Table of Contents

- Introduction to the Minutes

- Fryer Testimony

- Cole Testimony

- Peckover Testimony

- Purcell Testimony

- Hayward Testimony

- Hallett Testimony

- John Smith Testimony

- Edward Edwards Testimony

- John Larkin Testimony

- Robert Corner Testimony

- Conclusion

- The Appendix

- Bligh's Anwer

- Christian's Reply

M I N U T E S

OF THE

P R O C E E D I N G S

OF THE

COURT-MARTIAL held at PORTSMOUTH

AUGUST* 12, 1792

ON

TEN PERSONS charged with MUTINY

on Board His Majesty's Ship the B O U N T Y.

WITH AN

A P P E N D I X,

CONTAINING

A full Account of the real Causes and Circumstances of that

unhappy Transaction, the most material of which have

hitherto been withheld from the Public.

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THE FOLLOWING MINUTES of the Trial of the Mutineers of the BOUNTY were taken by myself and my Clerks, being employed to give Assistance before the Court-Martial, to William Musprat, one of the Prisoners. They were not continued beyond the Evidence for the Prosecution, nor do they comprize the Whole of the Evidence respecting the Capture of all the different Prisoners at Otaheite. They were not intended for Publication. Repeated Assurances have been given that an impartial State of all the Circumstances attending that unhappy Mutiny, as well as a complete Trial of the Prisoners, would be published. The anxious Relations of the unfortunate Parties in that Mutiny, worn out with Expectation of that Publication, have repeatedly solicited my Consent to publish my Minutes, and as such Publication may in some Degree alleviate their Distress, I cannot think myself justified in withholding such Consent, and hope this will be a sufficient Apology for my Conduct.

I affirm,that as far as those Minutes go, they contain a just State of the Evidence given at the Court-Martial.

STEPN. BARNEY

PORTSMOUTH,

May 1st, 1794.

The Trial, &c.

AT A COURT MARTIAL, assembled and holden on the 12th Day of August* 1792, on Board His Majesty's Ship DUKE, in Portsmouth,

* [The original source documents are in error, the month was September.]

BEFORE

The Right Honourable Lord HOOD,

Vice Admiral of the Blue,   President.

CAPTAINS

SIR AND. SNAPE HAMMOND,

JOHN THOMAS DUCKWORTH,

JOHN COLEPOYS,

JNO NICHOLSON INGOLDFIELD,

GEORGE MONTAGUE,

JOHN KNIGHT,

SIR ROGER CURTIS,

RICHARD GOODWIN KEATES,

JOHN BAZELEY,

and

SIR ANDREW DOUGLAS,

ALBEMARLE BERTIE.

On a Charge of Mutiny on the 28th April 1789, on Board His Majesty's Ship Bounty, for running away with the Ship, and deserting his Majesty's Service;

AGAINST

Joseph Coleman,

James Morrison,

Thomas Ellison,

Charles Norman,

John Milward,

and

Thomas McIntosh,

William Musprat

Michael Byrne.

Peter Heywood,

Thomas Burkitt,

The following Letter from Captain Bligh to the Lords of the Admiralty was read, as containing the Charge of Mutiny and Desertion:

COUPANG IN TIMOR, AUGUST 18, 1789.

SIR,

I am now unfortunately to request of you to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that his Majesty's armed vessel Bounty under my command, was taken from me, by some of the inferior officers and men, on the 28th April 1789, in the following manner:

A little before sunrise, Fletcher Christian, who was mate of the ship, and officer of the watch, with the ship's corporal, came into my cabin, while I was asleep, and seizing me, tied my hands with a cord, assisted by others who were also in the cabin, all armed with muskets and bayonets. I was now threatened with instant death if I spoke a word; I however called for assistance and awakened every one; but the officers who were in their cabins were secured by sentinels at their doors, so that no one could come to me. The arms were all secured, and I was forced on deck in my shirt with my hands tied, and secured by a guard abaft the mizen-mast, during which the mutineers expressed much joy that they would soon see Ottaheite. I now demanded of Christian the cause of such a violent act, but no other answer was given but "Hold your tongue, Sir; or you are dead this instant"; and holding me by the cord, which tied my hands, he as often threatened to stab me in the breast with a bayonet he held in his right hand. I however did my utmost to rally the disaffected villains to a sense of their duty, but to no effect. The boatswain was ordered to hoist the launch out, and while I was kept under a guard with Christian at their head abaft the mizen mast, the officers and men not concerned in the mutiny were ordered into the boat. This being done, I was told by Christian, "Sir, your officers and men are now in the boat, and you must go with them"; and with the guard they carried me across the deck, with their bayonets presented on every side, when attempting to make another effort, one villain said to the others, "Blow his brains out." I was at last forced into the boat, and we were then veered astern, in all, nineteen souls. I was at this time 10 leagues to the S.W. of Tofoa, the North Western most of the Friendly Islands, having left Ottaheite the 4th of April with 1015 fine bread-fruit plants and many fruit kind, in all 774 pots, 39 tubs, and 24 boxes. These plants were now in a very flourishing order. I anchored at Annamocha 24th April, and left it on the 26th. The boatswain and carpenter, with some others, while the boat was along side, collected several necessary things and water, and with some difficulty a compass and quadrant were got, but arms of no kind, or any maps or drawings, of which I had many very valuable ones. The boat was very deep and much lumbered, and in this condition we were cast adrift, with about 28 gallons of water, 150 lbs. of pork, six quarts of rum, and six bottles of wine. The day was calm, attended with light breezes, and I got to Tofoa by seven o'clock in the evening, but found no place to land, the land being so steep and rocky. On the 30th I found landing in a cove, on the North West part of the island, and here I remained in search of supplies until the 2d of May; when the natives discovered we had no fire-arms, they made an attack on us with clubs and stones, in the course of which I had the misfortune to lose a very worthy man, John Norton quarter-master, and most of us were hurt, more or less. But getting into our boat was no security, for they followed us in canoes loaded with stones, which they threw with much force and exactness; happily night saved the rest of us. I had determined to go to Amsterdam, in search of Paulchow the king; but taking this transaction as a real sample of their native dispositions, there was little hope to expect much from them; for I considered their good behaviour hitherto owing to a dread of our fire-arms, which now knowing us to have none would not be the case, and that Supposing our lives were in safety, our boat and every thing would be taken from us, and thereby I should never be able to return. I was also earnestly solicited by all hands to take them towards home, and when I told them no hopes of relief remained for us but what I might find at New Holland, until I came to Timor, a distance of 1200 leagues they all agreed to live on one ounce of bread per day and a gill of water. I therefore, after recommending this promise for ever to their memory, bore away for New Holland and Timor, across a sea but little known, and in a small boat deep loaded with 18 souls, without a single map of any kind, and nothing but my own recollection and general knowledge of the Situation of places to direct us. Unfortunately we lost part of our provision; our stock therefore only consisted of 20 pounds of pork, three bottles of wine, five quarts of rum, 150 lbs. of bread, and 28 gallons of water. I steered to the W.N.W. with strong gales and bad weather, suffering every calamity and distress. I discovered many islands, and at last, on the 28th May, the coast of New Holland, and entered a break of the reef in latitude about 12° 50′ south, and longitude 145° 00 east. I kept on in the direction of the coast to the northward, touching at such places as I found convenient, refreshing my people by the best means in my power. These refreshments consisted of oysters and a few clams; we were however greatly benefited by them and a few good nights' rest. On the 4th June, I passed the north part of New Holland and steered for Timor, and made it on the 12th, which was a happy sight to every one, particularly several who perhaps could not have existed a week or a day longer.

I followed the direction of the south side of the island, and on the 14th in the afternoon saw the island Rotty and west part of Timor, round which I got that night, and took a Maloy on board, to show me Coupang, where he described to me the governor resided. On the next morning before day I anchored under the fort, and about eleven, I saw the governor, who received me with great humanity and kindness. Necessary directions were instantly given for our support, and perhaps more miserable beings were never seen.

Thus happily ended, through the assistance of Divine Providence, without accident, a voyage of the most extraordinary nature that ever happened in the world, let it be taken either in its extent, duration, or so much want of the necessaries of life.

The people who came in the boat were,

John Fryer, ................... Master.

William Cole, ................. Boatswain.

William Peckover, ............. Gunner.

William Purcell, .............. Carpenter.

Thomas Ledward, ............... Acting Surgeon.

William Elphinstone,........... Master's Mate.

Thomas Hayward,................ Midshipman.

John Hallet, .................. Midshipman.

John Samuel, .................. Clerk.

Peter Linkletter, ............. Quarter Master.

John Norton, .................. Ditto, killed at Tofoa.

George Simpson, ............... Quarter Master.

Laurence Labogue, ............. Sail Maker.

Robert Tinkler, ............... Able Seaman.

John Smith, ................... Ab.

Thomas Hall, .................. Able Seaman.

Robert Lamb, .................. Ab.

David Nelson, ................. Botanist, since dead.

Total 18.

The people who remained in the ship were,

Fletcher Christian, ............. Master's Mate.

George Stewart, ................. Acting ditto.

Peter Heywood, .................. Midshipman.

Edward Young, ................... Ditto.

Charles Churchill, .............. Corporal.

James Morrison, ................. Boatswain's Mate.

John Mills, ..................... Gunner's ditto.

Charles Norman, ................. Carpenter's ditto,

Thomas McIntosh, ................ Ditto Crew,

Joseph Coleman, ................. Armourer,

Thomas Burkett, ................. Able Seaman.

John Sumner, .................... Ab.

John Williams, .................. Ab.

Matthew Thompson, ............... Ab.

Thomas Ellison, ................. Ab.

William Mackiehoy, .............. Ab.

John Millward, .................. Ab.

Richard Skinner, ................ Ab.

Matthew Quintal, ................ Ab.

Michael Byrn, ................... Ab.

Henry Hilbrant, ................. Ab.

Isaac Martin, ................... Ab.

Alexander Smith, ................ Ab.

William Muspratt, ............... Ab.

William Brown, .................. Botanist's Assistant.

Total 25.

The secrecy of this mutiny was beyond all conception, so that I cannot discover that any who were with me had the least knowledge of it; and the comparative lists will shew the strength of the pirates.

I found three vessels here bound to Batavia, but as their sailing would be late, I considered it to the advantage of His Majesty's Service, to purchase a vessel to take my people to Batavia, before the sailing of the fleet for Europe in October, as no one could be hired but at a price equal to a purchase I therefore gave public notice of my intent, and assisted by the governor, I got a vessel for 1000 rix dollars, and called her The Resource.

We have not yet our health perfectly established. Four of my people are still ill, and I had the misfortune to lose Mr. Nelson the botanist, whose good conduct in the course of the whole voyage, and manly fortitude in our late disastrous circumstances, deserve this tribute to his memory.

I have given a summary account of my proceedings to the governor, and have requested, in His Majesty's name, that necessary orders and directions may be given to their different settlements, to detain the ship wherever she may be found.

There is but little chance that their Lordships can receive this before I arrive myself; I therefore have not been so particular as I shall be in my letters from Batavia.

I shall sail in the morning without fail, and use my utmost exertions to appear before their Lordships, and answer personally for the loss of His Majesty's ship.

I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships, that the greatest kindness and attention have been shewn to us while here, by the second governor, Timotheus Wanjon, whose zeal to render services to His Majesty's subjects has been unremitting during the sickness of the governor William Adrian Van Este, who is now at the point of death.

The surgeon of the fort, a Mr. Max, has also been ever attentive to my sick people, and has daily and hourly attended them with great care.

I have the honor to be, SIR,

Your most obedient humble Servant,

WILLIAM BLIGH.

JOHN FRYER, MASTER of the BOUNTY, sworn.

I had the first watch on the 28th April 1789, Captain Bligh came on deck, and gave orders for the night. I was relieved at twelve o'clock by William Peckover the gunner, and the gunner was relieved at four by Mr. Christian; all was quiet at twelve, when I was relieved; at dawn of day I was alarmed by a noise in the cabin, and as I went to jump up from my bed, Sumner and Quintal laid their hands on my breast, and desired me to lay down, adding, "Sir, you are a prisoner." I attempted to expostulate with them, but they told me to hold my tongue, or I was a dead man; if quiet, no man in the ship would hurt me. I then, by raising myself on the locker, saw Captain Bligh on the ladder going on the quarter-deck in his shirt, with his hands tied behind him, Christian holding him by the cord; Churchill came to my cabin, and took a brace of pistols and a hanger, saying, "I'll take care of these, Mr. Fryer." When I saw Captain Bligh on the ladder, I asked, what they were going to do with him; when Sumner answered, "Damn his eyes, put him into the boat, and let the bugger see if he can live upon three-quarters of a pound of yams per day." I said, For God's sake for what? Sumner and Quintal replied, "Hold your tongue, Mr. Christian is captain of the ship, and recollect, Mr. Bligh brought all this upon himself." I advised them to consider what they were about. Sumner replied, "they knew well what they were about, or they would not persist." I then persuaded them to lay down their arms, and assured them nothing should happen for what they had done. They replied, 'Hold your tongue, it is too late now.' They said they would put Captain Bligh into the small cutter. I said, her bottom was almost worn out. They said, 'Damn his eyes, the boat is too good for him.' I said I hoped he was not to be sent by himself. They said, "No; Mr. Samuel, Mr. Heywood, and Mr. Hallet, are going with him." I then requested to go on deck to Captain Bligh, before he went into the boat; they refused to let me. I then prevailed on them to let me call to Christian on the deck, to get permission; I did so, and was permitted to go on deck. When I came on deck, Captain Bligh was standing by the mizen-mast with his hands tied behind him, Christian holding the cord with one hand, and a bayonet in the other. I said to Christian, Consider what you are about; Christian answered, "Hold your tongue, Sir, I've been in hell for weeks past; Captain Bligh has brought all this upon himself." I said, their not agreeing was no reason for taking the ship. Christian replied, "Hold your tongue, Sir, this instant." I then said, You and I have been upon friendly terms during the voyage, give me leave to speak; let Captain Bligh go down to his cabin, I make no doubt all will be friends again in a short time. Christian again said, "Hold your tongue, Sir, it is too late." Being threatened by Christian, I said no more on that head. I then said, Mr. Christian, pray give Captain Bligh a better boat than the cutter, the bottom is almost out, let him have a chance to get on shore. Christian answered, "No; that boat is good enough." I whispered to Captain Bligh to keep up his spirits, for if I stay on board I may find means to follow you. Captain Bligh said aloud, "By all means stay, Mr. Fryer"; and further said, "Isaac Martin" (then under arms) "was a friend"; and likewise said several times, "Knock Christian down." Christian must have heard all this, but took no notice. Sumner and Quintal, who had followed me upon deck, were behind all the time with musquets and bayonets. I tried to pass Christian to speak to Martin, but could not. Christian, putting a bayonet to my breast, said, "If you advance an inch further, I'll run you through"; and ordered me down to my cabin, and Sumner and Quintal conveyed me there. Going down the hatchway, I saw Morrison fixing a tackle to the launch's stern. I said, Morrison, I hope you have no hand in this business; he said, "No, Sir; I do not know a word about it." I said in a low voice, If that is the case be on your guard, there may be an opportunity of rescuing the ship. His answer was, "Go down, Sir, it is too late." I was then confined to my cabin, and Milward was put over me as a third centinel. I then thought Milward friendly, and winked at him to knock Sumner down, who stood next him. Milward immediately cocked his piece and dropped it, pointing to me, saying, "Mr. Fryer, be quiet, no one will hurt you." I said, Milward, your piece is cocked, you had better uncock it, you may shoot some person; then holding up his piece said, "Sir, there is no one means to hurt you." Sumner said, "No, that was our agreement not to commit murder." Mr. Peckover and Nelson continued in the cock-pit, and I persuaded the guards set over me to let me go to them. I found Mr. Nelson and Mr. Peckover in his cabin. Nelson said, "Mr. Fryer, what have we brought on ourselves?" and Mr. Peckover said, "What is best to be done?" I told them, I had spoke to Captain Bligh to keep up his spirits, and if I stay on board, I hope soon to be able to follow him; and that Captain Bligh had desired me to stay by all means. I then said to Mr. Nelson and Mr. Peckover, If you are ordered into the boat, say you will stay on board; and I flatter myself we shall restore the ship in a short time. Mr. Peckover said, "If we stay, we shall all be deemed pirates." I said, No; I would be answerable for any one who would join me. Whilst we were talking, Hilbrant was in the bread room getting bread to put in the boat. I think Hilbrant must have heard our conversation, and went upon deck and told Christian, for I was immediately ordered up into the cabin. I then heard from the centinels Sumner, Quintal, and Milward, that Christian had consented to give Captain Bligh the launch, but not for his sake, but for the safety of those that were going with him. I then asked if they knew who were going with him; they said No, but they believed a great many. Christian then ordered every man a dram that was under arms, and Smith, the Captain's servant, served the drams out. I then hoped I should stay on board, that if the men got drunk, I should be able to take the ship. Mr. Nelson and Peckover were then ordered upon deck, and I soon afterwards. And Christian said to me, Mr. Fryer, go into the boat, I said, I will stay with you, Sir, if you will give me leave; but Christian said, No Sir, go directly. Captain Bligh being on the gangway without the rail, his hands at liberty, said, Mr. Fryer, stay in the ship. Christian said, No, by God, Sir, go into the boat, or I will run you through, pointing the bayonet to my breast. I then went outside the rail to Captain Bligh, and asked Christian to let Mr. Tinkler (my brother-in-law) go with me: Churchill said, No; but after some time Christian permitted it, and upon request let me have his trunk, but ordered nothing else to be taken out of my cabin. I requested my log book and quadrant, but they were denied, as Captain Bligh had a quadrant. I cannot say who went into the boat first, whether Captain Bligh or myself, we were both on the gangway together, and all the time bad language was used towards Captain Bligh, by the people under arms. I begged for muskets, but Churchill refused, saying Captain Bligh was well acquainted where he was going. The boat was then ordered astern, and four cutlasses handed into her, by whom I know not; but the people all this time used very bad language towards the Captain, adding, Shoot the bugger. William Cole, the boatswain, said to Captain Bligh, We had better put off, or they will do us some mischief; which Captain Bligh agreed to, and we rowed astern to get out of the way of the guns. Christian ordered the top gallant sails to be loosened, and the ship steered the same course as Captain Bligh had ordered. From the confusion and great attention we were obliged to pay for our preservation, I had no means or opportunity to make any notes or memorandums until we arrived at Timor. I observed under arms, Christian, Churchill, and Burkitt, that they were in the cabin securing the Captain; Sumner, Quintal, and Milward, were centinels over me, Martin was centinel at the hen coop, and the four persons following wished to go into the boat. Coleman, who called to the witness several times to recollect that he had no hand in the business; McIntosh and Norman were leaning over the rail, and Byrne was along side; all appeared to be crying. Byrne said, If he went into Captain Bligh's boat, the people would leave him when he got on shore, as he could not see to follow them. I did not perceive Heywood upon the deck the time the ship was seized.

COURT. What number of men did you see on the deck at each time you went there?

A. Eight or ten.

Q. How long did you remain there each time?

A. Ten minutes, or a quarter of an hour.

Q. What works were going on each time?

A. When I went first, hoisting out the boats; the last time nothing particular except the centinels over Captain Bligh and myself forcing us into the boat.

