[From Nessy Heywood, 1913]

CHAPTER IV.—HER LETTERS AND PETER’S TRIAL AND PARDON.

Two days after Peter’s arrival, he was transferred to H.M.S. "Hector." On the 20th he wrote to his mother and Nessy ; and again on the 22nd, with these lines written by him "while a prisoner on board His Majesty’s ship ‘Hector,’ before his trial for the supposed crime of mutiny on board the ‘Bounty,’ " addressed to ‘Hope,’ in a letter to his sister, N. Heywood :

Oh, Hope, thou firm support against despair,
Assist me now stern adverse Fate to bear;
And teach me, when by troubles sore opprest
To think they happen to me for the best;
To waft from off my soul the clouds of woe,
And make the big swollen tear forget to flow;
And oh. remind me that the time draws near
When from these chains once more I shall be clear;
My long-felt troubles then perhaps will cease,
And past distress be crown’d by future peace.

The letters, which have not been preserved, were received on the 20th. On the 29th, his mother replied :

"All your letters have come safe to me, and to my dear, good Nessy. Ah ! Peter, with what real joy did we receive them, and how happy we are that you are now safe in England ! I will endeavour, my dearest lad, to make your present situation as comfortable as possible, for so affectionate and good a son deserves my utmost attention. Nessy has written to our faithful and kind friend, Mr. Heywood, of Plymouth, for his advice, whether it would he proper for her to come up to you ; if he consents to her so doing, not a moment shall be lost, and how happy should I be when she is with you ! Such a sister as she is ! Oh ! Peter, she is a most valuable girl. What comfort she will give you, and how will she lessen the many tedious hours you must, I fear, pass in your confinement

Nessy wrote by the same post : -

"My Dearest and Most Beloved Brother,— ‘Thanks to that Almighty Providence which has so miraculously preserved you. Your fond, anxious, and, till now, miserable Nessy, is at last permitted to address the object of her tenderest affection in England ! Oh ! my admirable, my heroic boy, what have we felt on your account I Yet how small, how infinitely trifling ,was the misery of our situation when compared with the horrors of yours! Let me now, however, with confidence hope that the God of all mercies has not so long protected you in vain, but will at length crown your fortitude and pious resignation to His Will with that peace and happiness you so richly merit,

‘How blest did your delightful, and yet dreadful, letter from Batavia make us all ! Surely, my beloved boy, you could not for a moment imagine we ever supposed you guilty of the crime of mutiny. No, no ; believe me, no earthly power could have persuaded us that t was possible for you to do anything inconsistent with strict honour and duty. So well did we know your amiable, steady principles, that we were assured your reasons for staying behind would turn. out such as you represent them ; and I firmly trust that Providence will at length restore you to those dear and affectionate friends who can know no happiness until they are blest with your loved society.

Take care of your precious health, my beloved boy. I shall soon be with you. I have written to Mr. Heywood¹ (your and our excellent friend and protector) for his permission to go to you immediately, which my uncle Heywood, without first obtaining it would not allow, fearing lest any precipitate step might injure you at present ; and I only await the arrival of his next letter to fly into your arms. Oh ! my hr~t beloved Peter, how I anticipate the rapture of that moment I For, alas ! I have no joy, no happiness, but in your beloved society, and no hopes, no fears, no wishes, but for you.

I hope you have, ere this time, received a letter from me which I wrote before we had your letter from Batavia, and ssent to the care of Mr. Hayward of Hackney ; but, as he informed me he could not get it transmitted to you from the difficulty of transmission, I took the liberty of requestng Mr. Heywood would send for it, and, after reading it, forward it to you. I sent him also your last. two letters, scarcely allowing ourselves time to read, much less (oh ! how great would have been the satisfaction !) to keep them. I have ten thousand things to tell you, my dear Peter, that have happened since our mournful separation, but my mind is at present occupied solely with your idea, and my brothers and sisters desire to add a few words. Farewell, for a little while. Recommending you to the care of that kind Providence who has hitherto, in His merciful goodness, protected your innocence "

P.S—Poor Birket, the most faithful and worthiest of servants desires me to tell you that she almost dies with joy at the the rtight of your safe arrival in England

The poor prisoner replied to his beloved sisters all:—

"H.M.S. Hector, July 12, 17~2.

"This day I had the supreme happiness of your long-expected letters, and I am not able to express the pleasure and joy they afforded inc ; at the sight of them my spirits, low and dejected, were at once exhilarated ; my heart had long and greatly suffered from my impatience to hear of those dear to me, and was tossed and tormented by the storms of fearful conjecture ; but they are now subsided, and my bosom has at length attained that long-lost serenity of calmness it once enjoyed ; for you may believe me whess I say it never yet has suffered any disquiet from my own misfortunes, but from a truly anxious solicitude for, and desire to hear of your welfare.

"God be thanked, you still entertain such an opinion of me as I will flatter myself I have deserved Oh I my Nessy, it grieves me to think I must be under the necessity, however heart-breaking to myself, of desiring you will relinquish your most affectionate design of coming to see me ; it is too long and tedious a journey ; and even on your arrival you would not be allowed the wished-for happiness, both to you and myself, of seeing, much less conversing with, your unfortunate brother ; the rules of the Service are so strict, that prisoners are not permitted to have any communications with female. relations . . . . I am very happy to hear that poor old Birket is still alive ; pleaso remember me to her, and tell her not to heave aback until God grants me the pleasure of seeing her. And now, my dear Nessy, cease to anticipate the happiness of personal communication with your poor but resigned brother, until wished-for freedom removes the indignant (sic) shackles I now bear from the feet of your fond and most affectionate brother."

Peter had received much kindness from Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Heywood, of Maristow, near Plymouth, and from Mrs.Bertie, their daughter, who resided at Portsmouth. She was the wife of Captain Bertie, RN. Mr. Heywood was, as we have seen, a correspondent of Nessy’s. She wrote to Mrs. Heywood, of Maristow, to thank her :——

." Overwhelmed with sensations of gratitude and pleasure, which she is too 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 I suppose to he 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 at 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 adrmiration and gratitude it has inspired. It would, I am convinced, be unnecessary, as well as a very bad compliment to you, maLlam, 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 23rd [.June], he hints he shall not be perrnitted 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, perhapa, at the same moment attract his attention—to breathe the same air which he breathes. Ah ! my dearest madam, these are inestimable gr.tifications , and would convey sensations of rapture and delight to the fond bosom of a sister, which it is far, far. beyond my power to describe.

