undergo, in order to convince the world of that innocence which those who know you will not for a moment doubt; but, alas! while circumstances are against you, the generality of mankind will judge severely. Bligh's representations to the Admiralty are, I am told, very unfavourable; and hitherto the tide of public opinion has been greatly in his favour My mamma is at present well, considering the distress she has suffered since you left us; for, my dearest brother, we have experienced a complicated scene of misery from a variety of causes, which, however, when compared with the sorrow we felt on your account, was trifling and insignificant; that misfortune made all others light, and to see you once more returned and safely restored to us will be the summit of all earthly happiness. “Farewell, my most beloved brother! God grant this may soon be put into your hands ! Perhaps at this moment you are arrived in England, and I may soon have the dear delight of again beholding you. My mamma, brothers, and sistersjoin with me in every sentiment of love and tenderness. Write to us immediately, my ever-loved Peter, and may the Almighty preserve you until you bless with your presence your fondly affectionate family, and particularly your unalterably faithful friend and sister, (Signed) “ Nessy HEYWOOD."* * Previous to the writing of this letter, the following copy of verset shows how anxionsly this young lady's mind was engaged on the unhappy circumstances under which her brother was placed « On the tedions and mournful absence of a most beloved BROTHER, who was in the BOUNTY with Captain BLIGH at the time of the PATAL MUTINY which happened April 28th, 1789, in the South Seas, and who instead of returning with the boat when she left the ship, staid behind. “Tell me, thou busy flatt'ring telltale, why Why flow these cears-why heaves this deep-felt sigh, The gleam of joy which this unhappy family derived from the circumstance which had been related When ev'ry hour in joy and gladness pass'd, to them of young Heywood's swimming off to the Pandora, was dissipated by a letter from himself to his mother soon after his arrival in England, in which he says:-“The question, my dear mother, in one of your letters, concerning my swimming off to the Pandora, is one falsity among the too many in which I have often thought of undeceiving you, and as frequently forgot. The story was this :-On the morning she arrived, accompanied by two of my friends (natives), I was going up the mountains, and having got about a hundred yards from my own house, another of my friends (for I was a universal favourite among those Indians, and perfectly conversant in their language) came running after me, and informed me there was a ship coming. I immediately ascended a rising ground, and with indescribable joy, a ship laying-to off Hapiano; it was just after daylight, and thinking Coleman might not be awake, and therefore ignorant of this pleasing news, I sent one of my servants to inform him of it, upon which he immediately went off in a single saw, Still will I think (each circumstance though strange) *Nessy HEYWOOD " Lole of Man, Feb. 25th, 1792." canoe. There was a fresh breeze, and the ship working into the bay; he no sooner got alongside than the rippling capsized the canoe, and he being obliged to let go the tow-rope to get her righted, went astern and was picked up the next tack and taken on board the Pandora, he being the first person. I, along with my messmate Stewart, was then standing upon the beach with a double canoe manned with twelve paddles ready for launching; and just as she made her last tack into her berth (for we did not think it requisite to go off sooner) we put off and got alongside just as they streamed the buoy; and being dressed in the country manner, tanned as brown as themselves, and I tattooed like them in the most curious manner, I do not in the least wonder at their taking us for natives. I was tattooed, not to gratify my own desire, but theirs; for it was my constant endeavour to acquiesce in any little custom which I thought would be agreeable to them, though painful in the process, provided I gained by it their friend. ship and esteem, which you may suppose is no inconsiderable object in an island where the natives are so numerous. The more a man or woman there is tattooed, the more they are respected; and a person having none of these marks is looked upon as bearing an unworthy badge of disgrace, and considered as a mere outcast of society." Among the many anxious friends and family connexions of the Heywoods was Commodore Pasley, to whom this affectionate young lady addressed herself on the melancholy occasion; and the following is the reply she received from this officer: “ Sheerness, June 8th, 1792. “Would to God, my dearest Nessy, that I could rejoice with you on the early prospect of your brother's arrival in England. One division of the Pandora's people has arrived, and now on board the Vengeance (my ship). Captain Edwards, with the remainder, and all the prisoners late of the Bounty, in number ten (four having been drowned on the loss of that ship), are daily expected. They have been most rigorously and closely confined since taken, and will continue so, no doubt, till Bligh's arrival. You have no chance of seeing him, for no bail can be offered. Your intelligence of his swimming off on the Pandora's arrival is not founded : a man of the name of Coleman swam off ere she anchored, your brother and Mr. Stewart the next day. This last youth, when the Pandora was lost, refused to allow his irons to be taken off to save his life. “I cannot conceal it from you, my dearest Nessy, neither is it proper 1 should your brother appears by all accounts to be the greatest culprit of all, Christian alone excepted. Every exertion, you may rest assured, I shall use to save his life; but on trial I have no hope of his not being condemned. Three of the ten who are expected are mentioned in Bligh's narrative as men detained against their inclination. Would to God your brother had been one of that number! I will not distress you more hy enlarging on this subject; as intelligence arises on their arri. val, you shall be made acquainted. Adieu, my dearest Nessy. Present my affectionate remembrances to your mother and sisters, and believe me always, with the warmest affection, • Your uncle, “Thos. PASLEY." How unlike is this from the letter of Bligh! while it frankly apprizes this amiable lady of the real truth of the case, without disguise, as it was then under. stood to be from Mr. Bligh's representations, it assures her of his best exertions to save her brother's life. Every reader of sensibility will sympathize in the feeling displayed in her reply. “Isle of Man, 22d June, 1792. " Harassed by the mosť torturing suspense, and |