The Eventful History of the Mutiny and Piratical Seizure of H.M.S. Bounty: Its Cause And Consequences Part 18

'He set sail with the eastern monsoon, in the beginning of October, and arrived safely at Melinde, where he landed the native merchants, took in wood, water, and refreshments, and again put to sea, informing his crew that he was going to Quiloa. When he had got to a distance from the land, it would appear that some of his crew had mutinied; but this he had foreseen and provided for; putting some of them in irons, and promising at the same time amply to reward the services of the rest, and giving them to understand that he was going to Sofala on account of the trade in gold. Thus he proceeded, touching at various places for refreshments, which he met with in great plenty and very cheap.

'From Sofala he proceeded along the coast till he had pa.s.sed the Cabo dos Correntes, and from thence along the sh.o.r.e, without ever venturing to a distance from the land, and touching at the different rivers, until he pa.s.sed the Cape of Good Hope, which he did in January 1537.

'From thence he stretched into the ocean with gentle breezes, steering for St. Helena; where, on arriving, he drew his little vessel ash.o.r.e, to clean her bottom and repair her, and also to give a few days' rest to his crew, of whom some had perished of cold, notwithstanding his having provided warm clothing for them.

'Departing from St. Helena, he boldly steered his little bark across the wide ocean, directing his career to St. Thome, where he took in provisions, wood, and water; and from thence he proceeded to the bar of Lisbon, where he arrived in May, when the king was at Almeyrin. He entered the river with his oars, his little vessel being dressed with flags and pendants, and anch.o.r.ed at Point Leira opposite to Salvaterra, not being able to get farther up the river. This novelty produced such a sensation in Lisbon that the Tagus was covered with boats to see the _fusta_ Diogo Botelho Perreira landed in a boat, and proceeded to Almeyrin, to give the king an account of his voyage, and solicit a gratification for the good news which he brought, of his Majesty now being possessed of a fortress on the island of Diu.

'The king was highly pleased with this intelligence, but, as Botelho brought no letters from the governor, he did not give him the kind of reception which he had expected. On the contrary, the king treated him with coldness and distance; his Majesty, however, embarked to see the _fusta_, on board of which he examined every thing with much attention, and was gratified in viewing a vessel of such a peculiar form, and ordered money and clothes to be given to the sailors--nor could he help considering Diogo Botelho as a man of extraordinary enterprise and courage, on whose firmness implicit reliance might be placed.

'The little vessel was ordered to be drawn ash.o.r.e at Sacabem, where it remained many years (until it fell to pieces), and was visited by people from all parts of Europe, who beheld it with astonishment. The king subsequently received letters from the governor of Nuno da Cunha, confirming the news brought by Botelho; the bearer of these letters, a Jew, was immediately rewarded with a pension of a hundred and forty milreas; but Botelho was neglected for many years, and at last appointed commander of St. Thome, and finally made captain of Cananor in India, that he might be at a distance from Portugal.'

The vessel named _fusta_ is a long, shallow, Indian-built row-boat, which uses latine sails in fine weather. These boats are usually open, but Botelho covered his with a deck: its dimensions, according to Lavanha, in his edition of De Barros' unfinished Decade, are as follows:--length, twenty-two palmos, or sixteen feet six inches.

Breadth, twelve palmos, or nine feet. Depth, six palmos, or four feet six inches. Bligh's boat was twenty-three feet long, six feet nine inches broad, and two feet nine inches deep. From the circ.u.mstance mentioned of some of his crew having perished with cold, it is probable that they were natives of India, whom the Portuguese were in the habit of bringing home as part of their crew.

[12] Previous to the writing of this letter, the following copy of verses shows how anxiously this young lady's mind was engaged on the unhappy circ.u.mstances under which her brother was placed.

On the tedious and mournful Absence of a most beloved BROTHER, who was in the _Bounty_ with Captain BLIGH at the Time of the FATAL MUTINY, which happened April 28th, 1789, in the South Seas, and who, instead of returning with the Boat when she left the s.h.i.+p, stayed behind.

Tell me, thou busy flatt'ring Telltale, why-- Why flow these tears--why heaves this deep-felt sigh,-- Why is all joy from my sad bosom flown, Why lost that cheerfulness I thought my own; Why seek I now in solitude for ease.

Which once was centred in a wish to please, When ev'ry hour in joy and gladness past, And each new day shone brighter than the last; When in society I loved to join; When to enjoy, and give delight, was mine?-- Now--sad reverse! in sorrow wakes each day, And griefs sad tones inspire each plaintive lay: Alas! too plain these mournful tears can tell The pangs of woe my lab'ring bosom swell!