Besides, the anixiety and nnpatjence produced by the irnmense distance which now separates us from him, and the uncertainty attending the Packet, render it difficult and sometimes impossible to hear of him so often as we would wish ; and, may I inot add (though Heaven in its mere,v forbid it—for. alas ! the bare idea is too dreadful, yet it is in the scale ot possibility). that some accident might happen to deprive us of our dearest brother. How insupportably bitter would then be our reflections for having omitted the opportunity, when it was in our power, of administering comfort and consolation to him in person

"For these reasons I earnestly hope Mr. Heywood will not judge it. improper to comply with my request, and I shall wait with eager impatience the arrival of his next letter.

Think not, my dear madam, that it is want of confidence in your care and attention which makes me so solicitous to be with my beloved brcther. Be assured we are all as perfectly easy in that respect as if we were on the spot ; but I am convinced that you will pardon the dictates of our affection which an absence of five years, rendered still more painful by his sufferings, has heightened almost to a degree of adoration.

I shall with your permission, take the liberty of inclosing a letter to my brother. which I leave open for perusal, and, at the same time. request your pardon for mentioning you to him in such terms. as I am apprehensive will wound the delicacy which ever accompanies generosity like yours ; but, indeed, my dearest madam, I cannot, must not, suffer my beloved boy to remain in ignorance of that worth and excellence which has prompted you to become his kind proteetress."

The result of her letter to Mr. Heywood, asking if she would be allowed to see Peter, was a reply to the effect that she probably would not, and she, therefore, wrote to her brother :

"Mr. Heywood has, in his last letter to me, rather disapproved of my intention to go to you ; the reason he urged against it was, that as you will now be taken every care of, and will receive the utmost attention from your friends, among whom the excellent Mr. Bertie is first, I could do you no essential service, and that he feared I might, by seeing you in your present situation, agitate and perhaps injure both you and myself.

"With respect to you, my love. that reason has great weight with me, because your mind ought for the present to be kept cool and composed ; and I would not lessen that composure even by affording you all I could, a painfull pleasure in seeing me ; hut, as for myself, no danger, no fatigue, no difficulties would deter me. I have youth, health, and excellent spirits—these, and the strength of my affection, would support me through it all.

"If I were not allowed to see you, yet being in the same place with you, would be to me joy inexpressible. However, that very circumstance would be distressing to you, and would enly be a source of mortification. I will not, therefore, any longer desire it, but will learn to imitate your fortitude and patience.

"Do you know, I envy you exceedingly ? To have borne with such heroism your dreadful misfortunes—to become the idol of your relations and friends, and to be held up as an example of worth and suffering virtue,—tell me, my love, is not such a triumph worth the purchase Thus speaks my little bravery of spirit. Yet how does my fond affection for my dear brother shrink with horror at the bare recollection of his dangers I The sweet and pious resignation which has tiitherto happily conducted you through them, is, I freely own, just what I expected from you ; for such is my idea of your character, that I should have been clissppointed had you acted less nobly.

‘With respect to the conduct of your trial, I am sure we ought to banish every sentiment of fear, and rest securely on the assistance of a kind Providence, and your on virtue. If there be justice for the innocent on this earth, you will assuredly be restored to us with honour. Ah I my dear Peter, how the idea transports me ! May the Giver of all good in mercy grant that such may soon be cur happy lot, and that I may at length enjoy the felicity of pressing the best of brothers to the bosom of his ever faithfully affectionate sister."

 *Dates are given in all cases when they appear in the originals. This was probably written on the 17th of July.

Her next letter was in reply to one from her brother of Aug.16th:— "Isle of Man, July 22nd, 1792.

"Yes, my ever dearest Peter, I am still in Douglas, and shall not, without your express permission. leave it till I have the inconceivable happiness of knowing you are once more restored to liberty. My last letter would, I hope, make you quite easy respecting my intended journey.

A thousand thanks for the sketches of the ‘Pandora,’ which pleased, but yet pained, us exceedingly. I will not say the sight of them brought your past sufferings to our minds; for alas I the recollection of them is ever pi esent with us, sad yeb how indescribably happy are we to think our beloved Peter has escaped such dangers, and will, at length, meet the reward of his virtues in the bosom of friendly and domestic felicity

I have another request. to make, my dear Peter ; don’t you think you could acconiplish a sketch of something else for your Nessy ? I mean of that dear face I have so long and so ardently wished to see. It is impossible for me to procure a miniature of you at present, but perhaps you could draw a. likeness strong enough to give me an idea of the alteration in your face and person since we parted. Oh I how happy should I be to gaze on your portrait, were it even the most distant resemblance ! Suppose you try? Perhaps it will amuse you in a. leisure hour, and how would the possession of it delight me’ !‘

Her brother replied on the 31st :

"I had this morning the pleasure of your last (22nd), and am glad to find that you liked the sketches I sent you of the ‘Pandora. I could not help laughing heartily at the request you made, to draw my own picture. With what pleasure would I do anything in my power to afford my Nessy even a momentary happiness ! but that is a part of the art which I never attempted, and am conscious that my insignificant abilities are by no means equal to the most distant likeness of a fae. And, in fact, I have not one pencil, nor any colours, they being all lost in the Endeavour Straits, with about 80 drawings, besides my little all of property. But wait awhile, and with God’s assistance I will present you with the original."

Notwithstanding this disavowal of his powers, he sent a portrait of himself a few days later, which was drawn from recollection, as he had not seen his face in a looking-glass for twelve months, and he writes : —

"If the face is not like, the dress is just what I now wear, and the position such as I generally sit in, either reading, writing, or drawing. The straw hat I made myself in the Dutch Indiaman from Madaira to the Cape, and to pass away the tedious hours of confinement."

Nessy had written to him on the same day :

"Isle of Man. 31st July, 17.

"We had the. happiness, my beloved brother, of your three letters on Sunday last, by a boat from Whitehaven, as the packet is not repair’d. Mr. Wood continues to send over our letters by any safe opportunity, and fortunately we have received them with great regularity. You will, by this post, receive a number of letters. Mama, Mary, Eliza, and myself are all scribbling at this moment, and James desires me to say he would do so too, hut he has hurt his right hand, and cannot hold a. pen.