Q. Do you think the boats could be hoisted out by eight or ten persons?

A. No.

Q. You have no reason to know who were under arms besides those you have named?

A. No.

Q. When you was on the quarter-deck or gangway, did you see either of the prisoners active in obeying orders given by Christian or Churchill?

A. Burkitt and Milward were under arms as centinels over Captain Bligh and myself on the gangway, which I suppose was by their orders.

Q. You say you saw Morrison the boatswain's mate helping to hoist out the boats, did you see any others of the prisoners employed so, or otherwise?

A. No; my attention was taken up with Captain Bligh—.I did not.

Q. When the dram was served, did you see any of the prisoners partake?

A. One.—Milward.

Q. When the boat in which Captain Bligh and others were put had veered astern, did you observe any one of the prisoners use the bad language which you say passed on that occasion?

A. Not to the best of my recollection.—I saw Milward on the tafferel rail with a musket; there was so much noise in the boat I could not hear one man from another.

Q. You say when the cutlasses were handed into the boat there was much bad language, did any one of the prisoners join on that occasion?

A. Not to my knowledge, it was a general thing.

Q. Did you see Ellison on the day of the mutiny?

A. No.

Q. Did you see Musprat?

A. No.

Q. At the time you were ordered upon the deck after the conversation in the cockpit, how, and by whom were these orders conveyed to you?

A. By the centinels, Milward, Sumner, and Quintal.

Q. When you and Captain Bligh were ordered into the boat, did any person assist Christian, or offer so to do?

A. Yes; Churchill, Sumner, and Quintal, and Burkitt, were under arms on the quarter deck.

Q. You say when the boat was cast off, you rowed astern to get out of the way of the guns: had you seen any preparations made for firing?

A. I meant the small arms they had in their hands, when they said Shoot the bugger.

Q. When you heard Christian order the top gallant sails to be hoisted, was you near enough to know any of the people that went on the yards?

A. I saw only Ellison.

Q. I ask you as Master of his Majesty's ship Bounty, how many men it would require to hoist out the launch?

A. Ten.

Q. Was the remark of your not having seen Heywood on the deck on the 29th of April made at Timor, or since you knew he was apprehended by the Pandora?

A. Since: I frequently told the people in the boat, that I had not seen the Youngsters on deck.

Q. How many men went up to loosen the topsails?

A. Only Ellison.

Q. What reason had you to imagine that Milward was friendly when he was centinel over you?

A. He appeared very uneasy.

Q. You say you obtained permission for Tinkler to go with you: had he been compelled to remain in the ship?

A. He had been told by Churchill that he was to stay on board as his servant; then came crying to me.

Q. Do you think that any of the people who remained in the Bounty were kept against their consent?

A. None but the four.

Q. In what part of the ship was the Youngster's birth?

A. Down the main hatchway on each side.

Q. Did you observe any centinel over the main hatchway?

A. Yes; I omitted to mention Thompson, who was sitting on the arm chest; I wanted to go to my mess-place, but was stopt by Sumner and Quintal.

Q. Was Thompson armed?

A. I believe he was, with a cutlass.

Q. Did you consider him as a centinel over the Youngster's birth?

A. Yes; and a centinel on the arm chest at the same time.

Q. Was any effort made by any person to rescue the ship?

A. Only by what I said to Mr. Peckover and Morrison, Mr. Cole the boatswain came down, and I whispered him to stay in the ship.

Q. What was the distance of time from the first alarm to the time of your being forced into the boat?

A. Two hours and a half, or three hours.

Q. What did you suppose Christian meant, when he said he had been in hell for a fortnight?

A. His frequent quarrels with, and abuses received from, Captain Bligh.

Q. Had there been any recent quarrel?

A. The day before, Captain Bligh had been challenging all the young gentlemen and people with stealing his cocoa nuts.

Q. When you went into the cockpit, were any centinels over Mr. Peckover and Mr. Nelson?

A. No; the same centinels that confined me, kept them below.

N. B. Prisoners were now asked, If they had any questions to ask the witness.

Coleman.—None.

Heywood.—None at present.

Q. per BYRNE.—Was you on the deck when the large cutter was hoisted out?

A. No.

Q. per MORRISON.—Do you recollect, when you spoke to me, my particular answer; and are you positive it was I who said, "Go down to your cabin?"

A. Yes, I am; "Go down to your cabin, it is too late."

Q. Ditto.—Do you recollect my saying, I will do my endeavours to raise a party and rescue the ship?

A. No.

Q. Ditto.—Did you observe any part of my conduct on any part of that day that leads you to think I was one of the mutineers?

A. I never saw him only at that time, and his appearance gave me reason to speak to him; he appeared friendly, but his answer surprized me; I did not expect it from him; whether he spoke from fear of the others, I know not.

COURT. Might not Morrison speaking to you, telling you to keep below, be from a laudable motive, supposing your assistance at that time might prevent a more advantageous effort?

A. Probably it might; if I had staid in the ship, he would have been one of the first I should have opened my mind to, from his good behaviour.

Q. Did he speak to you in a threatening tone, or address you as advice?

A. As advice.

Q. Did you see any person that appeared to be forcing the prisoner Morrison to put the tackle to the launch?

A. No.

Q. Did you see Morrison employed in any other way than you have related from the time you was first confined, till the boat was cast loose from the ship.

A. No.

Q. Did you consider the hoisting out of that boat as assisting the mutineers, or as giving Captain Bligh a better chance for his life?

A. As assisting Captain Bligh, and giving him a better chance for his life.

Norman.—None.

McIntosh.—None.

Musprat.—None at present.

Q. per Burkitt.— If you did not see Captain Bligh before he was going up the ladder, how could you see me seize him in the cabin?

A. I have not said I saw you assist in seizing him, but when Captain Bligh was on the ladder, I saw you and Churchill come out of the cabin armed.

Q. Did you see or hear me swearing or giving any directions, or taking any charge when on the deck, or during the mutiny?

A. No.

Q. Did I not do my duty on the voyage as a seaman?

A. Yes.

Millward.

Q. Did you see me when you spoke to Morrison to rescue the ship?

A. No, you was ordered as an additional centinel over me after wards.

Q. Had I the arms I held at that time voluntarily, or by force?

A. I cannot tell.

Q. Do you recollect what I said when I came down to the cockpit?

A. Nothing but what I have said already.

WILLIAM COLE, BOATSWAIN of the BOUNTY, deposed.

That Quintal, a seaman belonging to the Bounty, but in what part of the ship he knows not, calling to the carpenter (Purcell) said, they had mutinied and taken the ship; that Christian had the command, and the Captain was a prisoner upon the quarter deck; that the witness being thus awaked, jumped out of the cabin, and said to the carpenter, For God's sake I hope you know nothing of this; he said, he did not; that the sail-maker Lawrence Lebogue lying by witness's cabin, witness asked him what he meant to do; Lebogue answered, he did not know, but would do as the witness did; that witness went up the fore hatchway, and looking aft, saw Thompson centinel at the main hatchway, and Heywood leaning over his hammock, in the larboard birth, and Mr. Young in the starboard birth, Mr. Elphinstone looking likewise over the side of the birth which was boarded up; that witness then went on deck, saw men under arms around the fore hatchway, Churchill, Brown, Alexander Smith, William McKoy, and Williams; that Williams looked aft, saw the Captain's hands tied behind him, and Mills, Martin, Ellison, and Burkitt, centinels over him. That witness jumped down the fore hatchway, awaked Morrison, Milward, McIntosh, and Simpson, all lying in the same tier. I informed them what happened and hoped to form a party; they denied all knowledge of the mutiny; that Milward said, he was very sorry for it, and said he had a hand in the foolish piece of business before, and was afraid they would make him take a part in that; that, Churchill then came forward and called out to Millward to come on deck immediately, for he had a musket for him, or to take a musket; that they all went up as they got their cloaths on; that witness did not see any of the rest at that time have arms. That witness went on deck and asked Christian what he meant to do; that Christian then ordered this witness to hoist out the boat, and threatening him with the bayonet if he did not take care that the boat was hoisted out; and witness asked liberty to go and speak with Mr. Fryer, which was granted; witness went below and asked Mr. Fryer what was best to do, when Mr. Fryer in a low voice told witness by all means to stay; that one of the centinels over Mr. Fryer, (Sumner, as witness believes,) said to Mr. Fryer, "you have a wife and family, but all will be forgot in a little time"; that Mr. Fryer came upon deck and asked Christian what he was about, and told him, "If he did not approve of the Captain's behaviour, to put him under an arrest, and proceed on the voyage"; that Christian then said, "If that's all you have to say, go down to your cabin, for I've been in hell for weeks past"; that they were then intending to send away the Captain and Hayward, Hallet, and Samuel, with him; that the small cutter being stove, they made interest with Christian for the other cutter, which was fitted out; that Christian still threatened the witness, if he carried any thing away, or sprung any yard; that witness then finding the Captain was to be sent from the ship, went aft and asked for the long boat; that Hayward and Hallet were upon deck all this time; that after asking Christian three or four times without an answer, Captain Bligh said, For God's sake, Mr. Cole, do all in your power; that the carpenter said, "I've done nothing I am ashamed or afraid of, I want to see my native country"; that the launch was then granted; that the carpenter and armourer were employed in fitting her; that when the boat was going over the side, Byrne was in the cutter along-side, but how he came there witness don't know; witness says, we were employed in getting the launch out; that Christian ordered a dram to be given to each of the men under arms; that Smith brought some spirits and gave witness some in water; that Christian was continually threatening witness with the bayonet, to take care not to carry any thing away; that witness saw Heywood standing there at the same time, lending a hand to get the fore-stay sail along; that when the boat was hooked, Heywood said something to me, but what it was I do not know, Christian threatening witness at the time; that Heywood then went below, and witness saw no more of him; that witness says, they got the boat out, and Norman, McIntosh, Coleman, and Morrison, who did not go into the boat with others who did, were busy in getting necessary things into the launch; that Churchill and Quintal were walking about, saying Damn them, they have enough; that at this time witness saw William Musprat with a musket in his hand, but don't remember seeing him before; that witness heard Churchill call out, Keep somebody below, but who he knows not; that Churchill and Quintal were forcing the people into the boat; that Coleman was handing a bag into the boat which appeared to contain iron, or it was in the boat before; that Christian ordered it to be stopped; that Norman and McIntosh were then going into the boat, and endeavouring to get in the carpenter's tool chest, when Quintal said, "If you will let them have these things, they will build a vessel in a month"; that the chest was then handed in, some tools first being taken out; that the carpenter got his cloaths chest in; that they were then forcing the people out that were going and not of their side; that witness went then into the boat, and that Peckover, Samuel, Hayward, and Hallet, soon after were put or came into the boat; that Captain Bligh was then brought to the side, and put into the boat, which was then veered astern; that Coleman and Norman were crying on the gang way from the time they were ordered not to go into the boat; that McIntosh was standing by, not crying, but wished to come into the boat; that Byrne was in the cutter all the time crying; that when the launch was dropt astern, some pork, and other provisions and necessaries were handed over; that Burkitt went and got some cloaths from the gunner and threw into the boat; that Sumner demanded the Boatswain's call of witness, and said it would be of no use to him where he was going; that witness asked him in the Indian tongue, if he would give him any thing for it, and sent it up, but got nothing for it; that Norton asked for his jacket when Sumner said, "If I had my will you, bugger, I would blow your brains out"; that witness then told Captain Bligh it would be best to cast off, as the witness thought they might fire upon the boat; that Captain Bligh then called and wished to speak with Christian, but he did not come aft; that Coleman called over, and said 'he had no hand in it, and desired if any of them reached England, to remember him to Mr. Green of Greenwich'; that the boat then cast off, being at midships only seven or eight inches out of water; that the last person witness saw was Ellison, loosing the maintop gallant sail, and they sailed directly.

Q. per COURT.—How many men did you see under arms?

A. Nine at first on the deck, viz. Churchill, Williams, Mills, Brown, McKoy, Burkitt, A. Smith, Martin, Ellison, and two or three at other parts; Thompson at the main hatchway; Quintal and Sumner over the master's cabin, and at the cock-pit; Hillbrant about the deck; Skinner on the deck, but not at first; Musprat on the deck abaft the fore-hatchway, it was at the latter part of the time I saw him. Millward was ordered to take a musket and had it on the deck, Churchill called out to him, "Damn you, come up, here's a musket ready for you."

Q. What number of men was helping you to hoist the launch out?

A. Fourteen or fifteen; those who had no arms helped out with the boat, but those who had did not quit their arms; the master at arms had a pistol. I was not put under any restraint, but often threatened by Christian.

Q. Did any of the prisoners assist you in getting the launch out?

A. Yes; Coleman, Norman, McIntosh, and Morrison, were forward, Heywood and Hallet aft, I believe.

Q. Had you any conversation with the prisoners respecting the mutiny?

A. No conversation about the mutiny, except with the men mentioned whom I awaked.

Q. What force was used to prevent the people getting into the boat, who were not permitted to go?

A. Nothing but orders; the people stood round them with arms, but they did not attempt to break the order.

Q. Did you see any attempt by any one of the prisoners to prevent the mutiny?

A. None, I saw Heywood handle the forestay tackle fall.

Q. You say you saw Heywood handle the forestay tackle fall, was that voluntarily done?

A. Voluntarily. He was not forced.

Q. You say you saw no one of the prisoners make any attempt to stop the mutiny. Did you see any make any marks of disapprobation at what was going forward?

A. No.

Q. When the drams were ordered, did either of the prisoners partake?

A. Smith the servant served all in general, I did not observe who in particular.

Q. Did you hear any one threaten to shoot into the launch before you cast off?

A. Skinner.

Q. You have said, that Coleman, McIntosh and Norman, were detained against their will; have you reason to believe that any other of the prisoners were so detained?

A. I believe Heywood. I thought he intended to come away, he had no arms.

Q. Have you any other reason to think that Heywood was detained against his will?

A. I heard Churchill call out to keep them below; who he meant 1 do not know, but I believe Heywood.

Q. You have said you did not see any of the prisoners shew any marks of disapprobation of what was going on What was the cause of Coleman, Norman and Byrne crying, as you have represented?

A. Coleman and Norman wanted to come into the boat; why Byrne cried I know not, but he was blind.

Q. What was Burkitt's situation when on deck?

A. He was on the starboard side next the wheel, he had his musket shouldered, and was standing there.

Q. When you awoke Morrison, Millward, McIntosh, and Simpson, what did they do, when first on the deck?

A. Millward was ordered to take a musket, and went up, the other three were clearing the boat from yams.

Q. How long was it from the time Heywood quitted the tackle fall and went below, before you was forced into the boat?

A. Twenty minutes, or half an hour.

Q. Did you see any of the prisoners forcing Captain Bligh into the boat, or any under arms at that particular time?

A. I was in the boat alongside, and cannot tell who forced him.

Q. In consequence of Churchill calling to Millward to come upon deck, and take a musket; did Millward make any objection?

A. Not to my knowledge.

Q. You say, that Coleman, Norman, and McIntosh assisted at the top tackle fall to get out the launch. Did you suppose that they meant to be of use to Captain Bligh and accompany him, or that they were well disposed towards the mutineers, and wished to get quit of their Captain?

A. I think they wished to go with him.

Q. Do you think Heywood assisted from the same motive?

A. I have no reason to think otherwise, we did not converse at all. I did not see him at the tackle fall until the boat went out.

Q. Where was Musprat when under arms?

A. Abaft the hatchway.

Q. Did he appear to be centinel over any place or person?

A. He did not.

Q. Who were the persons that forced Captain Bligh into the boat?

A. I do not remember. I was in the boat, they on the deck.

Q. per BYRNE.—When the large cutter was hoisted out, who was the person that threw the fall out of her, to hook on the fore stay tackle?

A. I do not remember,

Q. When the orders were given for hoisting her out, did you not look down the hatchway, and see three or four people abreast in the starboard cable tier?

A. No; I saw Norton (since killed) get out of his hammock, and I believe the cook was there.

Q. Do you remember any one ordering some person to hook on the tackle to the boat?

A. Not in particular.

Q. Did you not call to people below, to come up and hoist out the cutter?

A. I do not know that I did, but I might.

Q. When the cutter was out, did you not order me to stay in her, to keep her from thumping against the ship?

A. I do not remember I did, but I told you to hawl her a-head when the launch was going over the side.

Q. When Purcell and you came out of the cock-pit, on the first alarm, did you perceive any one sitting on the chest on the fore hatchway?

A. I do not remember.

Q. Did any one speak to you or Mr. Purcell on the fore hatchway?

A. They may, but I do not know.

Q. When Mr. Purcell and you came up, did not I say to you, 'Sir, the people are in arms, and Captain Bligh is a prisoner'?

A. I do not remember seeing you, but you might be there; but your being blind I should have taken but little notice of you in the confusion.

Morrison.—Do you recollect when I came upon deck, after you called me out of my hammock, I came to you abaft the windlass, and said, Mr. Cole, what to be done? Your answer was, "By God, James, I don't know, but go and help them Out with the cutter."

A. Yes, I do remember it.

Q. Do you remember in consequence of your order, I went about clearing the cutter?

A. Yes.

Q. Do you remember I did hawl a trawl or grapnel from the main hold, and put them into the boat?

A. I remember such things being in the boat, who put them in I know not.

Q. Do you remember calling to me to assist in hoisting a cask of water from the hold, same time threatening Norton the quarter master that he should not go in the boat, if he was not more attentive in getting the things into her?

A. I remember telling Norton that, for he was frightened, and believe that Morrison was employed on that business.

Q. Do you recollect I came to you when you were getting your things (which were tied up in part of your bedding) into the boat, and telling you the boat was then overloaded, and that Captain Bligh had begged no more should go into her, and in consequence would take my chance in the ship; that you took me by the hand and said, God bless you, my boy, I do you justice if ever I get to England?

A. I remember shaking hands with you, and your saying you would take your chance in the ship; I had no reason before but to think you meant to leave the ship.

Q. per COURT.—Do you remember saying, If you got to England you would do him justice?

A. I do not remember it, but I have no doubt but I did.

Q. Morrison.—Was my conduct on that day such, or during the voyage, as to give you reason to suppose I was concerned in the mutiny?

A. I had no reason to suppose so.

Q. per COURT.—Did you hear prisoner Morrison say that Captain Bligh said, that no other men could come into the boat, as she was deeply laden already?

A. I remember taking him by the hand, but the conversation I do not recollect.

Q. Did you at that time believe that prisoner Morrison would have gone with you into the boat, if it had not been apprehended the boat was too deeply laden?

A. From his conduct and behaviour I had no reason but to think so, he did what I ordered him.

Q. What was Morrison doing when you desired him to clear the cutter?

A. To the best of my knowledge standing on the booms doing nothing, just come up.

Q. You said, Morrison assisted in getting out the boat, did you consider all those that assisted in getting out that boat to be of the Captain's party?

A. No. Some were under arms.

Q. Did you consider these not under arms, at that time, to be of the Captain's party?

A. I certainly did think they had no hand in the mutiny.

Q. Do you think all Mr. Christian's party was entrusted with arms?

A. I do not know, for some came on deck with arms, afterwards Mr. Young came upon deck with a musket; and Musprat came afterwards, which was after the first boat was hoisted out.

