penter, and shall try to see, ere I return, Hayward and Hallet. I have tried to get the rigour of your confinement mitigated, but find that at present nothing can be done as to enlargement. The Admiralty, I find, have laid your case before the Crown lawyers for their opinion, whether you should be tried by a Naval Court Martial or Admiralty Court, but as yet no answer is returned. Rest assured of my utmost exertions; whenever you are tried I shall attend. Believe me, with great truth, your affectionate uncle,

T. PASLEY.'

To Miss N. HEYWOOD.

'July 15, 1792.

'I received your letter, my dearest Nessy, with the enclosure, (your brother's narrative,) but did not choose to answer it till I had made a thorough investigation, that is, seen personally all the principal evidences, which has ever since occupied my whole thoughts and time. I have also had some letters from himself, and notwithstanding he must still continue in confinement, every attention and indulgence possible is granted him by Captain Montague of the Hector, who is my particular friend. I have no doubt of the truth of your brother's narrative; the master, boatswain, gunner, and carpenter, late of the Bounty, I have seen, and have the pleasure to assure you that they are all favourable, and corroborate what he says. That fellow, Captain

Edwards, whose inhuman rigour of confinement I shall never forget, I have likewise seen; he cannot deny that Peter avowed himself late of the Bounty when he came voluntarily aboard; this is a favourable circumstance. I have been at the Admiralty, and read over all the depositions taken and sent home by Bligh and his officers from Batavia, likewise the court-martial on himself; in none of which appears any thing against Peter. As soon as Lieut. Hayward arrives with the remainder of the Pandora's crew, the court-martial is to take place. I shall certainly attend, and we must have an able counsellor to assist, for I will not deceive you, my dear Nessy; however favourable circumstances may appear, our martial law is severe; by the tenour of it, the man who stands neuter is equally guilty with him who lifts his arm against his captain in such cases. His extreme youth, and his delivering himself up, are the strong points of his defence. Adieu! my dearest Nessy; present my love to your mother and sisters, and rest assured of my utmost exertions to extricate your brother.

• Your affectionate uncle,

'T. PASLEY,'

This excellent man did not stop here; knowing that sea-officers have a great aversion from counsel, he writes to say, A friend of mine, Mr. Graham, who has been secretary to the different admirals on the Newfoundland station for these twelve years,

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and consequently has acted as judge-advocate at courts-martial all that time, has offered me to attend you; he has a thorough knowledge of the service, uncommon abilities, and is a very good lawyer. He has already had most of the evidences with him. Adieu! my young friend; keep up your spirits, and rest assured I shall be watchful for your good. My heart will be more at ease, if I can get my friend Graham to go down, than if you were attended by the first counsel in England.' Mr. Graham* accordingly attended, and was of the greatest service at the trial.

To Mr. P. HEYWOOD.

Sheerness, July 15, 1792. 'Have courage, my dear young friend, and hope the best. I have no doubt we shall see you acquitted whenever your court-martial takes place. Be assured, I will endeavour to procure leave of absence, and attend you at Portsmouth. I have to-day written to your sister Nessy. When any difficulty arises that I can serve you in, use no ceremony, assured that it will afford pleasure to your very affectionate uncle,

THOMAS PASLEY.'

Nessy Heywood had expressed a strong desire to see her brother, but was told the rules of the service

* The late Aaron Graham, Esq., the highly-respected police magistrate in London.

would not allow it; also, that it would agitate him, when he ought to be cool and collected to meet his approaching trial. Mr. Heywood, of Maristow, and his daughter, Mrs. Bertie, had intimated to him the same thing. These excellent people, from the moment of young Heywood's arrival, had shewn him every kindness, supplied him with money, and, what was better, with friends, who could give him the best advice. To this worthy lady, Miss Nessy Heywood thus addresses herself:

'Overwhelmed with sensations of gratitude and pleasure, which she is too much agitated to express, permit me, dearest Madam, at my mamma's request, to offer you her and our most sincere acknowledgments for your invaluable letter, which, from the detention of the packet, she did not receive till yesterday. By a letter from my beloved brother, of the same date, we are informed that Mr. Larkham (whom

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suppose to be the gentleman you mention having sent to see him) has been on board the Hector, and has kindly offered him the most salutary advice relative to his present situation, for which allow me to request you will present him our best thanks. He also speaks with every expression a grateful heart can dictate of your excellent father's goodness in providing for all his wants, even before he could have received any letters from us to that purpose.

'Ah! my dear Madam, how truly characteristic is this of the kind friendship with which he has

ever honoured our family! But my beloved Peter does not know that Mr. Heywood has a daughter, whose generosity is equal to his own, and whose amiable compassion for his sufferings it will be as impossible for us to forget, as it is to express the admiration and gratitude it has inspired. It would, I am convinced, be unnecessary, as well as a very bad compliment to you, Madam, were I to presume to point out any thing particular to be done for our poor boy, as I have not the least doubt your goodness and kind intention have long ago rendered every care of that sort on our part unnecessary. I shall only add, that my mamma begs every wish he forms may be granted, and sure I am, he will not desire a single gratification that can be deemed in the smallest degree improper.

'In one of my brother's letters, dated the 23d, he hints that he shall not be permitted to see any of his relations till his trial is over, and that he therefore does not expect us. I have, however, written to Mr. Heywood (without whose approbation I would by no means take any step) for permission to go to him. If it is absolutely impossible for me to see him (though in the presence of witnesses), yet even that prohibition, cruel as it is, I could bear with patience, provided I might be near him, to see the ship in which he at present exists to behold those objects which, perhaps, at the same moment attract his notice-to breathe the same air which he breathes.-Ah! my dearest