You mention in some of your letters an apprehension (which I assure you, my love, is unnecessary) of displeasing my uncle Heywood* by not writing to him. He sees every letter we receive from you, and is entirely satisfied with your whole conduct ~ not a single step has been taken respecting you without his express concurrence and approbation, and he interests himself strongly in your welfare, which, believe me, is no inconsiderable proof of your great merit. His natural prudence and cool reason will never suffer him to bestow his attention on any but a worthy object. That object he has with pleasure found in my dearest Peter.

"Why, my ever-loved brother, did you make any apology to me for the uneasiness you felt on receipt of my letter to Mr. Heywood’scare ? How very unnecessary was that to me, and how sincerely am I grieved it was ever sent you Yet., thank Heaven, you will not, cannot, suffer much longer those unpleasant sensations which a situation of undeserv’d confinement must produce, for soon, very soon, I hope, will everything terminate to our most sanguine wishes. ‘Tis I. my love, who ought to apologise for having suffer’d even a single word to escape me that could give you a moment’s pain.. Alas ! how studiously, on the contrary, would I seek to give you pleasure.

Mr. .Bligh most certainly brands my amiable brother with.the vile appellation of ‘Mutineer,’ but he has not dared to charge you with any crime that could have authoriz’d such an epithet ; on the contrary, he has declared, under his own hand, that he had the highest esteem for you till the fatal moment of the Mutiny. and that your conduct during the whole course of the voyage was such as gave him the greatest pleasure and satisfaction. So high , indeed, was the opinion he had of your character and attachment, to him, that he told Mr. Wilson. in conversation, his greatest. hopes of assistance in suppressing the Mutiny were from his dependence on your forming a party in his favour. And here, I must observe, that his confidence in his other officers must have been very small when (without making any effort himself, except by words, even when he was in the boat and his hands at liberty) he depended on a boy of seventeen to be his defender. His cruelty and barbarity in loading you with so opprobrious an epithet is, therefore, the more unpardonable, and will. so far from injuring you, iny dearest Peter, recoil upon himself ; and if he has any feeling, must distress him much.

"The report you have heard respecting my grandfather Spedding’s death is very true. He died in August, 1788, and, would you believe it, notwithstanding he confess’d, and even boasted to the latest moment of his existence, that my Mama (once his only and belov’d child, and that for a period of thirty-six years) had never during her whole life, in the most trifling instance offend’d him, he had the cruelty not even to mention her name in his will ! He died immensely rich and left his whole fortune (except £40,000 for his eldest son) to his present wife and her heirs for ever. Even this was surely unkind to his then children, independent of my Mama, for it was possible Mrs. Spedding might marry again and have other heirs besides his children. The event has verified the conjecture, for, two years ago, she marri’d Doctor Hamilton, who, however, insisted that her fortune shou’d first be settled upon the children. Thus, by a fatal second marriage, was a worthy woman, with a large family, depriv’d not only of a parent’s affection, but of the inheritance to which by the law of nature, and by her own exemplary conduct, she was justly intitled.

"Adieu, my best, my dearest, brother ! May the Almighty God guard and preserve you till you are again restor’d to both the joy and happiness of :your most faithful and fondly affectionate sister."

Mary is impatient to scribble a little.

"My Dearest and most Beloved Brother,

"Nessy has left a small portion of the letter for us to fill up, and has wrote you so many long letters that she leaves nothing for us to say ; but, for Heaven’s sake, take care of yourself now you are so near us, and trust in God we shall soon embrace you in the Island, the thought of which is almost too much to bear. Adieu, my ever dearest boy ; may that Providence, who has protected you so far, restore you to your anxious Family, is the constant. prayer

Of your Affectionate Sister,

"MARY HEYWOOD."

My Dearly-beloved Peter,

"Never did I sit down with such heartfelt satisfaction as to write these few lines. How long and anxiously have we waited for this period I But, thank God, it has at leegth arrived, and you will be restor’d to us innocent—indeed, we never had a thought of your being guilty. No, my dear brother, we all know you too well ; we envy Nessy the pleasure she will have in being with you, but I hope things will turn out to our wishes, and we shall once more enjoy your society at home. What an addition will you be to our domestic fireside ! Adieu, my dear boy, take care of yourself.

Yours while she exists,

ELIZA HEYWOOD."
(Aged 22).

"My Dearest Brother,

"In what terms can I express myself in writing to you? Oh ! may you, my belov’d Peter, meet the reward you deserve —my only wish is that I may be worthy of such a brother. For God’s sake take care of your health, for you don’t know how dear you are to us. Adieu, my dearest brother ; Heav’n preserve you to

Your most Affectionate Sister,

"ISABELLA HEYWOOD."
(Aged 17).

"My Dearest Brother,

"How can I speak the pleasure I have in writing to you. My sister Nessy has permitted me to express my joy in your arrival. Take care of yourself, and love me as you will ever be lov’d

"By your most Affectionate Sister,

‘JANE HEYWOOD."
(Aged 15).

"John and Edwin desire Nessy will take up the pen for them, and tell their dearest brother Peter that they are over.. joy’d at his escape from that terrible and far distant Otaheite, and hope they may yet be able to assure him how much they have wished for his return ; and they add that, if he will only take care of himself for their sakes, he may teach them by his example to be dutiful and good, that they will behave well, and be the best children in the world till he comes home to his two loving and affectionate little boys

"ROBERT JOHN HEYWOOD (aged 11).

Nessy’s next communication, on the 5th of August, took the form of a poem : ‘On the Arrival of my dearly-beloved brother, Peter Heywood, in England, written while he is a. Prisoner, and waiting the Event of his Trial on board his Majesty’s ship Hector" :—

Come, gentle Muse, I woo thee once again,
Nor woo thee now in melancholy strain;
Assist 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 !

* * *

Returned with every charm, accomplishd 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 I from dangers cnd alarms,
And oh I restore him to a sister’s arms;
Support his fortitude 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 sIine;
Through each sweet accent let Persu.3s1n tlow,
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 till;
And oh I kind Heav’n, though now in chains he be,
Restore him soon to Friendship, Love, and me !