Q. Did you on that day consider Morrison as a person that was awed by the people under arms, to assist in hoisting the boat out, or as one aiding and assisting them in their design?

A. I do not think he was in awe of the people, nor that he was aiding or assisting them in their design.

Q. Did Morrison express any desire to come into the boat, and was he prevented?

A. He did not make any express desire, nor was he prevented from so doing.

Q. Ellison.—Are you certain, when you came upon deck and looked round, whether it was me that was armed, or the man that stood before me, as I stood at the wheel?

A. To the best of my knowledge I think it was you under arms; there were four men then on the quarter-deck under arms; Ellison, Mills, Martin, and Burkitt.

Q. Are you certain it was me, I was only a boy and scarcely able to lift a musket at that time?

A. You stood by Captain Bligh part of the time, he was upon deck with a musket, and I believe a bayonet fixed.

Q. In what position did I stand?

A. I do not know, I cannot answer that question.

Q. Burkitt.—When you came aft to get the compass out of the binnacle from the starboard-side of the quarter-deck, did not Quintal come and say, he would be damned if you should have it; you said, Quintal, It is very hard you will not let me have a compass, when there is a plenty more in the store-room; then you looked very hard at me, and I said, Quintal, let Mr. Cole have it, and any thing else that will be of service?

A. Quintal objected to the compass going, but I do not remember that you said what you mention; you might, you were standing there, I do not remember what conversation passed, the confusion was so great.

Q. Did you hear me that morning, during the time you said I was under arms, give any orders or use any bad language?

A. I did not. But when Mr. Peckover asked you for the cloaths, you went and got them, and threw them into the boat.

Q. Do you remember my coming aft and looking over and asking the people in the boat, if they wanted any thing I could get for them? Mr. Peckover told me to get his pocket-book out of his cabin and his cloaths.

A. I do not remember your asking any body if they wanted any thing; I have said you brought Mr. Peckover's cloaths.

Q. Millward.—Can you positively say that I took the musket according to Churchill's orders?

A. I don't know if by Churchill's orders, but you had one.

Q. Do you recollect speaking to me as I stood by the windlass, when you came up the fore-hatchway, and asked me what I was doing? I told you. Nothing; you told me to lend a hand and clear the large cutter

A. No.

Q. per COURT.—Were all the people that were called on deck bound and put in the boat, or were they all at liberty?

A. They were not bound, but brought up by centinels at different times, and put into the boat.

Q. Were there no other arms in the ship but in the chest, at the main hatchway?

A. Not to my knowledge.

Q. Was it Burkitt's watch on deck the morning of the mutiny?

A. I think it was.

Q. Was it Musprat's?

A. I do not know he watched at all, he assisted the cook.

Q. Was it Ellison's watch?

A. To the best of my knowledge it was.

Q. Was it Norman's?

A. I do not remember what watch he was in.

Q. Was it Byrne's?

A. I do not think it was.

Q. Was Byrne on deck when you first came up?

A. I do not remember.

Q. Was it Coleman's watch?

A. No.

Q. Was he on deck in the morning early?

A. I did not see him.

Q. What time did day break?

A. About a quarter before five o'clock.

Q. Byrne.—When you and all the people were in the boat, did you not hear me speak to some of the people forward in the launch's bow, as I was in the large cutter's stern?

A. I do not remember; you may.

Q. Did you ever hear any of the people in the launch say I had so spoken to them?

A. Yes; Mr. Purcell.

Q. Did you hear any one else?

A. I do not remember.

Q. Did you say yesterday, you did not know how I came in the cutter?

A. I did not know if you was hoisted out in her or not.

Mr. PECKOVER, the GUNNER of the BOUNTY, sworn..

I was awaked from my sleep by a confused noise, and directly afterwards thought I heard the fixing of bayonets; I jumped up, and at the door met Mr. Nelson; he told me the ship was taken from us. I answered, "We were a long way from land, when I came off deck." Mr. Nelson said, "It is by our own people, Christian at their head, or Christian has the command, but we know whose fault it is, or who is to blame." I answered, "Let us go forward and see what's to be done." On going to the hatchway to get up, we were stopped by Sumner and Quintal, by a fixed bayonet down the hatchway, who said, "Peckover you can't come up; we have mutinied, and taken the ship, and Mr. Christian is captain": That in a short while, Mr. Samuel came down, and said "he was going away in the small cutter with Captain Bligh, Hayward, and Hallet." He advised with me what he should take with him, I advised him but a few things, he took only a few shirts and stockings in a bag. That Mr. Fryer came down after wards, and asked me what I meant to do; I told him I wished to do for the best, and to get home if I could, for staying behind we should be reckoned as pirates if taken. He said he would be answerable for that, and something about Captain Bligh, but what I could not distinguish, as we were about this time ordered on the deck. I was a long while down, before I was ordered on the deck; when I came up, I saw Captain Bligh and Christian alongside of him with a naked bayonet. I saw Burkitt in arms on the quarterdeck, with a cartouch box around him, but whether he had any arms I cannot say. I asked Christian to let me go down forward, to get my things out of my chest; Christian said, you have no things down aft, I said only a few, then stept to the gangway, and went over the side. There was a centinel on the gangway, but who I cannot say. I saw Muspratt forward on the forecastle, he seemed to be doing something about wood, he was not under arms, nor was he splitting wood. I saw three or four more people, I don't recollect their names, nor who they were under arms. I then went into the boat, and a centinel saw me down, I believe there were then in the boat ten or twelve. The cutter was along side with Byrne in it, and in about four or five minutes the remainder of the people, who went with Captain Bligh came into the boat; and in a short time after we dropt or were veered astern, when lying astern Burkitt asked me if I wanted any thing; I told him I had nothing but what I stood in; he said, if I would send the keys up, he would get me some cloaths; I said I had lost them; he made some answer which I do not remember; he told me he would go and get me some things, and being gone about ten minutes, returned and threw a handkerchief full of different cloaths into the boat. Another person, who I don't know, went and fetched me more cloaths. Coleman called to me over the stern, and begged I would call on his friend at Greenwich and acquaint him of the matter. I think he said he wished to come into the boat. Cole at different times asked Captain Bligh to cast off the boat, fearing the people would fire into the boat, soon after cast adrift.

Q. per COURT.—Was you upon deck any considerable time before you was put in the boat?

A. Two or three minutes.

Q. Was you carried on the quarterdeck?

A. No.

Q. What part of the ship did you remain in?

A. I believe on the after hatchway.

Q. Did you see Christian, and where was he?

A. Yes, on the starboard side of the quarterdeck.

Q. Could you discover every one on the quarterdeck from the combings of the hatchway on which you stood?

A. By looking round I could, except in the wake of the mizen mast.

Q. Could you see any persons that were not below in any other part of the ship?

A. All, except where the pigs were stowed, on the larboard side of the deck.

Q. What hindered you from seeing the larboard side?

A. The main mast I don't doubt, I looked round but I saw no body.

Q. Was any centinel over you while you was upon deck?

A. I don't remember any, the two centinels that were over us were at the bottom of the ladder.

Q. Were you placed there by centinels, or were you at liberty to go to any part of the ship?

A. I was not at liberty to go to any part of the ship, Christian ordered me into the boat, and told me the boat was alongside, and Captain Bligh was just going in.

Q. What number of men did you see under arms in any part of the ship?

A. Burkitt, Mills with a cartouch box round him, but whether under arms I cannot say, Christian upon deck with a bayonet, and Sumner and Quintal below.

Q. Are you sure no more?

A. No more.

Q. Name them again.

A. Christian, Burkitt, Sumner, Quintal, and Mills with a cartouch box.

Q. Where are the arms kept?

A. All in the chest upon the main grating.

Q. Was the arm chest usually kept locked?

A. Yes. And the keys in the Masters cabin.

Q. How long was it from that time you first heard of the mutiny to the time you went into the boat?

A. Two hours, or two hours and an half.

Q. How many people did the Bounty's company consist of?

A. Only forty-three at that time.

Q. How many of the people did you consider were concerned in the mutiny?

A. Four or five.

Q. Was it our opinion that four people could take the ship from thirty-nine?

A. By no means.

Q. Give your reasons for thinking so.

A. There must have been more concerned. I saw no more under Arms when I came on deck.

Q. What was your reason for submitting when you saw four only under arms?

A. I came naked on the quarterdeck, except my trowsers; I saw Burkitt with a musket and bayonet, Christian alongside Captain Bligh, and the centinel on the gangway, who he was I do not know.

Q. Did you expostulate with Christian?

A. No.

Q. Did you with the centinels over you?

A. I reasoned with these below, but to no purpose.

Q. Was any force used to put you into the boat?

A. The centinel saw me up, and Burkitt being on the quarterdeck as I mentioned, and Christian ordered me into the boat.

Q. Did you on that day see Coleman?

A. Yes.

Q. Did he appear under arms?

A. No.

Q. What was he doing?

A. Looking over the stern.

Q. Did you see Heywood that day?

A. No.

Q. Did you see Byrne?

A. Yes.

Q. At what time?

A. Near eight o'clock.

Q. Was he under arms?

A. No.

Q. What was he doing?

A. In the cutter alongside.

Q. Did see Morrison?

A. No.

Q. Did you see Norman?

A. Yes.

Q. Was he under arms?

A. No.

Q. What was he doing?

A. Looking over the stern.

Q. Did you consider him as one of the mutineers?

A. No.

Q. Did you see Ellison?

A. No.

Q. Did you see McIntosh?

A. Yes.

Q. What was he doing?

A. Looking over the stern.

Q. Did you consider him as one of the mutineers?

A. No.

Q. Did you see Musprat?

A. Yes.

Q. Was he under arms, or what was he doing?

A. Upon the forecastle.

Q. Did he appear to be obeying the orders of Christian?

A. He was standing on the forecastle not doing any thing.

Q. Did you see Millward?

A. Yes.

Q. Was he under arms?

A. Not to my knowledge.

Q. Did you consider him a mutineer?

A. I cannot say, he was not under arms.

Q. Was he one that awed you to go into the boat?

A. No.

Q. You saw Coleman looking over the stern, Did you consider him as a mutineer?

A. No.

Q. You said you was put into the boat by a centinel; Do you know by whom?

A. No.

Q. Was any centinel on the gangway as you went over the ship's side?

A. There was, but I cannot say what his name is, he must have been under arms at the same time, but I cannot upon my oath say whether he was or not.

Q. In what situation was Byrne in the cutter?

A. To the best of my knowledge, standing.

Q. Did he seem to be sorrowful?

A. He did.

Q. Did Norman when he looked over the stern, call to any one in the boat?

A. I don't recollect,

Q. What are your reasons for believing Coleman, Norman McIntosh, and Byrne, were adverse to the mutiny?

A. I often heard Captain Bligh mention it in the launch.

Q. What were your observations?

A. It is impossible for me to say, they were upon the stern and appeared to wish to come into the boat; I was busy, I do recollect Coleman calling to me.

Q. In conversation with Nelson, he said to you; "You know who's fault it was"; Did you apprehend he alluded to any of the prisoners?

A. No; it was impossible to judge what he meant.

Q. Did either of the thirty-nine people, not of the mutineers, or under arms, offer to relieve Captain Bligh?

A. No.

Q. Of these men who remained in the ship, did you believe them all to be of Christian's party except the four.

A. I had every reason to suppose so.

Q. Do you know if Burkitt had the watch upon deck in the morning?

A. He had.

Q. Was Musprat on that watch?

A. I believe he was not on any watch he was in the galley.

Q. Was Ellison on that watch?

A. I cannot say.

Q. Was it your watch?

A. No.

Q. In what watch was Norman?

A. I believe in that watch, he was not in mine.

Q. Had Coleman and Byrne that watch?

A. I cannot remember.

Q. Where was Millward when you saw him?

A. Looking over the stern.

Q. in what watch was Heywood?

A. In the first with Mr. Fryer.

Q. Morrison.—Do you recollect when you was in the boat astern, I handed over cutlasses, pork, water, spunyarn, &c.?

A. No.

Q. per Ditto.—Did you ever observe any thing in my conduct that led you to believe I was concerned in the mutiny?

A. No.

Q. Burkitt.—Did you see me when you came upon deck, or did I offer to force you or any body else into the boat? Did I use any bad expressions, or make any game at any one?

A. No farther than standing with musket and bayonet fixed.

Q. Did ever my conduct during the voyage, or the five months I was on shore with you at Otaheite, before the mutiny, give you reason to think I was ringleader in the mutiny?

A. Not in the least.

Observations per COURT.—You said it was concluded that each person left on board was concerned in the mutiny, now you say Morrison was not concerned.

Q. Who were Christian's mess-mates?

A. Elphinstone, Young, Hallet, Ledward, and Tinkler.

Q. When he relieved you at four in the morning, did you observe any thing particular in his conduct?

A. No.

Q. Were centinels usually placed on board the Bounty when at sea, in any part of the ship?

A. No.

WILLIAM PURCELL, CARPENTER of the BOUNTY, sworn..

April the 28th, the morning of the mutiny, Quintal came to my cabin and awaked me, saying, you and Mr. Cole may go on deck and do as you think proper, for we have mutinied and taken the ship; Mr. Christian has the command, Captain Bligh is confined, resistance is in vain, and if you attempt it you are a dead man. I called Mr. Cole, and went up the hatchway, saw Thompson standing centinel armed in the main hatchway, Heywood and Steward were in their births abreast of the main hatchway, on the larboard side, Mr. Elphinstone on the other side. John Williams came down the fore hatchway armed, and accompanied us on deck. I saw Captain Bligh standing on the quarter deck with his hands tied, Christian standing over him with a bayonet. The small cutter was alongside. I asked Alexander Smith what they meant to do; he answered, "To put Captain Bligh, Hayward, Hallet, and Samuel into her, to put Captain Bligh on shore." I then said to Christian, I hope you will not send any body in that boat, the bottom is almost out, and she cannot swim to the shore. An altercation then happened between Christian, Churchill, and others, about another boat; that being determined, Christian ordered me to get the large cutter ready; I hesitated obeying him; he said, Sir, you'll get the boat ready directly; Cole was gone below to turn those in their hammocks on deck. I called McIntosh and Norman to go down to my store room and hand the geer of the cutter to get her ready for hoisting out; they did so, and we in the mean time were clearing the cutter of yams, cocoa nuts, and lumber; when ready, Christian ordered her to be hoisted out; I went to Christian and interceded for the launch, and asked Christian, "If he meant to turn us adrift in the boat, to let us have the launch and not make a sacrifice of us"; Christian then ordered out the launch, but told Cole the Boatswain to carry nothing away. The launch was hoisted out and I went down to my cabin to procure such things as I thought might be useful; I desired McIntosh and Norman to fill a bucket of nails and hand a cross-cut saw out of the store room; I then got my chest upon deck and into the launch, and afterwards got sails and other articles, and asked Christian for my tool chest and a cross-cut saw; the latter he granted, and also my tool chest, after Churchill the master at arms had opposed my having the chest, and taken what he thought proper out of it. Prior to this I had been down to Fryer's cabin, when he desired me to ask Christian to let him come on deck; he came on deck, and had some discourse with Captain Bligh, I could not hear what; Alexander Smith desiring me not to come aft; I then addressed Churchill, on the quarter deck, with Smith, Martin, Mills, Ellison, and Burkitt, desiring them to lay down their arms, asking them what they were about, and advising, "If the Captain had done any thing wrong, to confine him," when Churchill replied, "You ought to have done that months ago," and used other abusive language. Mr. Fryer was then ordered down to his cabin, that Captain Bligh attempted to speak to Christian, who said, "Hold your tongue and I'll not hurt you; it is too late to consider now, I have been in hell for weeks past with you." I then went forward to get what necessaries were handed on the deck, into the boat, and then went into the boat, and stowed my chest and other things. That Martin, one of the mutineers, came into the boat with a bag. I asked him what he did there; he said he was going into the boat; I told him if ever we get to England, I'll endeavour to hang you myself. Quintal and Churchill hearing me, presented their pistols and desired Martin to come out of the boat, which he did. Christian not being determined whether to keep me on board or not, several of the mutineers opposed my going into the boat, saying, that I should be the last suffered to go out, if they had their wills; adding, "They might as well give us the ship as to suffer me to have tools, for we should have another vessel in a month." I then went into the boat to receive a cask of water and other articles that were handing in. Several of the people were in the boat; the rest were then ordered in; we were veered astern. After much abusive language to the Captain, they threatened to blow his brains out. Cole asked Captain Bligh if he should cast off, as some of the people talked of firing. Captain Bligh consented, and we quitted the ship, keeping right astern to prevent the guns from bearing on us; we were nineteen in number in the launch, and about seven inches and an half out of water.

Q. per COURT.—Who were the people under arms?

Christian,

Churchill,

Sumner,

Quintal,

Mills,

Skinner,

Martin,

A. Smith,

Williams,

Thompson,

McCoy,

Brown,

Ellison,

Burkitt,

Millward,

Young,

Hillbrandt

were under arms at different times.

N. B. I forgot to mention a circumstance respecting Millward when Mr. Cole turned the hands up. Millward came up to me and said, Mr. Purcell, I assure you I know nothing of this business, but as I had a hand in the former foolish affair, I suppose they will make me have a hand in this.

Q. When you came on deck, did you see any of the other prisoners?

A. I did.

Q. Did you see Heywood?

A. No.

Q. Had you any conversation with him?

A. Not at that time.

Q. Had you at any other?

A. Yes.

Q. Did you see Heywood standing at the booms?

A. Yes.

Q. Had he a cutlass in his hand?

A. Yes; leaning the flat part of his hand upon it, on the booms. I instantly exclaimed "In the name of God, Peter, what do you do with that?" he instantly dropped it. One or two of the people previous to that had laid down their arms to assist in hoisting out the boats, one or two laid down their cutlasses, but not their pistols.

Q. Did Millward assist in hoisting out the boat?

A. Yes.

Q. What number of men did you see with pistols?

A. About four with pistols and cutlasses, the rest with muskets and bayonets fixt.

Q. Do you recollect seeing any other prisoners upon deck, and having any other conversation with them?

A. I saw all upon deck, but had no other conversation but what I have related.

COURT.—As you was upon deck during the mutiny, recollect what all the prisoners were doing at that time?

A. Coleman assisted in getting the boat ready, and handing things into it after it was hoisted out; he wanted to come in with us, but was prevented by the mutineers, and he desired me to notice that he had no hand in the conspiracy.

Heywood, when I came on deck, was in his birth, I did not see him on deck, until the launch was getting out; then he was standing on the booms resting his hand on a cutlass, I exclaimed, for God's sake, Peter, What do you do with that; he dropped it, and assisted in hoisting out the launch and handing things into it, then went below; I heard Churchill call to Thompson to keep them below, but could not tell who he meant I did not see Heywood after. [...]

Q. Did Heywood hand any of his own things into the boat?

A. Not to my knowledge.

[...] Byrne was in the large cutter keeping her off from the side, and remained there when we left the ship; he was crying, and said, if he went with us he could be of no service being blind, he was not armed.

Morrison I observed, when Mr. Cole went down to turn the hands up, who were in their hammocks, but 1 did not observe he was armed; he assisted in hoisting out the launch. [...]

