a small cutter and five hands. About the beginning of August we got in among the reefs of New Holland, to endeavour to discover a passage through them; but it was not effected; for the Pandora, ever unlucky, and as if devoted by heaven to destruction, was driven by a current upon the patch of a reef, and on which, there being a heavy surf, she was soon almost bulged to pieces; but having thrown all the guns on one side overboard, and the tide flowing at the same time, she beat over the reef into a basin and brought up in fourteen or fifteen fathoms; but she was so much damaged while on the reef, that imagining she would go to pieces every moment, we had contrived to wrench ourselves out of our irons, and applied to the captain to have mercy on us, and suffer us to take our chance for the preservation of our lives. But it was all in vain-he

was even so inhuman as to order us all to be put in irons again, though the ship was expected to go down every moment, being scarcely able to keep her under with all the pumps at work.

"In this miserable situation, with an expected death before our eyes, without the least hope of relief, and in the most trying state of suspense, we spent the night, the ship being by the hand of Providence kept up till the morning. The boats by this time had all been prepared; and as the captain and officers were coming upon the poop or roof of our prison, to abandon the ship, the water being then up to the combings of the hatchways, we again implored his mercy; upon which he sent the corporal and an armourer down to let some of us out of irons, but three only were suffered to go up, and the scuttle being then clapped on, and the master-at-arms upon it, the armourer had only time to let two persons out of irons, the rest, except three, letting themselves out; two of these three went down with them on their hands, and the third was picked up. She now began to heel over to port so very much, that the master-at-arms sliding overboard, and leaving the scuttle vacant, we all tried to get up, and I was the last out but three. The water was then pouring in at the bulk-head scuttles, yet I succeeded in getting out, and was scarcely in the sea when I could see nothing above it but the cross trees, and nothing around me but a scene of the greatest distress. I took a plank (being

stark-naked) and swam towards an island about three miles off, but was picked up on my passage When we got ashore to the found there were thirty-four

by one of the boats. small sandy key, we

men drowned, four of whom were prisoners, and among these was my unfortunate mess-mate (Mr. Stewart); ten of us, and eighty-nine of the Pandora's crew, were saved.

When a survey was made of what provisions had been saved, they were found to consist of two or three bags of bread, two or three breakers of water, and a little wine; so we subsisted three days upon two wine-glasses of water, and two ounces of bread per day. On the 1st September we left the island, and on the 16th arrived at Coupang, in the island of Timor, having been on short allowance eighteen days. We were put in confinement in the castle, where we remained till October, and on the 5th of that month were sent on board a Dutch ship bound for Batavia.

'After a very tedious and dangerous passage, the ship being twice near drove ashore, and so very leaky as to be scarce kept above water with both pumps constantly going, on the 30th we anchored at Samarang, in the isle of Java, and on Monday, the 7th, anchored here at Batavia. I send this by the first ship, which is to sail in about a week, by one of the Pandora's men. We are to follow in a week after, and expect to be in England in about seven months.

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Though I have been eight months in close confinement in a hot climate, I have kept my health in a most surprising manner, without the least indisposition, and am still perfectly well in every respect, in mind as well as body; but without a friend, and only a shirt and pair of trousers to put on, and carry me home. Yet with all this I have a contented mind, entirely resigned to the will of Providence, which conduct alone enables me to soar above the reach of unhappiness. You will most probably hear of my arrival in England (should it ever happen) before I can write to you, which I most earnestly long for, that I may explain things which I now cannot mention; yet I hope this will be sufficient to undeceive those who have been so ungenerous as to express, and others who have been so credulous as to believe, all that is laid to my charge.. I can say no more, but remember me to my dearest brothers and sisters, &c., and believe me still to be • Your most dutiful and ever obedient son, 'PETER HEYWOOD.'

Before this interesting narrative reached his home, various were the thoughts and fears, and various the rumours and opinions, respecting poor Heywood's fate and conduct, which harassed his afflicted family.

'I hear,' says Mr. J. M. Heywood, in a letter to Miss N. Heywood, dated May 12, 1792, 'that your brother will probably return in the Crown man-of

war, and you may be assured that I will pay every attention to his situation as soon as I am informed of his arrival. The circumstance of his having swam to the Pandora, will, I trust, be strong in his favour, and make his conduct appear in a much better light than that of the other young men who were so unfortunate as to remain on board the Bounty when Mr. Bligh was so ill-treated.

Miss N. HEYWOOD to J. M. HEYWOOD, Esq.

6

Isle of Man, June 3, 1792.

I will not attempt, my dear Sir, to express the gratitude at this moment felt by myself and every one of our family for your most friendly letter, and the generous promise it contains of support and protection to my most dear and unfortunate brother.

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The occasion of my again troubling you on the subject is a letter I yesterday received from the father of Mr. Thomas Hayward (one of the midshipmen who came with Mr. Bligh in the boat, after the fatal mutiny). He informs me that on his arrival at Batavia, after great sufferings, Captain Edwards agreed for three Dutch ships to convey the crew of the Pandora to Europe, giving a lieutenant to each division, the first of which had arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, before the Thames frigate sailed thence on the 10th February. The Crown man-of-war has since arrived in England, and, as far as I can learn, without bringing

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