This must have travelled with unusual speed, since her brother is able to thank her for it in a letter written on the 9th August, in vhich he, in his turn, sends her a lengthy poem, entitled "A Dream," which was composed on the 6th of February, 1790. at Otaheite. This was, as he stated, ‘‘rather remarkably’ the same day on which his father died and he remarked ‘The dream which occasioned this poetical attempt .I shall never forget, so powerful was its effect on my mind. I owe to it all my present serenity, and it was this alone which enabled me to bear the many troubles I have had to encounter. I hammered at it while at Otaheite, and, after writing it, I learnt it by heart, and now you have it from recollection."

Nessy replied on the 17th

‘How shall I thank you my best-beloved brother, for your last dear letter and charming poem ? How has the perusal of it delighted us all ? How have I wept over it, while my attention was divided between admiration at the mysterious interposition of Providence, which I am convinced was the case on that remarkable and lamented day when we were for ever deprived of our beloved parent, and gratitude to a beneficent Being, who has so graciously preserved, and will, at length, with confidence I speak it, restore you to our wishes, the amiable, the truly perfect character your opening virtues promised!

I have a letter from my uncle Pasley, by the packet, full of the. most favourable accounts. Is not this delightful ? I cannot help contrasting our present situation with what it has been these five years past, when each dreaded arrival of the packet- brought us some distressing intelligence. Now, how different ! Its return is impatiently wished for, and every letter is replete wth comfort, satisfaction, and happiness!

You make me blush, my dear brother. by your encomiums. I dare not. flatter myself with any merit but that of endeavouring to deserve them. If I have studied to acquire any new accomplishments, in your absence, believe me my first pleasure in the attainment of them was the hope of approving myself in some degree worthy of such a brother."

To her again, Peter, on the 23rd—-—

"My dearest Nessy’s of the 17th I have, this morning, received, and have also information from Mr. Beardsworth that Mr. Erskine and Mr. Mingay are not retained for me, but a Mr. Coust. The contrast, as my dear girl observes, betwixt the past and the present is great, and, let us hope, ere many weeks, it will be much greater. I am glad you like my piece of poetry, I was going to say, and which your partiality dignifies with the name of poem ; hut don’t imagine I am to believe all you say. .

I have had as yet no authentic intelligence when the trial will be. Lord Hood returned from London last night, and his flag was hoisted this morning, so that I daily expect to receive certain information. When I do, I shall not, I think, inform you of the exact. day on which my fate is to be decided, as it would turn you into the most painful state of anxious suspense."

The next communication was early in September. The latter part of the letter only has been preserved : —

"Adieu, my inestimable brother. My mamma sends her most tender love and anxious maternal wishes for your liberty and safety, and my brothers and sisters desire me to say everything that is most expressive of boundless affection. May that Almighty Providence, whose tender care has hitherto preserved you, be still your bountiful Protector! May He instil into the hearts of your judges every sentiment of justice, generosity, and compassion ! May hope, innocence, and integrity be your firm support, and liberty, glory, and honour, your just reward ! May all good angels guard you from even the appearance of danger I And may you at length be restored to us, the delight. the pride of your adoring friends, and th.e sole happiness and felicity of that fond heart which animates the bosom f my dear Peter’s most faithful and truly affectionate sister."

The following may probably be dated from this period:—

Oh I gentle Hope ! with eyes serene,
And aspect ever sweetly mild;
Who deck’st with gayest flowers each scene
In sportive, rich luxuriance wild !

Thou, soother of corroding care,
When sharp afflictions’s pangs we feel,
Teachest us with fortitude to bear,
And know’st deep sorrow’s wounds to heal.

Thy timid vot’ry now inspire,
Thy influence in pity lend;
With confidence this bosom fire,
Till anxious, dread suspense shall end.

Oh I let not fear invade my breast;
My Lycidas no terror knows;
With conscious innocence he’s blest,
And soon will triumph o’er his foes

Watch him, sweet Pow’r, with looks benign,
Possession of his bosom keep;
While waking, make each moment shine,
With fancy gild his hours of sleep.

Protect him still, nor let him dread
The awful, the approaching hour,
When on his poor devoted head
Fell slander fails with cruel power.

Yet, gentle Hope, deceive me not,
Nor with deluding smiles betray;
Be honour’s recompense his lot,
And glory crown each future day !

And oh ! support this fainting heart
With courage, till that hour is past,
When, free’d from envy’s fatal dart,
His innocence shines forth at last.

Then as the trial drew near-—it began on the12th ——came—

"ANXIETY."

Doubting, dreading, fretful guest,
Quit, oh ! 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 flatt’ror 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, "It's 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!

Towards the end of the month, her young brother, Henry, who had just joined the Merchant Service, sailed on his first voyage, which was to Jamaica. Nessy’s gift to him was a letter-case with these lines : —

Oh, may this case, my Henry, ne’er contain
One line, one sentence that can give thee pain,
But ever be replete with love and joy
To bless thy absent hours, my darling boy;
And in thy generous bosom may it prove
The sweet remembrance of a sister’s love.

The Court Martial began on the 12th of September. Peter’s counsel were Mr. Graham and Mr. Coust. Of Mr. Graham, Captain Pasley said : "A friend of mine, Mr. Graham, who has been secretary to the different admirals on the Newfoundland Station for these twelve years, 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." And again: "Your counsel Mr. Coust seems a sensible, clever young man, but my dependence is on Graham." Mr. Graham was to prove himself, not only an able advocate, but a devoted friend. He was at that time a police magistrate in London.

The Court Martial was over by the morning of the 18th. But no news of it, owing to strong contrary winds, was received in the Isle of Man till Monday, the 24th, and it then came in a very unfortunate way from a little boy, who ran into the room where the Heywoods were sitting, and told them in the most abrupt manner that Peter had been condemned, but was recommended to mercy; and, he added, that a man, whose name he mentioned, had informed him of it. The man was sent for, and questioned, and he replied that he had seen it in a newspaper at Liverpool, whence he had arrived in a fishing boat, but that he had forgotten to bring the newspaper with him.

On the 27th Nessy received a letter from her brother James, who had arrived in Liverpool, with Henry, on the 24th. He sent her a copy of the paragraph referred to, and said that, as she would probably want to go to Portsmouth, he would wait for her till he saw her or heard from her. On the 29th Nessy replied : —‘

There is a vessel going to Liverpool this instant, and I have but a moment to tell you that I received yours on Thursday night ; till then we had heard nothing but by report. The packet is not yet arrived, and our friends will not let me go from hence till she brings some certain news. We are in an agony of suspense, and I can scarcely support my own misery, much less keep up mamma’s dejected spirits.