Q. Did you hear any conversation between him and Fryer?

A. I did not.

Q. Did he appear to you at that time to be in league with the mutineers?

A. No.

[...] Norman I called out of his hammock and ordered him to fetch tools and cloaths, which he did; he gave me every assistance during the whole transaction, was crying when we came away, and desired mc to take notice he had no hand in the conspiracy.

Ellison, when I came on the deck, was standing near the gangway, on the larboard-side, armed with a musket and bayonet; in that situation he was during the whole time, to the best of my knowledge, but in different pans of the ship; I had no conversation with him. [...]

COURT.—Relate as to McIntosh.

[...] McIntosh I called out of his hammock, and desired him to go down with Morrison to the store-room to get the gear for the boat; he did, and gave me every assistance, and desired me to take notice he had no hand in the mutiny.

Musprat, I cannot charge my memory with any particular circumstances as to him, I do not remember seeing him in arms. [...]

Q. What was he doing?

A. Walking about the ship, handing liquor to the ship company I think, and handing the Captain's and Mr. Fryer's things up.

Q. Was that when the dram was ordered

A. Yes.

[...] Burkitt, when I came upon deck, was standing upon the windlass, armed with a musket and bayonet; soon after went aft on the quarterdeck, and I believe remained there during the whole transaction under arms. [...]

Q. Did he make any answer to the master, when he desired him and the other men, for God's sake to lay down their arms?

A. Not that I heard.

[...] Milward, when I came upon deck, was in his hammock, Mr. Cole turned him up, and when he came over the booms, he said, I assure you, Mr. Purcell, I know nothing of this business but as I had a hand in the former foolish affair, I suppose they will force me to take a part in this; I saw Millward afterwards down the after-ladder by Mr. Fryer's cabin, armed with a musket, but do not recollect he had a bayonet fixed, nor seeing him afterwards until we were in the boat; then I saw him look over the tafferel, but cannot tell if he was armed then or nor.[sic]

Q. When you all went into the boat, was any centry on the gangway?

A. Yes; Quintal and Skinner.

Q. Were they armed?

A. I cannot say they were armed, they were placed as centinels.

Q. Were you forced in the boat suddenly, or did it take some time?

A. I do not think it was above ten minutes, before every one was in the boat.

Q. Was it generally known about the ship, that the boat was going to put off?

A. I think it must, we were a long time collecting our things.

Q. Did you hear any body say he wished to go in the boat, except those you have named already?

A. I cannot say I did.

Q. Did Norman and McIntosh shew any intentions to regain the ship?

A. They did not.

Q. Did you propose any such thing to them?

A. I did not.

Q. Did any of the prisoners shew any such wish?

A. No.

Q. In what light did you look upon Mr. Heywood at the time you say he dropped the cutlass?

A. I looked upon him as a person confused.

COURT.—You must answer that question.

Witness.—And that he did not know he had the weapon in his hand; his hand being on it, it was not in his hand.

Q. What reason had you to suppose him so confused?

A. By his instantly dropping it and assisting in hoisting out the boat, convinced me in my own mind, that he had no hand in the conspiracy.

Q. Were any people armed near Heywood at that time?

A. I do not know there were.

Q. After the launch was hoisted out, you say Heywood went below, and you saw no more of him. Did he of your knowledge go below of his own accord, or was he compelled to go by any of the mutineers?

A. I think he went of his own accord, or to get some of the things to put in the boat.

Q. How long was it after the launch was hoisted out, before she went from the ship?

A. Near two hours.

Q. Do you think then that Heywood was so long employed in collecting his things as you before supposed?

A. No; he was assisting me and the rest to get the things into the boat, which I suppose prevented him from collecting any things of his own, until that time.

Q. You have said just now, you saw no more of Heywood after he went below. Did he go below immediately after the boat was hoisted out?

A. No.

Q. How long did the launch remain alongside after Heywood went below?

A. I cannot be positive; ten minutes or a quarter of an hour was the outside.

Q. Were the booms of the Bounty above deck?

A. Yes; off the deck on chocks.

Q. When you represented Heywood leaning his hand upon the cutlass, Was that cutlass leaning against, or supported by any thing else?

A. I cannot be positive.

COURT.—Describe the situation he was standing in with the cutlass. Was it leaning against the booms?

A. I cannot be positive, it might be supported by something.

COURT.—Describe with your own hand, his hand as to the top and handle of the cutlass.

N.B. The Witness then described the cutlass perpendicular on the point, and Mr. Heywood's hand flat on it.

Q. per COURT.—Do you, upon the solemn oath you have taken, believe Heywood by being armed with a cutlass, at the time you mentioned, by any thing you could collect, either by gestures, speeches, or any thing else, had any intention of opposing or assisting and joining others, who might endeavour to stop the progress of the mutiny?

A. No.

Q. Except the cutlass upon which you saw Mr. Heywood's hand, did you see any cutlass on the deck, other than those in the mutineers' hands at any time during the mutiny?

A. t cannot say I did; I can't say I did at that time, one man laid one down by him, and assisted in hoisting out the launch.

N. B. The witness said, one man laid one down by him, and took it up, but afterwards recalled his words, "and took it up again," and added while he assisted in hoisting our the launch.

Q. Do you know if any one of the mutineers took notice of Mr. Heywood's having a cutlass?

A. No.

Q. Have you reason to believe that the cutlass you saw in the possession of Heywood was placed upon the booms accidentally, and that he did not furnish himself with it?

A. I have reason to think he did not furnish himself with it.

Q. What is your reason?

A. As Thompson was standing over the arm chest, and Heywood in his birth, had he meant to arm himself, he certainly might have done it before he came on deck.

Q. Was the arm chest near Mr. Heywood's birth?

A. It stood in the center of the main hatchway, between the two births at the after-part.

Q. Did you go on deck before, or after Mr. Heywood?

A. Before him, he was in his birth.

Q. Did you see him leave his birth, and go upon deck?

A. No.

Q. Can you say that he might not have carried the cutlass on deck with him?

A. I have reason to think he did not.

Q. What reason?

A. As Thompson was centry over the arm chest, and knew Mr. Cole and myself were not of the conspiracy, and knew Mr. Heywood was in his birth, and did not attempt to arm himself before we went upon deck, he most certainly suspected Mr. Heywood wanted to procure arms to assist us in retaking the ship.

Q. Do you suppose it possible, that if Mr. Heywood had been inclined to join the mutineers he would have armed himself before you and Cole?

A. I should suppose not, as he might have armed himself before we were called up Thompson being centinel over the arm chest, and Mr. Heywood in his birth when I went on deck.

Q. From the bulkhead forward, were there any other centinels except Thompson?

A. There were two more when I went upon deck, Quintal, the man who accompanied and called me up, and John Williams; both came to the foot of the lower deck ladder, and followed us up.

Q. Did you see Mr. Heywood as you and Mr. Cole, the boatswain, were going on deck?

A. I saw him in his birth, as I went up the cockpit ladder, whether sitting or leaning I'm not positive; the hammocks were hanging.

Q. Had you any conversation with him?

A. No.

Q. Do you know if that time he knew of the mutiny?

A. I think he must, as the centinel was upon the arm chest close to his birth.

Q. Was the centinel over the arm chest or their births?

A. I cannot say; he was between both births.

Q. Did the centinel, or any other person, prevent his going on the deck with you and Mr. Cole, had he been inclined so to do?

A. I cannot say.

Q. Did you see any oppose him?

A. I did not.

Q. When Mr. Heywood dropt the cutlass, as you say, did it fall down from his quitting his hand from it, or did he lay it down?

A. I think it fell, for he did not lay it down.

Q. Do you think any of the mutineers noticed Mr. Heywood having the cutlass in his hand?

A. I don't know, as I was busy in getting the boat out, I had no time to make any observation.

Q. Would they have permitted you, or any well-disposed person to the captain, to have touched a cutlass?

A. I cannot tell, as they had pistols I should imagine not.

Q. Did it appear to you, after they had got possession of the ship, that they were careless of their arms?

A. By no means, only in that instance in hoisting out the boat.

Q. In the time Heywood was assisting you to get things into the boat, did he, in any degree whatever, manifest a disposition to assist in the mutiny?

A. No.

Q. Was he, during that time, deliberate or frightened; in what manner did he behave himself?

A. I had not an opportunity to observe every action, being myself, at that time, engaged in getting things into the boat; I was apprehensive the mutineers might have stopt our so doing.

Q. Putting every circumstance together on your going into the boat, declare to the court, upon the oath you have taken, how you consider his behaviour; whether, as a person joined in the mutiny, or wishing well to Captain Bligh?

A. I by no means considered him as a person concerned in the mutiny or conspiracy.

Q. At the time Mr. Heywood was assisting you in getting things into the boat, did he know it was the intention of the mutineers to send the commander of the Bounty, with several of the officers and men, away in the boat?

A. 1 cannot say.

Q. Did he know that you was going out of the ship?

A. He certainly must think so, seeing me getting my chest and things into the boat.

Q. Did you know Captain Bligh was going in the boat?

A. Yes.

Q. Could it be possible but that every person must have known that Captain Bligh was going to be sent away?

A. I suppose not.

Q. Did Mr. Heywood know what caused you to quit the ship?

A. Every body must have kno who was on deck at the time, that I meant to follow my commander.

Q. Did Mr. Heywood express any desire or inclination to follow his commander with you?

A. Not to me.

Q. Was Captain Bligh confined on the quarterdeck, in such a situation as he must have been seen by Mr. Heywood, whilst he was upon deck with you, or when he was assisting in getting out the boats?

A. I think he was in such a situation, that he must have been seen by every one upon deck.

Q. Was any bulkhead round Mr. Heywood's birth?

A. No; it was half boarded, and half canvas.

Q. If the screen was drawn, how could you see Mr. Heywood?

A. The screen was not drawn.

Q. When you saw Mr. Heywood with the cutlass, might it not have been used with advantage?

A. By no means, there being fourteen on the deck armed, the officers confined, and most of the mutineers having cutlasses or pistols.

Q. Were any of the prisoners amongst those who opposed your going into the boat?

A. No.

Q. You say Morrison did not seem to be leagued with the mutineers, did he express to you, any desire to follow the fate of the commander in the boat?

A. No.

Q. Do you know if McIntosh was prevented leaving the Bounty?

A. He desired me to take notice that he was prevented by the mutineers from coming into the boat.

Q. Did you see him prevented?

A. I did not personally see it, but Christian had given orders before, that neither Coleman, Norman, or McIntosh should quit the ship.

Q. How do you know that?

A. I heard him.

Q. Byrne.—When you were first alarmed, and came from below with Cole, did you observe any one sitting on the chest on the fore hatchway?

A. I did not.

Q. per Ditto.—When you was in the launch, receiving things from some person on board, did I not speak to you from the stern of the large cutter?

A. I don't recollect it, only your desiring every one to take notice, that by your being blind, you could be of no service, and crying.

Q. per Ditto.—Before Captain Bligh, Mr. Fryer, and other officers came on the deck, was you not down in the launch?

A. I was several times in her, stowing the things.

Q. per Ditto.—Do you recollect my saying, Mr. Purcell, if you live to go home, I hope you will go to my friends, and tell them I know nothing of this transaction, or had any hand in it?

A. No.

Mr. HAYWARD, sworn..

At four o'clock in the morning, of the twenty-eighth day of April 1789, Fletcher Christian relieved the watch as usual, at about five o'clock; after giving orders to prepare for washing the decks, he ordered me to look out, as being master's mate of the watch, whilst he went down to lash his hammock up, a few minutes after I was looking out at a shark, which was at the stern of the ship; when, to my unutterable surprise, I saw Christian, Charles Churchill, Thomas Burkitt, one of the prisoners, John Sumner, Matthew Quintal, William McCoy, Isaac Martin, Henry Hillbrant, and Alexander Smith, coming aft, armed with muskets and bayonets. Going forward to prevent their proceeding, to ask Christian the cause of such an act, he told me to hold my tongue instantly; and left James [?] Martin a centinel upon deck; and proceeded with the rest of his party below to Captain Bligh's cabin; some men standing with their heads above the deck, Mr. Hallet, myself, Lamb, (Ellison at the helm,) and Mills, being on the deck. Christian being gone below, I asked Mills, If he knew any thing of the mutiny? he said, No. Ellison quitted the helm, and armed himself with a bayonet; the ship's decks now began to throng with men; Young, Millward, Musprat, Williams, Skinner, and Brown on the deck, armed with muskets and bayonets; Heywood, Steward, and Morrison, unarmed on the booms; Christian and his gang had not been down long, before I heard the cry of murder from Captain Bligh; and on the other hand, heard Churchill calling for the rope. It was now I found Mills was of the mutineers' party; contrary to all orders he cut the deep sea line, and carried a piece of it to Christian; soon after, I saw Captain Bligh brought upon the quarter deck, with his hands bound behind him, surrounded by most of those who came last on deck; some of the officers were permitted to come on deck, and Christian ordered us to hoist out the cutter; we remonstrated against it, being too small and unable to contain us. As soon as the launch was out, Christian ordered Mr. Samuel, Mr. Hallet, and me into it; we requested time to collect some things, which was granted; I was going down, but was prevented by Thompson, who was armed with a cutlass, and centinel over the arm chest; he stood aft a part of the main hatchway; he assented, and I went down, and saw Heywood in his birth. I told him to go into the boat, but in my hurry 1 do not remember receiving an answer. Mr. Hallet and I went down the main hatchway together; after getting a few cloaths, I went up and put them into the launch; then went to Christian and asked him for my instruments and chart, but was refused and hurried into the boat, not before I had seen Captain Bligh brought to the gangway, held by Christian, and surrounded by Mills, Burkitt, Quintal, Sumner, Millward, and McCoy, armed. I do not recollect any more, but Ellison came up in a hurry with a bayonet in his hand, swearing, Damn him, I will be centinel over him. I then went over the gangway. When I was in the launch, I saw Byrne in the cutter, I heard him say he was sorry he could not have leave to come with us. The officers and men being in the boat, Captain Bligh was then forced in, and we were veered astern, the mutineers saying, they would give us a tow towards land. In this situation we prayed much for arms, ammunition, and more provisions, and then (for a watch and boatswain's call) we got four cutlasses and a small addition of pork; a number of mutineers collecting themselves on the taffrail, amongst whom were Skinner, Quintal, Millward, Hillbrant, Ellison, Smith, and Brown, publicly insulting Captain Bligh. Skinner would have shot into the boat, but was prevented by others of the mutineers; Millward jeering, said, Go and see if you can live upon a quarter of a pound of yams per day. Just before casting off, Coleman came to the taffrail, and avowed his innocence and ignorance of the matter. After casting off, I heard orders given for loosing the top gallant sails, and saw Ellison going up the shrouds for that purpose.

Q. COURT.—I think you were sent to apprehend the prisoners gone to Otaheite; inform the court what you know.

A. Before anchoring in Mattavai Bay, in the Pandora, in the island of Otahite, I saw Coleman coming off to the ship; soon after we were at anchor, Steward and Heywood came on board, but I did not see them until they were in Captain Edwards's cabin. They made them selves known to Captain Edwards, saying, they belonged to the Bounty, and were happy they were arrived. On my asking some questions concerning the Bounty, Captain Edwards said, it was unnecessary to ask any questions. I asked how they came to go away with the Bounty? and received for answer from Steward, that when called upon he would answer all particulars. I was prevented from asking any more questions, by Captain Edwards saying again, it was unnecessary. The next day I was dispatched to Papara with a party, in order to receive the mutineers, who were supposed to be in the valley; as soon as I arrived at Papara, I had intelligence that they were not far off, and with a guide marched to find them, but without success. The next morning about eleven o'clock, I had intelligence of them coming down. I drew out my party to receive them; when they came within hearing, I called to them to lay down their arms and go on one side, which they did, and I took them into custody and brought them on board. I wrote to Lieutenant Corner, who was coming to the valley, that I had taken them.

Q. COURT.—I think you say, in the morning of the mutiny you saw eighteen under arms?

A. Yes.

Q. Do you know of any conversation between Captain Bligh and the officers, about launching the cutter?

A. None, but a general clamour.

Q. What number of men was in the boat when you were ordered into it?

A. None; I was the first that was ordered into it.

Q. How long did the boat remain alongside after you was in it?

A. About a quarter of an hour.

Q. Were all the people that went into the boat, ordered in; or did they go voluntarily?

A. I heard no one ordered but Mr. Hallet, Mr. Samuel, and myself.

Q. What number of men were on the deck at the time of hoisting out the boat?

A. I cannot say.

Q. Can you tell if there were any below at that time?

A. None, except those who guarded the officer's cabins in the after part of the ship.

Q. Look at all the prisoners, and relate all you know of them on that day?

A. Coleman. I saw nothing of him till he came to the taffrail, and declared his innocence. Heywood, I saw on the booms, not doing any thing, and afterwards in his birth below, when I spoke to him, and told him to go into the boat.

Q. Did he make any answer?

A. I believe not.

Q. Did you at any time that day see Mr. Heywood with arms in his hands?

A. I did not.

Q. Did you see him assist in hoisting out the boats?

A. No.

Byrne I saw in the cutter alongside the ship when I was in the launch, I heard him say he was sorry he could not go with us.

Morrison I saw assisting in clearing the yams from the boat, but am doubtful whether he was under arms at first or not.

Q. Did you hear any conversation between him and any officer of the ship?

A. I do not remember any.

Q. Did he at all appear to you by his conduct, to be assisting the mutineers, or in obedience to orders, to get the boats out?

A. If I was to give it as my opinion, I should say he was assisting the mutineers, wishing us away as fast as possible.

Q. Did you at any time that day see him with arms in his hands?

A. I am doubtful if he was under arms at all.

Norman was on deck forward, I neither saw him under arms nor assisting the mutineers, but assisting in getting things into the boat.

Ellison I saw at the helm, and, soon after the people had gone to Captain Bligh's cabin and quitted it, armed himself with a bayonet, and just before my going into the boat saw him as a centinel, with a bayonet in his hand, over Captain Bligh, saying, Damn him, I'll be centinel over him.

McIntosh I did not see under arms, nor did I suppose him one of the mutineers; he assisted to get out the boat.

Musprat I saw on the larboard side with a musket in his hand, supposing him one of the mutineers.

Burkitt I saw come aft, following Christian and Churchill, and saw him descend the after ladder with them armed with a bayonet.

Millward, I don't recollect seeing him at first, but after Captain Bligh was brought on deck, saw him armed as a centinel; after the boat was astern, saw him on the taffrail jeering us, and saying, Go see if you can live upon a quarter of a pound of yams per day, or some thing to that purpose.

Q. Was you present when Norman, Morrison, and Ellison were taken?

A. No, they had been left there by Lieut. Corner, under the charge of Mr. Saville.

Q. When you fell in with McIntosh, Burkitt, Musprat, and Millward, did they make any resistance?

A. None.

Q. They surrendered themselves upon your demanding them to lay down their arms?

A. They did.

Q. When you went down the main hatchway, who were between decks besides Thompson?

A. Mr. Heywood. Mr. Hallet went with me and Mr. Elphinstone.

Q. Was Thompson centinel?

A. Thompson was the only centinel; but there were armed men round the hatchways on the boom.

Q. Of the ten prisoners, six of whom you describe under arms; do you know of any effort made by those not under arms, or any of them, to restore the ship?