Thou best of brothers--friend, companion, guide, Joy of my youth, my honour, and my pride!

Lost is all peace--all happiness to me, And fled all comfort, since deprived of thee.

In vain, my Lycidas, thy loss I mourn, In vain indulge a hope of thy return; Still years roll on and still I vainly sigh, Still tears of anguish drown each gus.h.i.+ng eye.

Ah I cruel Time I how slow thy ling'ring pace, Which keeps me from his tender, loved embrace.

At home to see him, or to know him near, How much I wish--and yet how much I fear!

Oh I fatal voyage! which robb'd my soul of peace And wreck'd my happiness in stormy seas!

Why, my loved Lycidas, why did'st thou stay, Why waste thy life from friends.h.i.+p far away?

Though guiltless thou of mutiny or blame, And free from aught which could disgrace thy name; Though thy pure soul, in honour's footsteps train'd, Was never yet by disobedience stain'd; Yet is thy fame exposed to slander's wound, And fell suspicion whispering around.

In vain--to those who knew thy worth and truth, Who watch'd each op'ning virtue of thy youth; When n.o.blest principles inform'd thy mind, Where sense and sensibility were join'd; Love to inspire, to charm, to win each heart, And ev'ry tender sentiment impart; Thy outward form adorn'd with ev'ry grace; With beauty's softest charms thy heav'nly face, Where sweet expression beaming ever proved The index of that soul, by all beloved; Thy wit so keen, thy genius form'd to soar, By fancy wing'd, new science to explore; Thy temper, ever gentle, good, and kind, Where all but guilt an advocate could find: To those who know this character was thine, (And in this truth a.s.senting numbers join) How vain th' attempt to fix a crime on thee, Which thou disdain'st--from which each thought is free!

No, my loved brother, ne'er will I believe Thy seeming worth was meant but to deceive; Still will I think (each circ.u.mstance though strange) That thy firm principles could never change; That hopes of preservation urged thy stay, Or force, which those resistless must obey.

If this is error, let me still remain In error wrapp'd--nor wake to truth again!

Come then, sweet Hope, with all thy train of joy Nor let Despair each rapt'rous thought destroy; Indulgent Heav'n, in pity to our tears, At length will bless a parent's sinking years; Again shall I behold thy lovely face, By manhood form'd, and ripen'd ev'ry grace, Again I'll press thee to my anxious breast, And ev'ry sorrow shall be hush'd to rest.

Thy presence only can each comfort give.

Come then, my Lycidas, and let me live; Life without thee is but a wretched load, Thy love alone can smooth its th.o.r.n.y road; But blest with thee, how light were every woe; How would my soul with joy and rapture glow!

Kind Heav'n! thou hast my happiness in store, Restore him _innocent_--I ask no more!

_Isle of Man, Feb. 25,_ 1792. NESSY HEYWOOD.

[13] This interesting letter is given in the following Chapter, to which it appropriately belongs.

[14] His orders run thus: 'You are to keep the mutineers as closely confined as may preclude all possibility of their escaping, having, however, proper regard to the preservation of their lives, that they may be brought home, to undergo the punishment due to their demerits.'

[15] _Voyage round the World_, by Mr. George Hamilton, p. 84.

[16] _A Missionary Voyage to the Southern Pacific_, p. 360.

[17] _United Service Journal_.

[18] The Phoceans, on account of the sterility of their country, were in the habit of practising piracy, which, according to Justin, was held to be an honourable profession.

[19] These laws are contained in an ancient authentic book, called 'The Black Book of the Admiralty,' in which all things therein comprehended are engrossed on vellum, in an ancient character; which hath been from time to time kept in the registry of the High Court of Admiralty, for the use of the Judges. When Mr. Luders made enquiry at the office in Doctors' Commons, in 1808, he was informed by the proper officers there, that they had never seen such book, and knew nothing of it, nor where to find it. The fact is, the book in question was put into Lord Thurlow's hands when Attorney-General, and never returned. There is a copy of it in the Admiralty.

[20] Morrison mentions, in his _Journal_, a plan to this effect, contrived by Heywood, Stewart, and himself, but observes, 'it was a foolish attempt, as, had we met with bad weather, our crazy boat would certainly have made us a coffin.'