If there is the least apprehension entertained by the people of Liverpool for his life—go, for heaven’s sake, to Portsmouth, without waiting for me. ‘Tis true your being there can do him no essential service, nor will his friends leave anything undone for him ; but ‘tis natural to suppose he must wish to see some of his own family. It is, however, some comfort that I am able to assure you that every person here to whom we have spoken on the subject agrees in the opinion that there is not the smallest danger—that his being found guilty is not because any thing has been proved against him, but because he, poor fellow, was not able to bring evidence sufficiently strong of his innocence—that a recommendation from a court martial to mercy is exactly the same as an acquittal in another court ; for the martial law is so strict and severe that there is no medium between acquittal and death—that there is no instance upon which a pardon from that recommendation has been refused, and that it is asked not as a matter of favour merely, but of justice from the executive power, which is the only way of mitigating toe severe a law.

"This is the opinion here ; but we nave hoped too long, and have too much at stake, to be satisfied with conjectures, however well founded, nor can anything but a certainty, from his own letters, still our violent apprehensions.

"This is a calm day, and I hope that the packet will at length make her appearance. If she brings not a certainty of his safety. I shall set off for Liverpool immediately—but if you hav~ a doubt of that I agaib repeat, do not wait for me. I can go alone. Fear, and even despair, will, in that case, support me through the journey . Yet, if I could listen to reason, which is at present indeed difficult, it is not likely that anything serious has taken place or will do so, as we should then certainly have an express. But, my dear James,act as your affection and judgment shall dictate. and think only of ou r poor unfortunate and adored boy."

But better news was at hand. The packet referred to arrived at midnight, and it brought with it a letter from Mrs. Bertie to Mrs. Heywood

"Portsmouth. September 18, 1792.

" I have the happiness of telling you that the court-martial is this moment over, and that I think your son’s life. is more safe now than it was before his trial. As there was not sufficient proof of his innocence, the Court could not avoid condemning him; but he is SO STRONGLY recomended to MERCY that, I am desired to assure you. by those who are judges. that his life is safe ; all the principal officers of the "Bounty"‘ who were called as evidence, gave him the highest character imaginable ; therefore, for God’s sake, believe nothing hut what you hear from hence My dear madam., keep yourself up as well as you can. Rely oh it that God. who has preserved him through all his dangers and sufferings tj this day, will not forsake him. Adieu, my dear madam. Depend on it. I have told you the honest truth, and hope everything."

Further news was received by the Heywoods the next morning through Dr. Scott* who had a letter, by the same packet, from Mr. Graham, who appeared for Peter, dated "Portsmouth, 18th of September":

"I have attended and given my assistance at Mr. Heywood’s trial, which was finished and he sentence passed about half an hour ago. Before I tell you what that sentence is, I must inform you that his life is safe, notwithstanding it is at present at the mercy of the King, to which he is in the strongest terms recommended by the Court. That any unnecessary fears may not be productive of misery to the family, I must add, that the King’s Attorney-General desired me to make myself perfectly easy, for that my friend was as safe as if he had not been condemned. . . . To prevent its being improperly communicated to Mrs or the Misses Heywood, whose distress first engaged me in the business, and could not fail to call forth my best exertions upon the occasion, I send you this by express. The mode of communication I must leave to your discretion and shall only add that everybody who attended the trial is perfectly satisfied in his own mind that he was hardly guilty in appearance, in intention he was perfectly innocent."

On the following day, Mr. Graham again wrote to Dr. Scott : —

"It will be a great satisfaction to his family to learn that the declarations of some of the other prisoners, since the trial, put it past all doubt that the evidence upon which he was convicted must have been (to say nothing worse of it) an unfortunate belief, on the part of the witness, of circumstances which either never had existence, or were applicable to one of the other gentlemen who remained in the ship, and not to Mr. Heywood."

This probably alludes to the evidence given by Hallet, to which we have already referred. Two days later, on the 20th, Peter himself wrote to Dr. Scott, taking a very gloomy view of his probable fate. It would seem that the result of the doubtless severe strain of the trial, combined with all that had gone before it, had been to crush out all hope from his heart. Peter writes:—

" On Tuesday morning, the 18th, the deadful sentence of death was pronounced upon me, to which E bow my devoted head, with that fortitude, cheerfulness and resignation, which is the duty of every member of the Church of our Blessed Saviour and Redeemer Christ. . . . I have not been found guilty of the slightest act connected with that detestable crime of mutiny, but am doomed to die for not being active in my endeavours to suppress it. . . . For, though the very strong recommendation I have had to his Majesty’s mercy by all the members of the Court may meet with his approbation, yet that is but the balance of a straw, a mere uncertainty, upon which no hope can be built ... Endeavour to mitigate my distressed mother’s sorrows, give my everlasting duty to her, and unabated love to my disconsolate brothers and sisters, and all other relations "

On the 20th he also wrote to his dearly-beloved Nessy : —

"Had I not a strong idea that, ere this mournful epistle fromi your ill-fated brother can reach the trembling hand of my ever-dear and much afflicted Nessy, she must have been informed of the final issue of my trial on Wednesday morning, by my honoured friend. Dr. Scott, I would not now add trouble to the afflicted by a confirmation of it. Conscious of having done icy duty to God and man, I feel not one moment’s anxiety on my own account, but cherish a full and sanguine hope that perhaps a few more days will free me from the load of misfortune which has ever been my portion in this transient period of existence ; and that I shall find an ever-lasting asylum in those blessed regions of eternal bliss where the galling yoke of tyranny and oppression is felt no more."

"I have had all my dear Nessy’s letters ; the one of the 17th this morning ; but alas ! what do they now avail? Their contents only serve to prove the. instability of all humanhopes and expectations . or Heaven’s sake, lett not despair touch the soul of my dear inotlier—foi’ then all would be over. Let ,James also employ all his efforts to cheer her spirits under her weight of woe. I will write no more. Adieu, my dearest love ! Write but little to me, and pray for your ever affectionate but ill-fated brother,"

P.S.—I am in perfect spirits, therefore let not your sympathising feelings for my sufferings hurt your own precious health, which is dearer to me than life itself. Adieu !"