A. No,

Q. Did Norman express any desire to you of going into the boat?

A. To me, none.

Q. Did you hear him to any other person?

A. No.

Q. Did McIntosh?

A. No.

Q. Or any disapprobation of the mutineers' conduct?

A. No.

Q. How tong after the mutiny began that you saw Musprat under arms?

A. I beg leave to remind the court that they did not come up together, it might be about ten minutes.

Q. At the time the mutineers went into the cabin, was Burkitt one of them that remained on the hatchway?

A. No.

Q. Have you reason to know that Mr. Heywood would have been prevented from going into the boat at the time you did, after you desired him?

A. No.

Q. How long before your going down in the boat, before you spoke to him?

A. About two or three minutes.

Q. You say, if you were to give your opinion, it is, that Morrison was assisting the mutineers by getting out the boats, and wished to get you away from the ship. You have likewise said, that McIntosh was assisting in getting out the boats, and you did not look upon him in that light I wish to know the reason of that difference?

A. The difference in the countenances of people may be ill-grounded. One looked rejoiced, the other depressed.

Q. You said Norman was employed in putting a tool chest into the boat. Do you know why he did not accompany you?

A. No.

Q. When you spoke to Mr. Heywood in his birth and admonished him to go into the boat, was he under any restraint as to going on deck?

A. No.

Q. What was he employed about at that time?

A. Nothing but sitting with his arms folded.

Q. Did you by his behaviour, consider him as attached to his duty, or to a part of the mutineers?

A. I rather suppose, after telling him to go into the boat, and not joining us, he was on the part of the mutineers, but that must be only stated as an opinion, as he was not employed during the acting part of it.

Q. Did you observe joy or sorrow in his behaviour?

A. Sorrow.

Q. You have said that McIntosh was unfriendly to the mutineers; you mean he was not attached to them, because he was depressed in his countenance; might not the sorrow in Mr. Heywood arise from the same cause?

A. It might.

Q. per Morrison.—You give it from your opinion that I was one of the mutineers, can you declare before God, and this court, that such evidence is not the result of a private pique?

A. It is not: It is an opinion I formed after quitting the ship, from his not coming with us, when he had as good an opportunity as the rest, there being more boats than one.

Q. Ditto.—Are you certain we might have had the large cutter to have accompanied you?

A. My not being present at any conversation with you, I cannot say, but perhaps you might.

Q. Ditto.—Can you deny you were present when Captain Bligh begged, that the long boat might not be overloaded, and said, he would do justice to those who remained?

A. I was present when Captain Bligh did make such declaration, but I understood it respected cloaths and other heavy articles, with which the boat was already too full.

Q. Ditto.—Do you recollect in consequence of such declaration, I told you, I would take my chance in the ship?

A. I do not.

Q. Ditto.—Do you remember when you handed your bag up the main hatchway, and with it your fuzee, that I was the person that received them from you, and Quintal came and seized the fuzee, and swore, Damn his eyes, if you should have it?

A. I do not remember the person who took the bag and fuzee, it might have been you, but I remember Quintal swearing I should not have it, but from whose hands he took it, I cannot say.

Q. Do you remember on any time that day calling on me to assist you in any point of duty, or to give my assistance to retake his Majesty's ship?

A. I have a faint remembrance of a circumstance of that nature.

COURT. Relate it.

A. It is so very faint I can hardly remember it, or who it was.

COURT. Relate it.

A. On seeing Churchill on the booms, I thought if I had a friendly island club, of which there were many on board, had I not been observed, I could have gone forward and knocked him down at the time of handing the bag out, and you might have been the person I called to my assistance.

Q. per Morrison. What answer did I give you?

A. I do not know.

Q. Ditto.—Did not I say, "Go it, I'll back you, there are tools enough in the ship"?

A. I cannot remember.

Q. Ditto.—Did you ever observe any thing in my conduct during the voyage, or on that day, to give cause of complaint?

A. None: But on that day I thought he was pleased in preparing the boat for our departure; but, as I said before, I do not know his real intention.

Q. per Ditto.—Are you sure that there was a continual smile and appearance of joy upon my countenance all the time you observed me, or at the time only when you called upon me for assistance?

A. I cannot say.

Q. per Musprat.—In answer to a question just asked by Morrison, you allow Captain Bligh used these words. "Don't let the boat be overloaded, my lads, I'll do you justice"; which you say, alluded to the cloaths and other heavy articles. Do you mean to understand the latter words of "My lads, I'll do you justice," to apply to cloaths or men who he apprehended might go in the boat?

A. If Captain Bligh made use of the words "my lads," it was to the people already in the boat, and not to those in the ship.

Q. COURT.—To whom do you think Captain Bligh alluded, when he said he would do them justice; was it your opinion to the men in the boat with him, or to any person remaining in the ship?

A. To persons remaining in the ship.

Q. Are you of opinion that he meant, he would do them justice on account of remaining in the ship, or that he would cause satisfaction to be given them for any thing they might lose?

A. I rather think it was the few who Captain Bligh knew to be of his party, that were detained contrary to their inclination, that he would do them such justice that should throw aside all doubts of their being true to the service of their country.

Q. Do you know if any were detained contrary to their wish?

A. Coleman and Byrne, which, from the latter's answers, I suppose to be the case.

Q. What authority have you for saying Coleman was detained contrary to his inclination?

A. From hearing amongst the mutineers their intention to detain him, as well as the acting surgeon, who they afterwards let go, saying, they would have little occasion for doctors.

Mr. HALLETT'S evidence..

On the 28th day of April 1789, at day-break, I had the watch upon deck; I saw Christian, the officer of the watch, come up the fore hatchway armed, and several armed men following him, Burkitt, Churchill, Sumner, and Martin, no more; at first, I attempted to go down the fore hatchway, but was prevented by two fixed bayonets thrust up, and I was ordered to stay where I was; who they were I cannot say, I was then going aft, but before I got on the quarter deck, I heard Captain Bligh sing out "murder" he was soon after brought on deck in his shirt, with his hands tied behind him, and Christian holding the cord that tied him, and a bayonet in the other hand, and kept in that situation with the guard round him.

COURT. Name the guard.

A. I do not know any more than I before mentioned.—The cutter was ordered by Christian to be hoisted out, and Mr. Samuel and my self ordered into it; but upon the Boatswain's and Carpenter's coming aft, and telling Christian they would prefer going in the boat with the Captain, than staying in the ship, desired to have the launch instead of the cutter; he granted it, and said, he did not wish them or any other to stay against their inclinations, or to go; they then asked for various articles that would be of use; and Mr. Heywood*, Mr. Samuel, and myself, then went into the boat and were veered astern, Christian saying, he would hove us in near the land—We then got a few more things from the ship, and were cast loose.

*[This is an obvious error, it should be Hayward.]

Q. Did you hear any conversation between Christian and the officers of the Bounty, about the launch or cutter?

A. The boatswain and carpenter came aft, as I said before, and spoke to Christian about them.

Q. What number of men were in the boat when you went into it?

A. By Christian's order, I was the first in the boat.

Q. How long did the boat remain along side after you was in it?

A. Ten minutes, or a quarter of an hour.

Q. Were all the people ordered in, or did they go voluntarily?

A. I believe the most part went voluntarily.

Q. What number of men assisted in hoisting out the launch?

A. About twenty.

Q. Were all unarmed?

A. One or two gave their arms to others, and assisted, and as soon as done resumed their arms.

Q. What number of men did you see under arms that morning?

A. Ellison, Morrison, Millward, Burkitt, Hillbrant, Sumner, Skinner, Christian, Young, Churchill, Thompson, Alexander Smith, Mills, McKoy, Williams, Brown, Martin, and Quintal.

Q. What time did you make that memorandum?

A. Lately.

Q. Had you any conversation with the officers or men that morning, respecting re-taking the ship?

A. Seeing so many armed men, and no possibility of our procuring any arms ourselves, I believe it was deemed impracticable.

Q. When the mutineers gave their arms to others, whilst they hoisted out the boats, did they give them to their own party?

A. Intirely so.

Q. Did you see Coleman?

A. Yes.

COURT.—Relate his conduct that day.

A. Coleman assisted in getting things into the boat, and when astern, called to the gunner, "Remember, Mr. Peckover, if ever you arrive in England, I had no hand in this."

Q. Did you see Mr. Heywood?

A. I saw him once.

Q. Where?

A. Upon the platform on the larboard side of the deck.

Q. What was he doing?

A. Standing still, looking attentively on Captain Bligh.

Q. Had he any arms at that time?

A. I did not see him under arms at all.

Q. Had you any conversation with him?

A. I do not recollect having spoken to him.

Q. Was he or not prevented from going into the boat?

A. I do not know that he offered to go into it.

Q. Did any person propose to him so to do?

A. I do not know.

Q. Do you know any other particulars of him that day?

A. When he was standing as before related, Captain Bligh said something to him, but what I did not hear; upon which he laughed, turned round, and went away.

Q. Did he appear at liberty, or at any time confined.

A. At liberty.

Q. BYRNE.—Relate what you know of Byrne that day.

A. I remember to have seen him once, keeping the cutter along side.

Q. MORRISON.—Relate his conduct that day.

A. When I first saw him, he and Millward were talking together unarmed, but he shortly afterwards appeared with a musket.

Q. What part of the ship did you see him in with a musket?

A. I did not see him under arms till the boat was veered astern, then he looked over the taffrail, and jeering, said, "If my friends enquire after me, tell them I am somewhere in the South Seas."

Q. How was he employed at any time, and until you put off?

A. I have related all to the best of my recollection.

Q. NORMAN.—Relate all you know of him that day.

A. Norman was employed in getting things out of the carpenter's store-room just before we came away, he cried, and said, "He wished to go with us, to see his wife and family."

Q. Did you consider him as a mutineer?

A. I considered him as an innocent man, and detained against his inclination.

Q. ELLISON.—Relate all you know of him that day.

A. He appeared early under arms, and came to me insolently, saying, "Mr. Hallet, you need not mind, we are only going to put the Captain on shore, and then you and the others may return on board," meaning Mr. Hayward and Mr. Samuel, as no others at that time were ordered to quit the ship.

Q. MCINTOSH.—Relate all you know of him.

A. He was employed in getting things from the store-room, and willing to procure things for us that we required.

Q. Did he shew any inclination to come on board?

A. I did not myself observe it.

Q. MUSPRAT.—Relate all you know of him that day.

A. I do not remember to have seen him once.

Q. BURKITT.—Relate all you know of him that day.

A. I have related the whole I know.

Q. MILLWARD.—Relate all you know of him that day.

A. As I before said, I saw him and Morrison talking together, and shortly after saw him armed.

Q. Look round, and point out Morrison.

A. This is he; (pointing to Morrison).

Q. Do you know if Coleman, Norman, and McIntosh, were detained against their wills?

A. I have great reason to suppose they were.

Q. Did you speak to Byrne, so as to form an opinion of his mind?

A. He appeared pensive and sorrowful.

Q. Do you believe it proceeded from his disapprobation of the event that had taken place?

A. The cause I am totally ignorant of.

Q. Describe the situation of the commander of the Bounty, when Heywood turned round as you before said.

A. He was standing with his arms tied behind him; Christian holding the cord that bound him with one hand, and a bayonet at his breast with the other hand.

Q. Did you go down the main hatchway with Mr. Heywood that morning?

A. I was below.

Q. Was Mr. Heywood in his birth at that time?

A. I do not remember to have seen him during that morning except at the time already related.

Q. At the time the boats were hoisting out, to whom did the mutineers give their arms?

A. Very few were given; those that were, were to their own party.

Q. When the boat put off from the ship, did you see or hear any person express any dissatisfaction at being left?

A. Yes: Coleman, and Norman.

Q. per MORRISON.—You say you saw me under arms at the taffrail, and I did sneeringly say, "Tell my friends, if they inquire, that I am somewhere in the South Seas"; Can you positively declare before God, and this court, that it was me and no other person you saw under arms, and to whom I delivered the said sneering message?

A. I have declared it, but did not remark that the message was said to any particular individual.

Q. Ditto.—Can you deny that I did lower down into the boat from the larboard quarter, two cutlasses, two large jars of water, and five or six and twenty pieces of pork?

A. I remember four cutlasses lowered, and the other things you mention in the boat, but by whom I cannot say.

Q. Do you remember that I personally assisted you to haul your chest up the main hatchway, and if I was armed?

A. Concerning the chest, I do not remember, and have before said, that I did not see you under arms till the boat was veered astern.

JOHN SMITH'S Evidence..

Between five and six o'clock, on the 28th of April 1789, Thomas Hall told me I was wanted aft, on the quarter deck; Captain Bligh then stood on the quarter deck in his shirt, Christian holding him in his left hand, and a cutlass in his right. Christian ordered me to bring a bottle of rum, and serve every man under arms; and at the same time to bring up the Captain's cloaths, I did so; and put some cloaths over Captain Bligh's shoulders, and then served the drams.

COURT. Name who you served.

A. Christian first.—I believe McKoy and Williams were on the starboard side.—I served several, but am not positive who; then I went on the quarter deck and served Ellison, no more on the deck; I then went down with the bottle; by that time the Captain was gone over the side; I saw Mr. Samuel in the Captain's cabin, getting his papers and things; there was a centinel below, between the cabin and Mr. Friers; Sumner and Quintal remained below until the Captain was gone over the side; I then came up with wine in my hand, and went across the ship, and put the wine into the boat and we dropt astern.

Q. You say you served the drams by Christian's order?

A. Yes.

Q. Did you give a dram to Coleman?

A. Yes; some in a tin pot.

Q. To Mr. Heywood?

A. No; he refused.

Q. Where was he standing?

A. By the windlass, with his back towards me, and his hands in his pockets.

Q. To Byrne?

A. No.

Q. To Morrison?

A. I don't know.

Q. To Norman?

A. No.

Q. To Ellison?

A. Yes.

Q. To McIntosh?

A. No.

Q. To Musprat?

A. No.

Q. To Burkitt?

A. Yes.

Q. To Millward?

A. Yes.

Q. Did any person go into the boat after you?

A. Not to my knowledge.

Q. How long was the boat alongside after you went into it?

A. It dropt astern directly.

Q. Did Christian order any to go into the boat?

A. No.

Q. Was you ordered to go into it?

A. No.

Q. Did you assist in hoisting out the launch?

A. No.

Q. You did not see her hoisted out?

A. No.

Q. In what station was you?

A. Captain's servant.

Q. Who ordered you to get the Captain's cloaths?

A. Christian——when I went down for the rum.

Q. How long after the mutiny began, before you served the drams?

A. Immediately after putting the Captain's cloaths on. I can't say how long.

Q. When you offered a dram to Coleman, where was he?

A. Forward upon the booms.

Q. Had he arms then?

A. No.

Q. You say when you offered a dram to Mr. Heywood, he had no arms?

A. No; he was neither talking nor doing any thing.

Q. Did you see Morrison?

A. Yes.

Q. Where?

A. I can't tell, I did not offer him a dram.

Q. Had he any arms?

A. No.

Q. Did you see Norman?

A. Yes.

Q. What was he doing?

A. I don't recollect.

Q. What was Ellison doing?

A. Standing with a musket in his hand.

Q. In what part of the ship?

A. Before the mizen mast.

Q. What was McIntosh doing?

A. Standing by the booms, having no arms.

Q. Did you see Musprat?

A. i don't recollect seeing him at all.

Q. Where was Burkitt?

A. On the fore pan of the quarter deck.

Q. What was he doing?

A. He was under arms.

Q. What was Millward doing?

A. He stood with a musket in his hand on the after ladder.

Q. per MORRISON.—Do you recollect when you came forward with the bottle, that Coleman and I were talking together, and you gave Coleman a glass in a tin pot, and said, 'Morrison, you may as well have a drop, though I am ordered to serve none but the centinels'?

A. I do not.

Q. per MUSPRAT.—Do you know on that morning, if any one came down abaft, and got a bottle of rum to serve the ship's company besides yourself?

A. Not to my knowledge.

Q. per MILLWARD.—Do you recollect any person who took the case from you, and the other necessaries, handing up for the good of those going in the boat?

A. i do not recollect.

CAPTAIN EDWARDS' Evidence..

COURT. Relate all you know concerning the prisoners belonging to the Bounty.

A. Before we came to anchor in Mattavai Bay, Coleman came on board. I was informed that others had sailed in a schooner that had been built by some of the Bounty's people. I likewise heard that one man had been murdered, (the master at arms,) and likewise an account that the Bounty had been twice at Otaheite, in possession of Captain Bligh; the last time, after some people being landed, she went away in the night; and was seen again in the morning in a north west direction. Coleman was ready to give me any information. Steward and Heywood, after we anchored, came on board before any boat was sent on shore. Mr. Larkin brought them to me; "I asked what news?" and Mr. Heywood said, "he supposed i had heard of the affair concerning the Bounty." I cannot recollect all the conversation, but he enquired if Mr. Hayward was on board; I said he was; he desired to see him, and I desired Mr. Hayward to come out of my state room. Mr. Hayward came, and gave them a contemptuous look, and began to enter into a conversation concerning the Bounty. I called people to take the prisoners; some words passed, and Heywood said he should be able to vindicate his conduct. Byrne came on board the third day alone. Ellison, Morrison, and Norman, were sent on board, by parties that were sent after them.

Q. per BYRNE.—Did you, or any under your command, commissioned, warrant, petty officers, or seamen, bring me on board the Pandora?

A. No; I did not understand it so.

Q. Did you know at what part of the island I was, when the Pandora anchored in Mattavai Bay?

A. Not exactly, but I heard some distance from the place.

Q. per BYRNE.—Was I not introduced to you by your officers?

A. Probably you was.

Admitted that Byrne voluntarily surrendered himself.

Q. Did Byrne request an interview with you, saying, he came from Papara, a distant part of the island, and that he had walked all night to join the ship?

A. I do not recollect the place, but I believe he did say he had walked all night.

LIEUTENANT LARKIN'S Evidence..

COURT. Inform the Court how the prisoners came on board the Pandora.

A. Coleman came before we came to anchor voluntarily.

Heywood next, and Byrne, both voluntarily.

Norman, Ellison, and Morrison, Came round in one of our boats from the other side of the island, sent by Mr. Savill (since lost).

McIntosh, Musprat, Millward, and Burkitt, Brought on board in one of our boats that was sent after them.

LIEUTENANT CORNER'S Evidence..

COURT. Inform the court what you know of the prisoners being taken and carried on board the Pandora.

A. Norman, Morrison, and Ellison, Came to me in company with another person named Brown, (who had been left at Otaheite) at Papara, when I was going in search of the schooner. I landed about two o'clock in the morning; they were armed with hatchets, and instruments, that Brown had given them to defend themselves from the Indians, I confined them in the boat and went to secure the rest.

Q. Was you sent in pursuit in the Pandora's boat?

A. I was sent in pursuit of the schooner the evening the ship arrived—I got within about a mile of her, when the schooner avoided us; we chased her, but I cannot say who was on board.