[21] The following shows how much her fond mind was fixed on her unfortunate brother:--

_On the Arrival of my dearly-beloved Brother, Peter Heywood, in England, written while a Prisoner, and waiting the Event of his Trial on board his Majesty's s.h.i.+p 'Hector.'_ Come, gentle Muse, I woo thee once again, Nor woo thee now in melancholy strain; a.s.sist my verse in cheerful mood to flow, Nor let this tender bosom Anguish know; Fill all my soul with notes of Love and Joy, No more let Grief each anxious thought employ: With Rapture now alone this heart shall burn, And Joy, my Lycidas, for thy return!

Return'd with every charm, accomplish'd youth, Adorn'd with Virtue, Innocence, and Truth; Wrapp'd in thy conscious merit still remain, Till I behold thy lovely form again.

Protect him, Heav'n, from dangers and alarms, And oh! restore him to a sister's arms; Support his fort.i.tude in that dread hour When he must brave Suspicion's cruel pow'r; Grant him to plead with Eloquence divine, In ev'ry word let Truth and Honour s.h.i.+ne; Through each sweet accent let Persuasion flow, With manly Firmness let his bosom glow, Till strong Conviction, in each face exprest, Grants a reward by Honour's self confest.

Let thy Omnipotence preserve him still, And all his future days with Pleasure fill; And oh! kind Heav'n, though now in chains he be, Restore him soon to Friends.h.i.+p, Love, and me.

_August 5th, 1792, Isle of Man_. NESSY HEYWOOD.

[22] The late Aaron Graham, Esq., the highly respected police magistrate in London.

[23] Till the moment of the trial, it will readily be supposed that every thought of this amiable young lady was absorbed in her brother's fate. In this interval the following lines appear to have been written:--

_On receiving information by a letter from my ever dearly loved brother Peter Heywood, that his trial was soon to take place_.

_Isle of Man, August_ 22, 1792. NESSY HEYWOOD.

[24] The minutes being very long, a brief abstract only, containing the princ.i.p.al points of evidence, is here given.

[25] This Journal, it is presumed, must have been lost when the _Pandora_ was wrecked.

[26] It was in this state of mind, while in momentary expectation of receiving an account of the termination of the court-martial, that Heywood's charming sister Nessy wrote the following lines:-- ANXIETY.

Doubting, dreading, fretful guest, Quit, oh I quit this mortal breast.

Why wilt thou my peace invade, And each brighter prospect shade?

Pain me not with needless Fear, But let Hope my bosom cheer; While I court her gentle charms, Woo the flatterer to my arms; While each moment she beguiles With her sweet enliv'ning smiles, While she softly whispers me, 'Lycidas again is free,'

While I gaze on Pleasure's gleam, Say not thou 'Tis all a dream.'

Hence--nor darken Joy's soft bloom With thy pale and sickly gloom: Nought have I to do with thee-- Hence--begone--Anxiety.

_Isle of Man, September 10th._ NESSY HEYWOOD.

[27] This is supposed to allude to the evidence given by Hallet.

[28] This refers to a very kind and encouraging letter written to him by the Rev. Dr. Scott, of the Isle of Man, who knew him from a boy, and had the highest opinion of his character.

[29] Captain Bligh states in his journal, that none of his officers were suffered to come near him while held a prisoner by Christian; and Hallet was, no doubt, mistaken, but he had probably said it in the boat, and thought it right to be consistent on the trial.

It has been said that Hallet, when in the _Penelope_, in which frigate he died, expressed great regret at the evidence he had given at the court-martial, and frequently alluded to it, admitting that he might have been mistaken. There can be very little doubt that he was so. But the Editor has ascertained, from personal inquiry of one of the most distinguished flag-officers in the service, who was then first lieutenant of the _Penelope_, that Hallet frequently expressed to him his deep contrition for having given in evidence what, on subsequent reflection, he was convinced to be incorrect; that he ascribed it to the state of confusion in which his mind was when under examination before the Court; and that he had since satisfied himself that, owing to the general alarm and confusion during the mutiny, he must have confounded Heywood with some other person.

[30] Vol. ii. p. 778.

[31] Some few captains were in the habit of turning over a delinquent to be tried by their messmates, and when found guilty, it invariably happened that the punishment inflicted was doubly severe to what it would have been in the ordinary way. This practice,--which, as giving a deliberative voice to the s.h.i.+p's company, was highly reprehensible,--it is to be hoped has entirely ceased.

[32] Information that the pardon was gone down to Portsmouth.

[33] She had received, previous to this, information of what the event would be, and thus gives vent to her feelings.

_On receiving certain Intelligence that my most amiable and beloved Brother, Peter Heywood, would soon be restored to Freedom_.

Oh, blissful hour!--oh moment of delight!