It would seem that these various letters from Portsmouth, on the 17th and 20th, all arrived on the 29th, and by the same packet. There also came a letter from Mr. Grahami, in which he renewed a former invitation to Nessy that she and one of her sisters should come and stay with him in London. It was at once decided that Nessy should go without delay. On Monday, the 1st of October, therefore, while at breakfast, she was informed that a small fishing vessel would sail for Liverpool in half an hour, and, notwithstanding this brief notice, and a strong contrary wind, she promptly embarked. On the 3rd of October she wrote to her mother from Liverpool : —

"We did not arrive here till noon this day, after a most tempestuous passage of forty-nine hours, with the wind directly contrary the whole way. Yet, not withstanding that vexatious circumstance, hard boards, aching bones in conse uence, together with passing two nights almost without closing my eyes, let me but be blessed with the cheering influence of Hope, and I have spirits to undertake anything.

The plaid was a most comfortable thing to me. I wrapped it round my head. At the mouth of the river, this morning, we met. a small open fishing-boat, into which I got, as I was told I should, by that means, arrive twohours sooner than I should otherwise have. done ; and, as the ea was very high, every wae washed over me, and I had a complete wetting. On my arrival, I found poor Henry had sailed two days ago. I regret. I did not come in time to see him, but I rejoice to find he went off in good spirits, and his last words mentioned Peter! I have been myself to secure a place in the mail-coach. and hope to be, by ten o’clock to-niglit.. on rmy road to (may I not npe ?) the completion of all my earthly happiness. Mr. Southcote. whom I passed at sea., will inform you that the pardon went down to the King. at Weymouth, some days ago. When I was tempted to repine at the winds, I rernenbered that they were favourable forHenry ; I reflected on Peter’s sufferings, and was content. Adieu, my dearest mamma, and sisters ! God bless you all ! In your prayers for our beloved and exemplary sufferer, add a word or two for your. most dutiful and affectionate Nessy ."

On the 5th, she and her brother, James, arrived at Mr. Graham’s residence, in Great Russell-street, and she at once wrote to her mother : —

. . Well , my dearest mamma., I have had a long conversation with Mr. Graham and, to my utmost satisfaction, he says'I look on him',‘speaking of Peter, to be the most. amiable young man that can possibly exist. I do not scruple to say that. I should not entirely believe you, as you may be partial but.I speak from my own ohservation. He conducts himself in such a manner as will reflect the highest and most lasting honour on hiimself, and produce the strongest sensations of pleasure and satisfaction to his friends. Mr. Graham assures me that there is not a doubt existing in the mind of any person who has seen the minutes of the Court Martial respecting Peter’ s innocence."

It is interesting to find that so gentle and affectionate a soul as Nessy is capable of anger. We find her at this time writing to her sister Mary in reference to Hallet’s evidence at the trial : —

"With respect to that little wretch, Hallet, his intrepidity in Court was astonishing ; and after every evidence had spoken strongly in Peter’s favour, and given testimony of his innocence, so strong that not a doubt was entertained of his acquittal, he declared, unasked, that while Bligh was upon deck, he (Hallet) saw him look at and speak to Peter. What he said to him Hallet could not. hear, being at the distance of twenty feet from Bligh, and Peter was twenty feet further off (consequently a distance of forty feet separated Mr. Bligh and my brother), hut he added that Peter, on hearing what :Mr. Bligh said to him, laughed, and turned contemptuously away.* No other witness saw Peter laugh but Hallet ; on the contrary, all agreed he wore a countenance on that day remarkably sorrowful ; yet the effect of this cruel evidence was wonderful on the minds of the Court., and they concludad by pronouncing the dreadful sentence, though, at. the same time, accompanied by the strongest recommendation to mercy.

. ‘Assure yourselves (I have it from Mr. Graham’s own mouth) that. Peter’s honour is, and will be, a.s secure as his own ; that every professional man, as well as every man of sense, of whatever denomination, does and will esteem him highly ; that my dear uncle Pasley is delighted with his worth; and that., in short, we shall at length be happy."

While Nessy remained with the Grahams, in London, James went to Portsmouth to see Peter, who wrote to her on the 7th October : —

.. "The date of my dearest. Nessy’s letter, yesterday, su prised inc very much indeed, yet I must own I had some ides that either you or James would take a trip to town on receipt of Mr. Graham’s letters."

He proceeded to tell her that the reason for his having desired her not to write much was, lest she might injure herself by it, and he hinted that, as seemingly letters to him were opened, under such circumstances, she should refrain from expressing her "exalted sentiments" so freely.

To this she replied : —

"Yes ! my ever dearest brother. I will write to you, and I know I need not add that, in that employment, consists my only happiness. But why notexpress my sentiments to yourself ? I have nothing to say which I should blush to have known to all the world ; nothing to express in my letter to you but love and affection ; and shall I blush for this ? Or can I have a wish to conceal sentiments of such a nature for an object who, I am certain, merits all my regard .... ?

I shall not, therefore, write to you, my dearest brother, in a private manner, for it is unnecessary ; and I abhor all deceit in which I know you agree with me."

From this date there was an almost daily correspondence between Peter and Nessy, but the only letter which has been preserved is one of Peter’s, on the 16th October, in which, inter alia, he said "Cheer up, my dear Nessy ! Cherish your hope, and I will exercise my patience ; both I know, by experience, to be productive of the same fruits of present contentment. James is gone to dine with Mr. Spranger, and I am employing my leisure hour in making a vocabulary of the Otaheitan language." But Nessy was also busy on behalf of her brother in other directions. She had received from him a memorandum upon some material points of the evidence given at his trial, and this she forwarded to the Earl of Chatham, then First Lord of the Admiralty, with the following letter, on the 11th of October : —

"My Lord,

"To a nobleman of your Lordship's known humanity and excellence of heart, I dare hope that the unfortunate cannot plead in vain. Deeply impressed, as I therefore am, with sentiments of the most profound respect for a character which I have been ever taught to reveie, and, alas ! nearly interested as I must be in the subject of these lines, may I request your Lordship will generously pardon a sorrowful and mourning sister for presuming to offer the enclosed remarks for your candid perusal. It contains a. few observations made by my most unfortunate and tenderly-beloved brother, Peter Heywood, endeavouring to elucidate some parts of the. evidence given at the Court Martial, lately held at Portsmouth, upon himself and other prisoners of his Majesty’s ship Bounty. When I assure you, my lord, that he is dearer and more precious to me than any object on earth—nay, infinitely more valuable than life itself—that, deprived of him, the word misery would but ill express my complicated wretchedness, and that, on his fate, my own, and that of a tender, fond, and, alas ! widowed mother, depends, I am persuaded you will not wonder, nor be offended, that I am thus bold in conjuring your Lordship will consider, with your usual candour and benevolence, the "observations" I now offer you, as well as the painful situation of my dear and unhappy brother."