Q. Was the schooner in your possession before the prisoners surrendered themselves?

A. No.

Q. Did Norman, Morrison, and Ellison, voluntarily surrender themselves?

A. They made no resistance; they came voluntarily with Brown.

Conclusion

Coleman, Norman, McIntosh, and Byrne were acquitted. Mr. Heywood, Morrison, Musprat, Millward, Burkitt, and Ellison, were found guilty, and sentence of death was pronounced upon them; but the Court at the same time informed Mr. Heywood and Morrison, that they should recommend them to the King for mercy, which his Majesty was afterwards graciously pleased to grant. Musprat having requested that Norman, one of the prisoners, against whom there was no evidence, might be acquitted and examined in his favour, and this being refused by the Court, his sentence was respited till the opinion of the twelve judges could be obtained upon the question. They decided that the evidence ought to have been received, and in consequence Musprat was discharged.

The Sentence of the Court was afterwards executed upon Millward, Burkitt, and Ellison. When they were brought upon the forecastle of the ship in which the execution was ordered, Millward addressed the ships' crews and spectators, in the following words: "Brother Seamen, You see before you three lusty young fellows about to suffer a shameful death for the dreadful crime of mutiny and desertion. Take warning by our example never to desert your officers, and should they behave ill to you, remember it is not their cause, it is the cause of your country you are bound to support."

THE

APPENDIX

TO STEPHEN BARNEY Esquire, Portsmouth

GRAY'S-INN SQUARE, MAY 15TH, 1794.

SIR,

I Assure you I regard the publication of your Minutes of the Court-Martial as a very great favour done to myself, and I am the more sensible of the obligation from being convinced that they were not originally taken with an intent to publish. But they appear to be so full and satisfactory; that, from your further kindness in permitting the extraordinary information which I have collected to be annexed as an Appendix, the Public, I trust, will at length be possessed of a complete knowledge of the real causes and circumstances of that most melancholy event, the Mutiny on board the Bounty. It is unnecessary for me to add, that I alone am responsible for the authenticity, or rather accuracy, of the information contained in the Appendix, as far at least as it has been obtained by me, in the manner and from the persons described therein.

I have the honour to be,

SIR,

Your most obedient,

and obliged Servant,

ED. CHRISTIAN.

THE APPENDIX

The circumstances communicated in this Appendix have been collected by a person nearly related to Christian: and it is far from his intention or wish to insinuate a vindication of the crime which has been committed. Justice, as well as policy, requires that mutiny, from whatever causes produced, or with whatever circumstances accompanied, should be punished with inexorable rigour. The publication of the trial, and of these extraordinary facts, it is presumed, will in no degree impede the pursuit of justice, yet it will administer some consolation to the broken hearts, which this melancholy transaction has occasioned. And whilst the innocent families and relations of twenty-one unhappy men are deeply interested in reducing to it's just measure the infamy which this dreadful act has brought upon them; every friend to truth and strict justice must feel his attention awakened to the true causes and circumstances, which have hitherto been concealed or misrepresented, of one of the most remarkable events in the annals of the navy. It is the aim of the writer of this Appendix to state facts as they are, and to refrain, as far as possible, from invective and reproach.

It will naturally be asked from whom, and how have these facts been collected? and why have they been so long suppressed? It may be answered, That the writer of this Appendix, with the other relations of the mutineers, entertained no distrust of the narratives published to the world, or the accounts which they received in private; and as they came from those whose sufferings had unquestionably been extreme, and preservation almost miraculous; and thus carrying with them the stamp of even greater authenticity than the solemn declarations of a death-bed, they precluded all suspicion and enquiries among those who were most concerned in the horrid representation. Their lips were closed, they mourned in silence, and shuddering at the most distant allusion to this melancholy subject, they were of all persons the least likely to discover the real truth of the transaction.

All the circumstances stated here could not be produced at the trial, as the Court confined the witnesses, as much as possible, to the question, Who were actually engaged in the mutiny? for that being a crime which will admit of no legal justification, the relation or previous circumstances could not be material or legal evidence, yet what passed at the time of the mutiny was so immediately connected with what had happened previously in the ship, that in the testimony of most of the witnesses there will be found an allusion to, or confirmation of, what is here advanced.

Some time after the trial of the mutineers, the writer of this Appendix received such information as surprized him greatly, and in consequence of which, he resolved to make every possible enquiry into this unhappy affair. The following circumstances have been collected from many interviews and conversations, in the presence and hearing of several respectable gentlemen, with Mr. Fryer,[1] master of the Bounty; Mr. Hayward,[2] midshipman; Mr. Peckover,[3] gunner; Mr. Purcell,[4] carpenter; John Smith,[5] cook; Lawrence Lebogue,[6] sail maker; all these returned in the boat with Captain Bligh: and with Joseph Coleman,[7] armourer; Thomas McIntosh,[8] carpenter's mate; Michael Byrne,[9] seaman; these are three of the four, who were tried and honourably acquitted, even with Captain Bligh's testimony in their favour; and with Mr. Heywood, midshipman, who has received His Majesty's pardon; and William Musprat, discharged by the opinion of the judges in his favour; upon a point of evidence: the writer of this has received letters also upon the subject from James Morrison, the boatswain's mate; who was pardoned. Mr. Heywood is now serving again as midshipman, under Lord Howe, in the Queen Charlotte, and is much respected by all who know him, and Morrison and Musprat are also employed again in the king's service; yet the writer of this Appendix thinks it necessary to assure the reader that no material fact here stated stands in need of their testimony or confirmation. The gentlemen who were present at different conversations with the persons just mentioned, are; John Farhill, Esq. No. 38, Mortimer street; Samuel Romilly, Esq. Lincoln's Inn; Mr. Gilpin, No. 432, Strand; the Rev. Dr. Fisher, Canon of Windsor; the Rev. Mr. Cookson, Canon of Windsor; Captain Wordsworth, of the Abergavenny East Indiaman; Rev. Mr. Antrobus, Chaplain to the Bishop of London; John France, Esq. Temple; James Losh, Esq. Temple; Rev. Dr. Frewen, Colchester; and John Atkinson, Esq. Somerset Herald. Each of these gentlemen has heard the declarations of one at the least of the persons before mentioned; some have had an interview with five or six of them at different times, together with the writer of this Appendix, who is confident that every one of these gentlemen will bear testimony that what he has heard is not here exaggerated or misrepresented. There is no contradiction or variance whatever, in the account given by the gentlemen and people of the Bounty, though they could not upon every occasion, be all present together, and therefore cannot all relate exactly the same circumstances.

They declare that Captain Bligh used to call his officers "scoundrels, damned rascals, hounds, hell-hounds, beasts, and infamous wretches"; that he frequently threatened them, that when the ship arrived at Endeavor Straits, "he would kill one half of the people, make the officers jump overboard, and would make them eat grass like cows"; and that Christian, and Stewart, another midshipman, were as much afraid of Endeavour Straits, as any child is of a rod.

Captain Bligh was accustomed to abuse Christian much more frequently and roughly than the rest of the officers, or as one of the persons expressed it, "whatever fault was found, Mr. Christian was sure to bear the brunt of the Captain's anger." In speaking to him in this violent manner, Captain Bligh frequently "shook his fist in Christian's face." But the immediate cause of the melancholy event is attributed to what happened on the 26th and 27th of April, the mutiny broke out on the morning of the 28th of April 1789. The Bounty had stopped at Annamooko, one of the Friendly Islands; on the 26th Christian was sent upon a watering party, with express orders from the Captain, by no means to fire upon the natives; upon their return, the Captain was informed that the natives had stolen the cooper's adze; at this Captain Bligh was in a great rage, and abused Christian much; saying to him, "G—damn your blood, why did not you fire,—you an officer!" At this island the Captain and ship's company had bought quantities of cocoa nuts, at the rate of 20 for a nail; the Captain's heap lay upon deck, and on the morning of the 27th, Captain Bligh fancied that the number was diminished, but the master, Mr. Fryer, told him he supposed they were pressed closer from being run over by the men in the night. The Captain then ordered the officer of the morning watch, Mr. Christian, to be called; when he came, the Captain accosted him thus, "Damn your blood, you have stolen my cocoa nuts"; Christian answered, "I was dry, I thought it of no consequence, I took one only, and I am sure no one touched another." Captain Bligh then replied, "You lie, you scoundrel, you have stolen one half." Christian appeared much hurt and agitated, and said, "Why do you treat me thus, Captain Bligh?" Captain Bligh then shook his hand in his face and said, "No reply"; and called him "a thief," and other abusive names. He then ordered the quarter masters to go down and bring all the cocoa nuts both from man and officer, and put them upon the quarter deck. They were brought. The Captain then called all hands upon deck, and desired "the people to look after the officers, and the officers to look after the people, for there never were such a set of damned thieving rascals under any man's command in the world before." And he told the men, "You are allowed a pound and a half of yams to-day, but to-morrow I shall reduce you to three quarters of a pound." All declare that the ship's company were before greatly discontented at their short allowance of provisions, and their discontent was increased from the consideration that they had plenty of provisions on board, and that the Captain was his own purser[10]. About four o'clock on the same day, Captain Bligh abused Christian again. Christian came forward from Captain Bligh, crying, "tears were running fast from his eyes in big drops." Purcell, the Carpenter, said to him, "What is the matter Mr. Christian?" He said, "Can you ask me, and hear the treatment I receive?" Purcell replied, "Do not I receive as bad as your do?" Christian said, "You have something[11] to protect you, and can speak again; but if I should speak to him as you do, he would probably break me, turn me before the mast, and perhaps flog me; and if he did, it would be the death of us both, for I am sure I should take him in my arms, and jump overboard with him." Purcell said, "Never mind it, it is but for a short time longer." Christian said, "In going through Endeavor Straits, I am sure the ship will be a hell." He was heard by another person to say, when he was crying, "I would rather die ten thousand deaths, than bear this treatment; I always do my duty as an officer and as a man ought to do, yet I receive this scandalous usage." Another person heard him say, "That flesh and blood cannot bear this treatment." This was the only time he ever was seen in tears on board the ship; and one of the seamen being asked, if he had ever observed Christian in tears before, answered, "No, he was no milksop." It is now certainly known, that Christian after this had prepared to leave the ship that night upon a raft; those who came with Captain Bligh, can only know it by circumstances, which they afterwards recollected, and which were the subject of conversation in the boat. He gave away that afternoon all his Otaheite curiosities; he was seen tearing his letters and papers, and throwing them overboard; he applied to the carpenter for nails, who told him to take as many as he pleased out of the locker; and the ship intending to stop at no other island, these could have been of no use to him, but in case of his escape to land. Mr. Tinkler, a young boy, one of Christians's messmates, was hungry in the evening, and went below to get some pig which was left at dinner; this he missed, and after some search, found it packed up with a bread fruit, in a dirty cloaths bag in Christian's cot; when the launch was hoisted out, the two masts were lashed to a plank, which they were obliged to untie. This was the raft or stage upon which he intended to leave the ship. These circumstances are remembered by those who came in the boat, but his design of going off upon the raft was frequently the subject of conversation afterwards in the ship. Norman, one of the four who were honourably acquitted, said to him after the mutiny, "this is a hard case upon me, Mr. Christian, who have a wife and family in England."[12] Christian replied, "It is a hard case, Norman, but it never would have happened, if I could have left the ship alone." Christian told them afterwards if the ship, "that he did not expect to reach the shore upon the raft, but he was in hopes of being seen and taken up by some of the natives in their canoes." The reason of his disappointment is said to have been owing to the people being upon deck in greater numbers than usual, looking at a volcano in the island of Tofoa.

All agree that there was no plot or intention to mutiny before Christian went upon his watch, at four in the morning. The mutiny broke out at five o'clock, and all the mutineers were in bed when it began, except those who were in Christian's watch; how soon after four o'clock the conspiracy was entered into, before it was put in execution, does not appear. That there had been some agreement previous to the breaking out of the mutiny is manifest from the evidence of Mr. Fryer, who was told by two of them, "Sir, there is no one means to hurt you; no, that was our agreement, not to commit murder." This statement cannot be reconciled with the testimony of Mr. Hayward and Mr. Hallet, who were both in Christian's watch; if the reader were not apprized of a circumstance which was not mentioned before the court-martial; viz. that these gentlemen who were very young at that time, viz. about fifteen, had both fallen asleep. The circumstance of the rest of the mutineers being in bed when the mutiny began, proves that it had not been preconcerted with them; and it is remarkable that Mr. Young was the only person among Christian's messmates, who was concerned in it, and he was in bed when it broke out. On the 26th, before the ship left Annamooko, Christian and some other officers threw away their beads and trifles among the natives, as articles for which they would have no further occasion.

It appears from the testimony of every witness, that the original intent was to put the Captain on shore, with three other persons only, and if the smallest boat, which was hoisted out for that purpose, had not been leakey, it is probable that this design would have been carried into execution; but by the time that the second cutter or boat was got into the water, a great number desired to leave the ship, and requested the launch. It is agreed by all, that every person who went into the launch, went voluntarily, or might have continued on board if he had wished to stay, except the four who were first ordered into the small boat; and afterwards Mr. Fryer, who was commanded to go in consequence of his design to retake the ship being overheard. It is indeed expressly proved by Mr. Hallet, that "the boatswain and carpenters told Christian, they would prefer going in the boat, to staying in the ship; and he said he did not wish them, or any other, to stay against their inclination, or to go; and that the most part went voluntarily." And Mr. Hayward in his evidence has also deposed, "I heard no one ordered to go into the boat, but Mr. Hallet, Mr. Samuel, and myself." Although Mr. Fryer himself wished to stay, from a very laudable motive, viz. that of retaking the ship; yet being obliged to go, he earnestly requested that his brother-in-law, Tinkler, then a young boy, might be permitted to follow him.[13] In such a dilemma, the alternative was dreadful, yet those who went voluntarily into the launch, were sure of getting to shore, where they expected to live, until an European ship arrived, or until they could raise their boat or build a greater, as one of the mutineers said of the carpenter, "you might as well give him the ship as his tool chest." It is proved by Mr. Hallet, that they were veered astern, in order to be towed towards the land, which was so near, that it is said they might see them reach the shore from the mast head of the ship.

After the mutiny commenced, it was between three and four hours before the launch left the ship, and one reason, besides the number of persons, why she was so deeply laden, was, that almost all Captain Bligh's property in boxes and trunks was put on board. A short time after it had quitted the ship, Christian declared, that "he would readily sacrifice his own life, if the persons in the launch were all safe in the ship again."

At Annamooko, besides the cooper's adze being stolen, the natives, by diving, had cut and carried off a grapnel by which a boat was fastened. Captain Bligh, in order to compel the natives to restore it, had made them believe he would sail away with their chiefs whom he had on board; this was unattended with success, as they assured him the grapnel had been carried away in a canoe belonging to another island; but the people of the island, who crowded round the ship to entreat the deliverance of their chiefs, and the chiefs themselves, were greatly frightened and distressed, before they were set at liberty. For Captain Bligh carried them out some distance to sea, and they were followed and taken back in canoes.[14] This unfortunate circumstance is supposed to have been the cause of the rough reception which the people in the launch met with at Tofoa. For Nageete, one of the chiefs, who had been thus frightened, had come upon a visit from Annamooko, though ten leagues distant, and was one of the first persons they saw at Tofoa. He appeared at the first friendly, yet it is thought that he was glad of having this opportunity of resenting the treatment he had received in the ship at Annamooko.

Those who came in the boat, though they gave vent to no open complaints, yet sometimes made allusions in the hearing of the Captain, to what had passed previous to the mutiny. Captain Bligh was one day observing, that it was surprising that this should have happened after he had been so kind to the people, by making them fine messes of wheat; upon which Mr. Hallet replied, "If it had not been for your fine messes, and fine doings, we should have had the ship for our resource[15] instead of the boat."

In a misunderstanding about some oysters, between the Captain and the carpenter, Captain Bligh told him, "If I had not taken so much pains with you, you would never have been here"; the carpenter replied, "Yes, if you had not taken so much pains with us, we should never have been here."

In the evidence of Mr. Peckover and Mr. Fryer, it is proved that Mr. Nelson the botanist said, upon hearing the commencement of the mutiny, "We know whose fault this is, or who is to blame, and oh! Mr. Fryer, what have we brought upon ourselves?" In addition to this, it ought to be known that Mr. Nelson, in conversation afterwards with an officer at Timor, who was speaking of returning with Captain Bligh if he got another ship, observed, "I am surprized that you should think of going a second time with one, (using a term of abuse,) who has been the occasion of all our losses."

In Captain Bligh's Narrative no mention is made of the two little boats or cutters, the least boat would not hold more than six, and the larger more than nine persons. But after Captain Bligh relates that he was brought upon deck, he proceeds thus in the two next paragraphs:

"The boatswain was now ordered to hoist out the launch, with a threat if he did not do it instantly, to take care of himself.

"The boat being out, Mr. Heywood and Mr. Hallett, midshipmen, and Mr. Samuel, were ordered into it" P.2

Every reader must have supposed that the boat mentioned in the latter paragraph, was the same as the launch in the former, and that these four were the first of the nineteen who were ordered into it.

If the small boats had been distinctly mentioned in Captain Bligh's Narrative, it would have been manifest to all the world that the mutiny could not have been the result of a conspiracy of twenty-five of the people, to turn the other nineteen into one or both of them.

Indeed, many readers had the penetration to think that it was incredible, and almost beyond any calculation of probability, that twenty-five persons could have been seduced to have concurred in such a horrid plot, without a single one having the virtue to resist the temptation, and to disclose the design to the Captain.

In the Narrative, p.8, there is this memorable paragraph:

Notwithstanding the roughness with which I was treated, the remembrance of past kindnesses produced some signs of remorse in Christian. When they were forcing me out of the ship, I asked him, If this treatment was a proper return for the many instances he had received of my friendship? He appeared disturbed at my question, and answered with much emotion, "That, Captain Bligh,—that is the thing; I am in hell—I am in hell."

In Mr. Purcell's evidence before the Court, this conversation is sworn to thus: "Captain Bligh attempted to speak to Christian, who said, 'Hold your tongue, and I'll not hurt you; it is too late to consider now, I have been in hell for weeks past with you.'" But all, who were upon deck and overheard the whole of this conversation, state it thus: "Captain Bligh, addressing himself to Christian, said, 'Consider Mr. Christian, I have a wife and four children in England, and you have danced my children upon your knee.'" Christian replied, "You should have thought of them sooner yourself, Captain Bligh, it is too late to consider now, I have been in hell for weeks past with you." Christian afterwards told the people in the ship, that when Bligh spoke of his wife and children, "my heart melted, and I would then have jumped overboard, if I could have saved you, but as it was too late to do that, I was obliged to proceed." One person, who heard what passed, immediately after Captain Bligh was brought upon deck, says, that Captain Bligh asked Christian, "What is meaning of all this?" And Christian answered, "Can you ask, Captain Bligh, when you know your have treated us officers, and all these poor fellows, like Turks?"

Captain Bligh in his Narrative asserts, "When we were sent away, Huzza for Otaheite, was frequently heard among the mutineers." —P.7. But every one of those who came in the boat, as well as all who staid in the ship, declare, that they neither heard nor observed any huzzaing whatever in the ship.

In Captain Bligh's Narrative, p.11, there is the following paragraph:

Had their mutiny been occasioned by any grievances, either real or imaginary, I must have discovered symptoms of their discontent, which would have put me upon my guard, but the case was far otherwise. Christian in particular I was on the most friendly terms with, that very day he was engaged to have dined with me; and the preceding night he excused himself from supping with me, on pretence of being unwell, for which I felt concerned, having no suspicions of his integrity and honour.

It is said that the Captain had his officers to dine with him in rotation, and Christian's turn might have fallen on the day of the mutiny, but in consequence of the charge of stealing the cocoa nuts, the gentlemen (or most of them) had resolved not to dine again at the Captain's table. Mr. Fryer had not dined there for a long time before. It is true that Captain Bligh had asked Christian to supper; but it now appears, he excused himself, not to meditate the destruction of his benefactor, but his own flight.

It was proved on the trial, that Christian, during the mutiny, told Mr. Fryer, "You know, Mr. Fryer, I have been in hell on board this ship for weeks past"; and that he said to the Captain, "I have been in hell for weeks past with you": but what particular period Christian referred to, or when the poignancy of his distress had begun to prey upon his mind, does not appear. But instances are mentioned of Christian's being hurt by Captain Bligh's treatment, even at the Cape of Good Hope, in their outward bound voyage. Christian had the command of the tent on shore at Otaheite, where Captain sometimes entertained the Chiefs of the island, and before all the company used to abuse Christian for some pretended fault or other, and the Chiefs would afterwards take an opportunity of observing to Christian, "Titriano, Brie worrite beha": i.e. "Christian, Bligh is perhaps angry with you." Christian would turn it off by saying, No, no. But he afterwards complained to the officers, of the Captain's cruelty in abusing him before the people of the country, observing, that he would not regard it, if he would only find fault with him in private. There is no country in the world, where the notions of aristocracy and family pride are carried higher than at Otaheite; and it is a remarkable circumstance, that the Chiefs are naturally distinguished by taller persons, and more open and intelligent countenances, than the people of inferior condition; hence these are the principal qualities by which the natives estimate the gentility of strangers; and Christian was so great a favourite with them, that according to the words of one person, "They adored the very ground he trod upon." He was Tyo, or friend, to a Chief of the first rank in the island, whose name, according to the custom of the country, he took in exchange for his own; and whose property he participated. This Chief dined one day with Captain Bligh, and was told by him, That his Tyo Christian, was only his Towtow, or servant. The Chief upbraided Christian with this, who was much mortified at being thus degraded in the opinion of his friend, and endeavored to recommend himself again to the Chief, by assuring him, that he, Captain Bligh, and all the officers, were Towtows of the King of Bretane.

These circumstances, although comparatively trifling, are such as to be distinctly remembered, but they prove that there could be little harmony, where such painful sensations were so frequently and unnecessarily excited.

A regard to truth obliges the writer of this Appendix to add, That Captain Bligh has told some of Christian's relations, that after they sailed from Otaheite, Christian, when he was upon duty, had put the ship in great danger; from which Captain Bligh supposed that it had been his intention to cripple the ship, that they might be obliged to return to Otaheite to repair. But no such circumstance is remembered by any person besides the Captain.[16] Captain Bligh has also declared that the persons in the launch "were turned out to certain destruction, because the mutineers had not the courage to embrue their hands in blood." It has already been observed, that it is proved before the court-martial, that most of the persons went into the launch voluntarily. And it is certainly true, that, although the sufferings of the persons in the boat were distressful to the last degree, they were not the occasion of the death of Mr. Nelson at Timor, or of those who died at Batavia; for all recovered from the extremity to which they had been reduced by this unhappy voyage.

It is agreed that Christian was the first to propose the mutiny, and the project of turning the Captain on shore at Tofoa, to the people in his watch, but he declared afterwards in the ship, he never should have thought of it, if it had not been suggested to his mind by an expression of Mr. Stewart, who knowing of his intention of leaving the ship upon the raft, told him, "when you go, Christian, we are ripe for any thing."

The mutiny is ascribed by all who remained in the ship, by this unfortunate expression, which probably proceeded rather from a regard for Christian, than from a mutinous disposition, for all declare that Stewart was an excellent officer, and a severe disciplinarian, severe to such a degree as to be disliked by the seamen, though much respected for his abilities. Mr. Stewart was in bed when the mutiny broke out, and afterwards was neither in arms, nor active on the side of the mutineers, yet it ought not to be concealed, that during the mutiny he was dancing and clapping his hands in the Otaheite manner, and saying, "It was the happiest day of his life." He was drowned in the wreck of the Pandora. This gentleman is spoken of by all in terms of great praise and respect. He is said to have been the best practical navigator on board, even superior in that character to Captain Bligh and Christian.[17] Soon after the launch had left the ship, Christian told the people that he had no right to the command, and that he would act in any station they would assign him. But they all declared that he should be their Captain, and after some persuasion from Christian, they permitted Mr. Stewart to be the second in command, though they were desirous, from Stewart's former severity, of preferring Mr. Heywood; but being told by Christian, that as the ship must be at watch and watch, he thought Mr. Heywood, who was then only sixteen, too young and inexperienced for such a charge, with some reluctance they acceded to his recommendation of Mr. Stewart. The other arrangements being settled, instead of insisting upon going back to Otaheite, they told Christian he might carry them wherever he thought proper. Christian advised them to go to an island called Tobooy, which was laid down in the charts by Captain Cook, though no European ship had ever landed there. This lies about seven degrees south of Otaheite, and it was chosen because it was out of the track of European ships.[18] When they arrived there, and with difficulty had made a landing, although it was full of inhabitants, they found no quadrupeds but a species of small rats, with which the island was completely overrun. They staid there a few days, and then resolved to sail to Otaheite for a ship load of hogs, goats, dogs, cats, and fowls, to stock the island of Tobooy, which they had fixed upon for their settlement."[19]

When they had reached Otaheite, in order to acquire what they wanted more expeditiously, Christian told the Chiefs and people, that Captain Bligh had returned to Captain Cook, who had sent Christian back to purchase for him the different articles which they wished to obtain.

This story was the more plausible, as the people of Otaheite had been told by Captain Bligh, that Captain Cook was still living and that he had sent him for the bread-fruit. Such is still their love and veneration for the memory of Captain Cook, that the natives even contended for the honour of sending their best hogs and animals to Toote. The ship by this artifice being soon filled, they returned with some Otaheite men and women to Tobooy. It was thought that the Otaheite men would be useful in introducing them to the friendship and good offices of the natives. At Tobooy they built a fort,[20] and having staid there three months, and finding the inhabitants always inhospitable and treacherous, the people of the ship grew discontented; all hands were called up, and it being put to the vote what should be done, sixteen out of the twenty-five voted that they should go back to Otaheite. Christian, thinking that this was the general wish, said, "Gentlemen, I will carry you, and land you wherever you please; I desire no one to stay with me, but I have one favour to request, that you will grant me the ship, tie the foresail, and give me a few gallons of water, and leave me to run before the wind, and I shall land upon the first island the ship drives to. I have done such an act that I cannot stay at Otaheite. I will never live where I may be carried home to be a disgrace to my family."

Upon this, Mr. Young, the midshipman, and seven others declared, "We shall never leave you, Mr. Christian, go where you will." It was then agreed, that the other sixteen should be landed at Otaheite, and have their share of the arms and other necessary articles; and he proposed to the rest, that they should go and seek an island, not before discovered, where they were not likely to be found, and having run the ship aground, and taken out every thing of value, and scuttled and broke up the ship, they should endeavour to make a settlement. They reached Otaheite on the 27th of September 1789, and came to anchor in Matavai Bay about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and the sixteen were disembarked with their portions of the arms and other necessaries. Christian took leave of Mr. Stewart and Mr. Heywood, and told them he should sail that evening; and desired them, if they ever got to England, to inform his friends and country what had been the cause of his committing so desparate an act; but to guard against any obstruction, he concealed the time of his sailing from the rest.

The natives came on board in crouds[crowds] as usual, and about twelve o'clock at night he cut his cable, and sailed from the Bay. The people on board consisted of nine Englishmen, about twenty-five men, women, boys, and girls, of different ages, from Otaheite, and two men from Tobooy. It does not appear that any selection was made of the Otaheiteans, who are always eager to be carried away in an English ship. The ship was seen standing off the island the next morning, but from that day, for the nineteen months the others lived at Otaheite, they never saw nor heard any thing more of Christian; and upon the arrival of Captain Edwards in the Pandora, they could give him no further account of the Bounty than what is here stated.[21]

During his short stay at Otaheite, Christian was much pressed to go on shore to visit the King, but he declined it, saying, "How can I look him in the face, after the lie I told him when I was here last?" These circumstances concerning the Bounty, subsequent to the mutiny, must necessarily be collected from the seven persons who were left in the ship, and who are now, or were lately, in England. These say, that Christian was always sorrowful and dejected after the mutiny; and before he left them, had become such an altered man in his looks and appearance, as to render it probable that he would not long survive this dreadful catastrophe. Indeed, it is impossible that he should have appeared[22] otherwise, if he deserved the character which all unite in giving him.

In the Royal Jamaica Gazette, dated February 9, 1793, which announced the arrival of Captain Bligh in the Providence, the following was one of the paragraphs, and it has been copied into all the English newspapers:

Captain Bligh could gain no intelligence of the mutineer Christian and his accomplices, who were on board the Bounty. When they returned to Otaheite, after executing their infernal project, the natives, suspecting some mischief from the non-appearance of the Commander and the gentlemen with him, laid a plan to seize the vessel and crew; but a favourite female of Christian's betrayed the design of her countrymen. He put to sea in the night, and the next morning the ship was nearly out of sight.

It is immaterial to inquire who was the author of this paragraph, yet it cannot but be remarked, that it is totally different from the account which has been given by those who staid at Otaheite, and who can have no possible interest in concealing this circumstance, if in fact it had existed; nor can it be reconciled with probability, or the treatment and protection which the Englishmen experienced from the natives when the ship had left them.

As this paragraph contains an assertion, that Christian had a favourite female at Otaheite, it is proper that it should be known, that although Christian was upon shore, and had the command of the tent all the time that Captain Bligh was at Otaheite with the Bounty, yet the officers who were with Christian upon the same duty declare, that he never had a female favourite at Otaheite, nor any attachment or particular connexion among the women. It is true that some had what they call their girls, or women with whom they constantly lived all the time they were upon the island, but this was not the case with Christian.

Until this melancholy event, no young officer was ever more affectionately beloved for his amiable qualities, or more highly respected for his abilities and brave and officer-like conduct. The world has been led to suppose, that the associates in his guilt were attached to him only by his seducing and diabolical villainy. But all those who came in the boat, whose sufferings and losses on his account have been so severe, not only speak of him without resentment and with forgiveness, but with a degree of rapture and enthusiasm. The following are, word for word, some of the unpremeditated expressions, used by the gentlemen and people of the Bounty, in speaking of this unfortunate mutineer: "His Majesty might have his equal, but he had not a superior officer in his service." This probably had a reference to his age, which was about twenty-three. "He was a gentleman, and a brave man; and every officer and seaman on board the ship would have gone through fire and water to have served him"—"He was adorned with every virtue, and beloved by all."—"He was a gentleman every inch of him, and I would still wade up to the arm-pits in blood to serve him."—"As much as I have lost and suffered by him, if he could be restored to his country, I should be the first to go without wages in search of him."—"He was as good and as generous a man as ever lived." —"Mr. Christian was always good-natured, I never heard him say Damn you, to any man on board the ship."—"Every body under his command did their duty at a look from Mr. Christian, and I would still go through fire and water for him." These are respectively the expressions of nine different persons, and it is the language of one and all. Mr. Hayward in his evidence, no doubt with a proper sentiment of the crime of mutiny, has used the words, "Christian, and his gang.": yet that gentleman has declared, that, until the desperate act, Christian deserved the character described by the strongest of the above expressions.

Christian, having staid at school longer than young men generally do who enter into the navy, and being allowed by all who knew him to possess extraordinary abilities, is an excellent scholar, and every one acquainted with him from a boy, till he went on board the Bounty, can testify, that no young man was ever more ambitious of all that is esteemed right and honourable among men, or more anxious to acquire distinction and advancement by his good conduct in his profession. He had been an acting Midshipman but a short time in the service, when Captain Courtenay, the late brave Commander of the Boston frigate, entrusted him with the charge of a watch in the Eurydice all the way home from the East Indies. This, no doubt, was extremely flattering to him, and he declared to a relation who met him at Woolwich, "he had been extremely happy under Captain Courtenay's command"; and at the same time observed, that "it was very easy to make one's self beloved and respected on board a ship; one had only to be always ready to obey one's superior officers, and to be kind to the common men, unless there was occasion for severity, and if you are severe when there is a just occasion, they will not like you the worse for it."[23] This was after the conclusion of the peace, and within a few days the ship was paid off; and being out of employ, he wished to be appointed a Mate of a West-Indiaman, a situation for which he thought himself qualified. Whilst he was in treaty with a merchant in the city to go in that capacity in his ship, Captain Taubman, a relation of Christian's, came to London from the Isle of Man, and suggested to Christian, that it would be very desirable for him to serve under so experienced a navigator as Captain Bligh, who had been Sailing-Master to Captain Cook, and who was then in the merchant's service; and as Captain Taubman was acquainted with Captain Bligh, he offered to make an application to him in Christian's favour. The application was made, and Captain Bligh returned a polite answer, that he was sorry he could not take Christian, having then his complement of officers. Upon this, Christian of his own accord observed, that "wages were no object, he only wished to learn his profession, and if Captain Bligh would permit him to mess with the gentlemen, he would readily enter his ship as a Foremast-man, until there was a vacancy among the officers"; and at the same time added, "we Midshipmen are gentlemen, we never pull at a rope; I should even be glad to go one voyage in that situation, for there may be occasions, when officers may be called upon to do the duties of a common man."

To this proposal Captain Bligh had no objection, and in that character he sailed one voyage, and upon his return spoke of Captain Bligh with great respect: he said, that although he had his share of labour with the common men, the Captain had been kind to him in shewing him the use of his charts and instruments; but at the same time he observed, that Captain Bligh was very passionate; yet he seemed to pride himself in knowing how to humour him. In the next voyage, Captain Bligh took him out as his Second Mate, and before his return the Captain was chosen to Command the Bounty.[24] Christian wishing to go upon a voyage where so much service would be seen, in which he would complete his time as a Midshipman, and if it had been successful, he would, no doubt, with little difficulty upon his return have been raised to the rank of Lieutenant, was recommended to the Admiralty by Captain Bligh himself, as one of his officers; and as it was understood that great interest had been made to get Midshipmen sent out in this ship, Christian's friends thought this recommendation, as they do still, a very great obligation. Captain Bligh had no Lieutenants on board, and the ship at the first was divided into two watches, the charge of which was entrusted to the Master and the Gunner: but after they had sailed about a month, the Captain divided the ship into three watches, and gave the charge of one to Christian, on whom Captain Bligh has always declared he had the greatest reliance. Such was his introduction to, and connexion with, Captain Bligh; and every one must sincerely lament, that what in its commencement had been so honourable to both, should in its event and consequences have proved to both so disastrous and fatal.

The writer of this Apppendix would think himself an accomplice in the crime which has been committed, if he designedly should give the slightest shade to any word or fact different from its true and just representation; and lest he should be supposed to be actuated by a vindictive spirit, he has studiously forborn to make more comments than were absolutely necessary upon any statement which he has been obliged to bring forward. He has felt it a duty to himself, to the connexions of all the unfortunate men, and to society, to collect and lay before the Public these extraordinary circumstances.

The sufferings of Captain Bligh and his companions in the boat, however severe they may have been, are perhaps but a small portion of the torments occasioned by this dreadful event: and whilst these prove the melancholy and extensive consequences of the crime of Mutiny, the crime itself in this instance may afford an awful lesson to the Navy, and to mankind, that there is a degree of pressure, beyond which the best formed and principled mind must either break or recoil. An though public justice and the public safety can allow no vindication of any species of Mutiny, yet reason and humanity will distinguish the sudden unpremeditated act of desperation and phrenzy, from the foul deliberate contempt of every religious duty and honourable sentiment; and will deplore the uncertainty of human prospects, when they reflect that a young man is condemned to perpetual infamy, who, if he had served on board any other ship, or had perhaps been absent from the Bounty a single day, or one ill-fated hour, might still have been an honour to his country, and a glory and comfort to his friends.

THE END

AN

ANSWER

TO

CERTAIN ASSERTIONS

CONTAINED IN

THE APPENDIX TO A PAMPHLET,

ENTITLED

Minutes of the Proceedings on the Court-Martial held at

Portsmouth, August 12th, 1792, on Ten Persons charged

with Mutiny on Board his Majesty's Ship the Bounty

BY CAPTAIN WILLIAM BLIGH

It is with no small degree of regret, that I find myself under the necessity of obtruding my private concerns on the Public. A pamphlet has appeared, under the title of "Minutes of the Proceedings on the Court-Martial, held at Portsmouth, August 12th, 1792, on Ten Persons charged with Mutiny on Board his Majesty's Ship the Bounty; with an Appendix, containing a full Account of the real Causes, &c. &c." This Appendix is the work of Mr. Edward Christian, the brother of Fletcher Christian, who headed the Mutineers of the Bounty; written apparently for the purpose of vindicating his brother's conduct, at my expense.

The respect I owe to that Public in whose service I have spent my life, as well as regard to my character, compel me to reply to such parts of Mr. Christian's Appendix, as might, if unnoticed, obtain credit to my prejudice.

Of the Minutes of the Court-Martial, thus published, it is necessary to observe, that they differ from the Minutes lodged in the Admiralty-office; and in some places materially. One instance of this will appear among the Proofs, which are here submitted to the Public. [No. 8, Ed.]

The information which furnished Mr. Edward Christian with materials for his Appendix, he states to "have been collected from many interviews and conversations, in the presence and hearing of several respectable gentlemen." He then mentions the names of all the persons with whom these conversations were held, without distingishing the particular information given by any individual.

The mixing together the names of men, whose assertions merit very different degrees of credit, and blending their evidence into one mass, is liable to two objections: 1st the impossibility of tracing the author of any particular assertion; and 2dly, the danger, which to a reader is unavoidable, of supposing, that the statements made by those who were actually accomplices in the Mutiny, came from men of respectable character, with whom he has thus associated them.

One of the hardest cases which can befall any man, is to be reduced to the necessity of defending his character by his own assertions only. As such, fortunately, is not my situation, I have rested my defence on the testimony of others; adding only, such of the written orders issued by me in the course of the voyage, as are connected with the matter in question; which orders being issued publicly in writing, may be offered as evidence of unquestionable credit.

These testimonials, without further remark from me, I trust, will be sufficient to do away any evil impression which the public may have imbibed, from reading Mr. Edward Christian's Defence of his brother.

LIST OF PROOFS

1. Orders issued upon our Arrival at Otaheite, to regulate our Intercourse with the Natives.—October 25th, 1788.

2. Orders respecting the Confinement of three Men, who had deserted from the ship.—Date, January 24th, 1789.

3. Letter from the Deserters beforementioned. —January 26th, 1789.

4. Examination respecting the Loss of his Majesty's Ship the Bounty, by the High Court of Judicature at Batavia.—October 13th, 1789.

5. Descriptive List of the Mutineers. —Dated 28th April, 1789.

6. Orders given to Mr. John Fryer, the Master, on leaving him at Batavia.—October 14th, 1789.

7. Letter from Mr. Peter Heywood, Midshipman, to Mrs. Bligh.—July 14th, 1792.

8. Extract from Mr. Peter Heywood's Defence, on his Trial by a Court-Martial; held August 12th, 1792, at Portsmouth.

9. Letter from Mr. Peter Heywood to Mr. Edward Christian, published in the Cumberland Packet, and Whitehaven Advertiser, November 20th, 1792.