No answer was given for more than a fortnight; yet this unfortunate family had to remain in suspense, and, indeed, it was not for nearly a month that Mrs. Heywood and her daughters, who were in the Isle of Man, were delivered from it.

On the 22nd of October, Mr. Graham wrote to Mrs. Heywood, who had thanked him for all his kindness to her son, saying that he was prompted to help, in the first place, by "a remembrance of the many obligations" he owed to Commodore Pasley, and he begged her to "recollect that, by sending to me your charming Nessy, you would have overpaid me if my trouble had been ten times, and my uneasisess ten thousand times greater than they were, upon what I once thought the melancholy, but now deem the fortunate, occasion which has given me the happiness of her acquaintance." He then continued:—

"Thus far, my dear madam, I have written to please myself. Now for what must please you—and in which, too, I have my share of satisfaction. The business, though not publicly known, is most certainly finished, and what I had my doubts about. yesterday, I am satisfied of to-day, and that your beloved son, Peter, will soon be restored to your bosom."

At the foot of this letter Nessy wrote : —

" Now, my dearest mamma, did you ever in all your life read so charming a. letter ? Be assured it is exactly characteristic of the benevolent writer. What would I give to be transported to your elbow, that I might see you read it! What will you feel, when you know assuredly that you may, with certainty, believe its contents ... Don’t expect connected sentences from me at present, for this joy makes me almost delirious. Adieu ! love to all—I need not say be happy and blessed as I am at this hour, my beloved mother."

But cold prose could not express her rapturous feelings : —

"O blissful hour ! O moment of delight!
Replete with happiness, with rapture bright.
An age of pain is sure repaid by this
‘Tis joy too great—’tis ecstacy of bliss.
My beating heart, oppressed with woe and care,
Has yet to learn such happiness to bear.
From grief, distracting grief, thus high to soar,
To know dull pain and misery no more.
To hail each op’ning morn with new delight,
To rest in peace and joy each happy night..
To see my Lycidas from bondage free,
Restored to life, to pleasure, and to me;
To see him thus,. adorn’d with virtue’s charms,
To give him to a loving mother’s arms,
To know him by surrounding friends caress’d.
Of honour, fame, of life’s best gifts possess’d
Oh ! my full heart ! ‘tis joy, ‘tis b1is~ supreme.
And though ‘tis real—yet, how like a dream !
Then teach me, Heaven, to boar it as I ought,
Inspire each rapt’rous, each transporting thought.
Teach me to bend beneath Thy bounteous hand,~
With gratitude my willing heart cxpand;
To Thy Omnipotence I humbly bow,
Afflicted once—but, ah ! so happy now! ^*

 *Headed ~ ‘ ‘On receiving certain intelligence that my most amiable and beloved brother, Peter Heywood, would soon be restored to freedom.".

On the 24th, the King’s warrant was despatched from the Admiralty, granting a full and free pardon to Peter Heywood. This happy intelligence was communicated to Nessy on the 26th, and she at once conveyed it to her mother and sisters : —

" Friday, 26th October, 4 o’clock.—Oh, blessed hour ! how little did I think, my beloved friends, when I closed my letter this morning, that before night I should be . out of my senses with joy !—this moment, this ecstatic moment brought the enclosed.* I cannot speak my happiness ; let it be sufficient to say, that in a very few hours our angel Peter will be FREE!

Mr. Graham goes this night to Portsmouth, and to-morrow, or next day at furthest, I shall be—oh, heavens ! what shall I be ! I am already transported, even to pain ; then how shall I bear to clasp him to the bosom of your happy, ah ! how very happy and affectionate Nessy Heywood. I am too mad to write sense, but it’s a pleasure I would not forego to be the most reasonable being on. earth."

[*The information that the pardon had been sent to Portsmouth.]

Nessy next wrote to Mr. Coust, her brother’s counsel : —

" I should think myself ill-deserving of the kind attention you have paid to the interest of my beloved brother, if I omitted a moment to inform you that I am now very near to the completion of my wishes with respect to his fate. Mr. Graham has, this moment, received a letter assuring him that my brother’s pardon went down to Portsmouth by a messenger from the Admiralty Office this morning. I flatter myself you will partake in the joy which, notwithstanding it is so exoessive at this moment as almost to deprive me of my faculties, leaves me, however, sufficiently collected to assure you of the eternal gratitude and esteem with which I am, dear sir, your most obliged."

Peter did not receive the good news till late on the 26th, as this composition, written on that day, shows : —

Silence then
The whispers of complaint ; low in the dust
Dissatisfaction’ a demons growl unheard.
All—all is good, all excellent below:
Pain is a blessing—sorrow leads to joy—.
Joy, permanent and solid ; every ill.
Grim Death itself, in all its horrors clad,
Is Man’s supremest privilege; it frees
The soul from prison, from foul sin, from woe,
And gives it back to glory, rest, and God.
Cheerily, my friends, oh ! cheerily ! look not thus
With Pity’s melting softness ; that alone
Can shake my fortitude—all is not lost
Lo ! I have gained, on this important day.
A victory consummate o’er myself,
And o’er this life a victory ; on this day
My birthday to Eternity. I’ve gain’d
Dismission from a world where for a while ,
Like you, like all, a pilgrim passing poor
A traveller, a stranger, I have met
Still stranger treatment rude and harsh ! so much
The dearer, more desir’d., the house I seek
Eternal of my Father, and my God.
Then pious resignation, meek-ey’d pow’ r,
Sustain me still. Composure still be mine.
Where rests it ? Oh mysterious Providence,
Silence the wild idea, I have found
No Mercy yet—no mild humanity:
With cruel unrelenting rigor torn,
And lost in prison—lost to all below.

Oh. deem it not
Presumptuous that my soul grateful thus rates
The present high deliv’rance it hath found;
Sole effort of Thy wisdom, sov’reign Power,
Without whose knowledge not a sparrow falls.
Oh, may I cease to live, e’er cease to bless
That interposing Hand, which turn’d aside—
Nay, to my life and preservation turn’d
The fatal blow precipitate, ordain’d
To level all my little hopes in dust.,
And give me to the grave.

On the 27th he was released, and at once addressed a letter to Nessy, of which only what follows has been preserved : —

" Once more with heartfelt pleasure I can say.
My life’s prolong'd to see another day.
Then, hence, ye Fiends ! thou Sorrow, and Despair,
No longer now can ye my bosom tear
With those fell pangs which no relief cou’d find
But from self-conscious Innocence of mind.
From me forever now ye shall depart.
Nor o’er again invade my tranquil heart
How oft have I with streaming eyes implor’d
That. gracious Pow’r by’ heaven and earth ador’d
To liberate my feet, and pensive mind—
And what I prayed for, now, with joy I find!
Then, ‘tis to Him my prior thanks are due.
My next to my dear mother and to you;
To those kind frieiicls whose interest. and aid,
In my behalf, can never be repaid.
Alas ! I fear (so large a. debt) to find
My pow’r unequal to my willing mind.
For to repay such kindnesses as these
My efforts ne’er can gratitude appease.
Again, I say, from durance vile I’m free,
And hope ore long our little Isle to see;
Then to my anxious bosom I shall press
Friends, mother, brothers, sisters, all—
But——first—my little Ness."

This evoked a poem from Nessy. "On receiving some lines from my dear brother, Peter Heywood, on his restoration to liberty"

Ye tardy hours. fly swift. away.
No more I feel alarms,
But nothing now prolong his stay.
But give him to my arms.

No, Lycidas, from bondage free.
A prison now no more—
Impatient waits with joy to see
His long-left native shore.

Let expectation’s promis’d joy
Each tedious hour beguile,
No sprightly thought let care destroy,
But hope benignant smile.

With friendship’s charm our souls to cheer,
Swift shall each moment fly,
Till little Mona’s shores appear,
To each delightful eye.

Then lost in rapturous ecstacy,
What bliss our hearts shall prove.
Each joyful day shall sacred be
To friendship, peace, and love.

Thus shelter’d from affliction’s blast,
New pleasures still in view,
We’ll smiling talk of sorrows past,
And bid Old Care Adieu!

On arrival at Portsmouth on the 27th, Mr. Graham wrote : —

"My Dearest Nessy,

" If you expect me to enter into particulars as to how I got him, when I got him, and where I leave him, you will be disappointed ; for that is not in my power at present. Suffice it to say that he is now with me, not on board the Hector, but at the house of a very worthy man. To-day we dine with Mr. Delafors ; to-morrow we shall, perhaps, sleep on tho London road ; and on Monday—oh, my dear little girl ! Kiss Maria (his daughter) for me, and tell her I love her dearly; and am,

"Yours, most affectionately."

The following postcript was added by Peter : "Be patient, my dearest Nessy. A few more hours, and you will embrace your long-lost and most affectionate brother."

Mr. Graham, with Peter and James, duly arrived in London on Monday morning. We can imagine their reception.

Nessy had a gift ready, with the inevitable "lines," which were written on a watch paper, given with a watch, "To my dear brother, Peter Heywood, on our meeting after his restoration to life and liberty" :—

Oh, Time, thy rapid course arrest,
No longer swiftly move,
Since I’m at length supremely blest
With Lycidas and Love.

She at once wrote to her mother : —

"Great Russell Street, ‘Monday Morning
29th October, haf-past ten o’clock—

" The brightest moment of my existence!

" My Dearest Mamma,

I have seen him, clasped him to my bosom, and my felicity is , beyond expression ! In person, he is almost even now as I could wish ; in mind you know him an angel. I can write no more, but to tell you that the three happiest beings at this moment on earth are your most dutiful and affectionate children,

"Nessy Heywood.
"Peter Heywood.
"James Heywood.

"Love to all, ten thousand times !"

To this Mr. Graham added : —

"If, my dearest madam, it were ever given for mortals to be supremely blest on earth, mine, to he sure, must be the happy family. Heavens ! with what unbounded extravagance have we been forming our wishes I And yet how far beyond our unbounded wishes ! We are blest ! Nessy, Maria* Peter, and ,James, I see, have all been endeavouring to express their feelings. I will hot fail in any such attempt, for I will not attempt anything beyond an assurance that the scene I have been witness of, and ill which I am happily so great a sharer, beggars all description. Permit me, however, . to offer my most sincere congratulations upon the joyful occasion ."

We append an outline of the remainder of Peter’s career : —On the express recommendation of Lord. Hood, who had presided at his trial, he was permitted to re-enter the Navy, going on board the ‘Bellerophon.’ He took part in the battle of the 1st June, 1794, and in several other actions against the French. In 1797, Lord Spencer, after considering the evidence given at Heywood’s trial, wrote to his Captain, Sir Thomas Pasley, to say that there was nothing in it to stand in the way of his promotion, "more especially when the gallantry and propriety of his conduct in his subsequent service are taken into consideration."

He became a post-captain in 1803 ; and, after a career of important and responsible service, including two diplomatic missions to South America, he was, 1813, appointed to the command of the "Montagu," of 74 guns, in which he served in the North Sea, and afterwards in the Mediterranean, under Lord Exmouth. He returned to England in 1816, when the "Montagu" was paid off. He was greatly beloved by his officers and crew, by one of whom the following lines were written : —

Farewell to thee, Heywood ! a truer one never
Hath exercised rule o’er the sons of the. sea;
The seamen who served thee wuld for ever serve thee,
Who swayed, but ne’er fettered, the hearts of the brave!

He married in the same year, and, as he was in a weak state of health, having never really recovered from his sufferings after the Mutiny, he declined a Commodore’s command in the Canadian lakes, which was offered to him by Lord Melville in 1818. He lived in London, where he died in 1831 . "We do not hesitate," says Marshall in his "Naval Biography," "to say that his King and country never had a more faithful servant, nor the Naval Service a more worthy and respectable member."

Footnotes

Mr. ~l. ~ Heywood, already referred to.

Father of one of the midshipmen in the "Bounty," who went home with Bligh.

~The Water-Bailiff.

*See Chap. I. p. 9.

Hallet afterwards expressed regret tor this evidence. and stated that he thought he must have been mistaken.

*ie. through .James, as intermediary

*It is evident that Mr. Graham completely identified himself with the Heywoods ; and Mr. Graham’s daughter, it would seem, had also written to Mrs. Heywood.