10. Letter published in the Times, July 16th, 1794, from Mr. Edward Harwood, late Surgeon of his Magesty's ship Providence.

11. Affidavit of Joseph Coleman. —July 31, 1794.

12. Affidavit of John Smith. —August 1, 1794.

13. Affidavit of Lawrence Lebogue. —August 2, 1794.

14. Letter from Lieutenant John Hallet. —August 1,1794.

15. Letter from Mr. Edward Lamb, Commander of the Adventure, in the Jamaica trade.—October 28th, 1794.

NO. I.

Rules to be observed by every Person on Board, or belonging to the

Bounty, for the better establishing a trade for Supplies of Provisions,

and good Intercourse with the Natives of the South Sea, wherever

the Ship may be at.

1st. At the Society, or Friendly Islands, no person whatever is to intimate that Captain Cook was killed by Indians; or that he is dead.

2d. No person is ever to speak, or give the least hint, that we have come on purpose to get the bread-fruit plant, until I have made my plan known to the chiefs.

3d. Every person is to study to gain the good will and esteem of the natives; to treat them with all kindness; and not to take from them, by violent means, any thing that they may have stolen; and no one is ever to fire, but in defence of his life.

4th. Every person employed on service, is to take care that no arms, or implements of any kind under their charge, are stolen; the value of such thing, being lost, shall be charged against their wages.

5th. No man is to embezzle, or offer to sale, directly, or indirectly, any part of the King's stores, of what nature soever.

6th. A proper person or persons will be appointed to regulate trade, and barter with the natives; and no officer or seaman, or other person belonging to the ship, is to trade for any kind of provisions, or curiosities; but if such officer or seaman wishes to purchase any particular thing, he is to apply to the provider to do it for him. By this means a regular market will be carried on, and all disputes, which otherwise may happen with the natives will be avoided. All boats are to have every thing handed out of them at sun-set.

Given under my hand, on board the Bounty,

Otaheite, 25th October, 1788.

WM. BLIGH

NO. II.

All prisoners are to be kept upon deck in fair weather; and the centinel to report their state in the night, every half hour.

The key of their irons is to be taken care of by the master.

The mate of the watch is to be answerable for the prisoners. When they are released for a while, out of necessity, he is to see them again securely confined.

The mate of the watch is to have the charge of a brace of pistols, and one cartouche box, to be kept in the binnacle.

No canoe is to come on board after eight o'clock at night, or any to go under the bows of the ship upon any pretence; but whatever is handed in or out of the ship is to be at the gangways.

All boats, when moored, to have every thing handed out of them at sun-set: and the centinel is to report the state of the prisoners every half hour, after the watch is set.

Given under my hand, in Oparré harbour,

on board the Bounty, Jan. 24th, 1789.

WM. BLIGH.

NO. III.

Deserter's Letter, dated on Board the Bounty,

at Otaheite, January 26th, 1789.

SIR,

We should think ourselves wholly inexhaustibility, if we omitted taking this earliest opportunity of returning our thanks for your goodness in delivering us from a trial by Court-Martial, the fatal consequences of which are obvious; and although we cannot possibly lay any claim to so great a favour, yet we humbly beg you will be pleased to remit any further punishment, and we trust our future conduct will fully demonstrate our deep sense of your clemency, and our stedfast resolution to behave better hereafter.

We are Sir,

Your most obedient, most humble servants,[1]

C. CHURCHILL,

WM. MUSPRAT,

JOHN MILLWARD.

To Captain Bligh. (Copy.)

NO. IV.

Translation of an Examination before a Court of Inquiry,

at Batavia, into the Loss of the Bounty.

This day the 13th October, 1789, came before Nicholas Van Bergen Van der Gryp, notary public of the Noble High Regency of Netherland India, residing in the town of Batavia. Present, the hereafter to be named witnesses: John Fryer, master; Thomas Denman Ledward, surgeon; William Cole, boatswain; William Peckover, gunner; William Elphinstone, master's mate; Thomas Hayward and John Hallet, midshipmen; John Samuel, secretary: and the sailors, Robert Tinkler, Peter Linkleter, Lawrence Lebogue, George Simpson, John Smith, and Robert Lamb; all here present declare, with previous knowledge of Mr. Nicholas Englehard, superior Marchand, and Sabandhaar, and License Master in this place; and by interpretation of Mr. Peter Aeneas Mackay, Sub Marchand, in the service of the Noble Company.—That the truth is, they have been together, serving on board his Britannic Majesty's ship the Bounty, commanded by the Requirant.

That on the 28th April, 1789, that the greatest number of the ship's company, consisting of twenty-five persons, by the break of day, were mutineers; and before any body had discovered or got notice of it, had already secured the requirant, binding his hands behind his back, and forcing him to come on deck in his shirt, where he was kept under a guard behind the mizen-mast. That the boatswain and the others were forced by the mutineers to assist in hoisting out the launch; which being done, they were forced to go into her, and the last of all the Requirant; after which they were veered astern of the ship by a rope, and soon after cast adrift in the wide ocean.

That they were in all nineteen souls in the launch, with a small quantity of bread and water, and no fire-arms.

That it had been impossible to foresee what has happened to them, as they had sailed homewards from the Friendly Islands, with a great cargo of plants, in the best order.

That there was no possibility to retake the ship, or do more for the welfare of the King's service, than what had been done by the Requirant, who had been tied and kept apart from the attestants until he was let down in the launch.

That there were heard at the time several expressions and huzzas in the ship, which makes them believe that the mutineers are returned to Otaheite.

That on the night of the 28th, they arrived at the island of Tofoa, one of the Friendly Islands, and remained there until the 2d of May, 1789, seeking provisions and water. That they were attacked that day by the natives, whereby one man, John Norton, was killed, and they narrowly escaped.

That they, after having suffered all distress and misery, arrived the 14th June following at Coupang, in Timor, and that there David Nelson, gardener, died of a fever.

That they sailed from Coupang on the 20th August following in a schooner for that purpose purchased, and arrived here at Batavia the 1st of October, 1789, where that vessel has been sold on the 10th of that month; that likewise on the 10th October died in the hospital, Thomas Hall.

Alleging that all abovementioned to be the truth and verity, offering to confirm this given attestation with solemn oath.

Thus acted and passed in presence of Hermanus Abraham Simonsz, and Francis Abraham Simonsz, clerks, as witnesses.

The minute of this act is in form signed, and put on stamp paper of 12 styvers.

Was Signed N. BERGEN V. D. GRYP, Notary

This day, the 15th October, 1789, are heard by us, Gose Theodore Vermeer, and Jacobus Martinus Balze, Members in the Honourable Court of Eschevans Commissaries, being qualified thereto by that court, assisted by the sworn clerk, Johannis Lohr, all the above attestants named in this act, and under translation of the sworn translator in the English language, Louis Wybrand Van Schellebeck, on the repetition of this their deposition, in which they declare to persist, with demand only, that for more elucidation, the following changes may be made in it.

That the affair has happened in the vicinity of the Friendly Islands, near the Island of Tofoa.

That the whole of the ship's company, at the time of the Mutiny, consisted of forty-four persons, of which twenty-five have mutinied.

That, after they were overpowered, they heard the mutineers say, "We shall in a short time return to the Society Islands."[2] and that the attestants, by homeward-bound, mean England.

On which, to prove the veracity of this their deposition, they give their oath, in the Protestant form.

Further is, by us Commissaries, in our qualifications, and on request of the Requirant, resolved of this act to give an account in forma dupla, of the same tenor and date, and both signed by the deposants, and authenticated by our common signature.

John Fryer,

T. D. Ledward,

Wm. Cole,

Wm. Peckover,

Wm. Elphinstone,

Thos. Hayward,

John Hallet,

John Samuel,

Rob. Tinkler,

Peter Linkleter, x his mark.

L. Lebogue, + his mark.

George Simpson,

John Smith, + his mark.

Robt. Lamb.

(Signed)

G. T. VERMEER,

J. BALZEE.

Note. By desire of the Court I was not present at these examination. The originals are lodged in the Admiralty-office.

NO. V.

Description of the Pirates remaining on Board his Majesty's

armed Vessel, Bounty, on the 28th April, 1789. Drawn up at Timor

Copies of this List were forwarded from Batavia to

Lord Cornwallis, then Governor-General of India, at Calcutta;

to Governor Philips, at New South Wales; and one was

left at Batavia, with the Governor-General of the

Dutch Possessions in India.

Fletcher Christian, master's mate, aged 24 years, five feet nine inches high, blackish or very dark brown complexion dark brown hair, strong made; a star tatowed on his left breast, tatowed on his backside; his knees stand a little out, and he may be called rather bow legged. He is subject to violent perspirations, and particularly in his hands, so that he soils any thing he handles.

George Stewart, midshipman, aged 24 years, five feet seven inches high, good complexion, dark hair, slender made, narrow chested, and long neck, small face, and black eyes; tatowed on the left breast with a star, and on the left arm with a heart and darts, is also tatowed on the backside.

Peter Heywood, midshipman, aged 17 years, five feet seven inches high, fair complexion, light brown hair, well proportioned; very much tatowed; and on the right leg is tatowed the three legs of Man, as it is upon that coin. At this time he has not done growing and speaks with the Manks, or Isle of Man accent.

Edward Young, midshipman, aged 22 years, five feet eight inches high, dark complexion,m and rather a bad look; dark brown hair, strong made, has lost several of his fore teeth, and those that remain are all rotten; a small mole on the left side of the throat, and on the right arm is tatowed a heart and dart through it, with E. Y. underneath, and the date of the year 1788 or 1789.

Charles Churchill, ship's corporal, aged 30 years, five feet ten inches high, fair complexion, short light brown hair, top of the head bald, strong made; the fore-finger of his left hand crooked, and his hand shews the marks of a sever scald; tatowed in several places of his body, legs, and arms.

James Morrison, boatswain's mate, aged 28 years, five feet eight inches high, sallow complexion, long black hair, slender made; has lost the use of the upper joint of the fore-finger of the right hand; tatowed with a star under his left breast, and a garter round his left leg, with the motto of Honi soit qui mal y pense; and has been wounded in one of his arms with a musket ball.

John Mills, gunner's mate, aged 40 years, five feet ten inches high, fair complexion, light brown hair, strong made, and raw boned; a scar in his right arm-pit, occasioned by an abscess.

John Millward, seaman, aged 22 years, five feet five inches high, brown complexion, dark hair, strong made; very much tatowed in different parts of the body, and under the pit of the stomach, with a taoomy of Otaheite.

Matthew Thompson, seaman, aged 40 years, five feet eight inches high, very dark complexion, short black hair, slender made, and has lost the joint of the great toe of his right foot; and is tatowed in several places on his body.

William Mickoy, seaman, aged 25 years, five feet six inches high, fair complexion, light brown hair, strong made; a scar where he has been stabbed in the belly, and a small scar under his chin; is tatowed in different parts of his body.

Matthew Quintal, seaman, aged 21 years, five feet five inches high, fair complexion, light brown hair, strong made; very much tatowed on the backside, and several other places.

John Sumner, seaman, aged 24 years, five feet eight inches high, fair complexion, brown hair; a scar on the left cheek, and tatowed in several places.

Thomas Burket, seaman, aged 26 years, five feet nine inches high, fair complexion, very much pitted with the small-pox, brown hair, slender made, and very much tatowed.

Isaac Martin, seaman, aged 30 years, five feet eleven inches high, sallow complexion, short brown hair, raw boned; tatowed with a star on his left breast.

William Musprat, seaman, aged 30 years, five feet six inches high, dark complexion, brown hair, slender made, a very strong black beard, with scars under his chin; is tatowed in several places of his body.

Henry Hilbrant, seaman, aged 25 years, five feet seven inches high, fair complexion, sandy hair, strong made; his left arm shorter than the other, having been broke; is an Hanoverian born, and speaks bad English; tatowed in several places.

Alexander Smith, seaman, aged 22 years, five feet five inches high, brown complexion, brown hair, strong made; very much pitted with the small-pox, and very much tatowed on his body, legs, arms, and feet. He has a scar on his right foot, where it has been cut with a wood axe.

John Williams, seaman, aged 25 years, five feet five inches high, dark complexion, black hair, slender made; has a scar on the back part of his head; is tatowed, and a native of Guernsey; speaks French.

Richard Skinner, seaman, aged 22 years, five feet eight inches high, fair complexion, very well made, and has scars on both ankles, and on his right shin; is very much tatowed.

Thomas Ellison, seaman, aged 17 years, five feet three inches high, fair complexion, dark hair, strong made; has got his name tatowed on his right arm, and dated October 25, 1788.

William Brown, assistant botanist, aged 27 years, five feet eight inches high, fair complexion, dark brown hair, slender made, a remarkable scar on one of his cheeks, which contracts the eye-lid, and runs down to his throat, occasioned by the king's evil; is tatowed.

Michael Byrne, seaman, aged 28 years, five feet six inches high, fair complexion, short fair hair, slender made: is almost blind, and has the mark of an issue on the back of his neck; play the violin.

Joseph Coleman, armourer, aged 40 years, five feet six inches high, fair complexion, grey hair, strong made; a heart tatowed on one of his arms.

Charles Norman, carpenter's mate, aged 26 years, five feet nine inches high, fair complexion, light brown hair, slender made, is pitted with the small-pox; and has a remarkable motion with his head and eyes.

Thomas McIntosh, carpenter's crew, aged 28 years, five feet six inches high, fair complexion, light brown hair, slender made; is pitted with the small-pox, and is tatowed.

The four last are deserving of mercy, being detained against their inclinations.

WM. BLIGH.

Note. This description was made out from the recollections of the persons with me, who were best acquainted with their private marks.

NO. VI.

Orders to Mr. J. Fryer, Master of the Bounty,

on my leaving him at Batavia.

Sir,

Whereas from a representation of the physician-general, it appears that my life is in great danger if I remain here until the fleet for Europe sails; and that only myself and two others can be taken in the packet, which departs on Friday the 16th instant;

I therefore impower you to take the command of the remaining officers and men, and order you to follow me to the Cape of Good Hope by the first ships his Excellency the Governor-general shall permit you to embark in; and as his Excellency has been pleased to order that the people may be taken care of at the convalescent hospital, about four miles from town, where is a good air and the best of treatment; you are hereby required to see that every one remains there.

You are not to permit any of those who remain in town, to be wandering about between the hours of nine in the morning and four in the afternoon.

You are, upon embarkation, or at a proper time, to get a knowledge of what charges are against his Majesty's subjects; and upon fairly and duly considering them, you are to draw bills for the amount on the Commissioners for victualling his Majesty's navy (if it cannot be done as hereafter expressed), giving them a letter of advice, at the same time, certifying that I sailed to the Cape of Good Hope before you, in a packet that could not take any more men; my health being so exceedingly impaired, as to render my existence very doubtful, and that the Governor-general could not give us all a passage in one ship.

I have agreed with the Sabandhaar, that all debts of the government account, incurred for victualling or passage money, shall be presented to him; that then on your certifying the justness of it, and another signing officer, such account shall stand over until presented to government in England—that of all such accounts you are to secure copies, and to send them, by different opportunities, to me in England, signed as beforementioned, to the care of Messrs. Marsh and Creed, agents, Norfolk-street, Strand. You are, for further security, to send one to your agent.

That before the departure of the people, you are to allow each seaman one month's pay to buy warm clothing to pass the Cape of Good Hope with, and you may also give the officers one month's pay for the same use, except yourself and Doctor.

I shall leave with you the money I received on the sale of the schooner—177 ducatoons, or 295 rix dollars, for the expenditure of which you must produce regular vouchers; but you are to pay no account without consulting the Sabandhaar, that such account is at a moderate price.

The board and lodging for yourself and Doctor, you may consider to be paid at one rix dollar per day; and for the boatswain, gunner, Mr. Elphinstone, Mr. Hayward, and Mr. Hallet, one rupee per day; and the charges for the seamen in the hospital, from the 13th October, you must pay as demanded, allowing for your brother, Robert Tinkler, at the same rate, to be put into the general account.

Should it be demanded of you to pay the passage money for every individual before you sail, you are to draw bills on the Treasurer of his Majesty's navy for the amount.

Before the ships are ready for sea, you are from time to time to apply to the Sabandhaar, Mr. Englehard, who will assist you for the good of his Majesty's service; and through him, or as circumstances may point out, you are to make all necessary application to the Governor-general.

The remaining men and officers you are to take according to the ships they are put into, not separating Mr. Hayward and Mr. Hallet. The carpenter you must apply for to come with you, and is to be considered a prisoner at large in the ship.

On embarkation, you are to see that both officers and men conduct themselves with propriety and regularity.

On your arrival at the Cape of Good Hope, you are forthwith to join me; but should I not be there before the ship you sail in departs for Europe, you are to make the best of your way, in the same ship, and give an account of your transactions to the Admiralty.

While you remain here, you are to examine into the situation of the people in the hospital twice a week; and if they are not properly treated, you must represent the same to the Sabandhaar.

The carpenter having applied to me for clothes, you are to supply him with a month's pay to purchase the necessary articles he is in want of, and to see he is not ill-treated.

Given under my hand, at Batavia, 14th Oct. 1789.

To Mr. J. Fryer, Master in his

Majesty's navy.

WM. BLIGH.

NO. VII

His Majesty's Ship Hector, Portsmouth, July 14, 1792.

Dear Madam,

As I make no doubt you have already heard of my arrival here as a prisoner, to answer for my conduct done, on the day that unfortunate Mutiny happened, which deprived Captain Bligh of his ship, and, I then feared, of life; but, thank God, it is otherwise: and I sincerely congratulate you, Madam, upon his safe, but miraculous, arrival in England; I hope, ere this, you have heard of the cause of my determination to remain in the ship; which being unknown to Captain Bligh, who unable to conjecture the reason, did, as I have had reason to fear, (I must say naturally) conclude, or rather suspect me to have likewise been a coadjutor in that unhappy affair; but God only knows, how little I merited so unjust a suspicion (if such a suspicion ever entered his breast); but yet my thorough consciousness of not having ever merited it, makes me sometimes flatter myself that he could scarcely be so cruel; and, ere long, let me hope I shall have an equitable tribunal to plead at; before which (through God's assistance) I shall have it in my power to proclaim my innocence, and clear up my long injured character before the world. I hear he is gone out again; if so, may he have all the success he can wish.—Alas, Madam! I yesterday heard the melancholy news of the death of your best of parents; I heartily condole with you for his loss; for in him I lost the most kind friend and advocate; whose memory I shall for ever revere with the highest veneration.

I have one request to ask of you, Madam, which is, that you will be so obliging as to inquire whether Mrs. Duncan, in Little Hermitage-street, hath in her possession the clothes (which, if you remember) I left with her in 1787, and gave you an order, by which you might at any time get them from her: so that if they are still there, you will be so good as to send them down here, directing them (for me, on board his Majesty's ship Hector, to the care of Serjeant William Clayfield, marines, Portsmouth, or elsewhere): but if you can hear not tidings of them or her, you will honour with a few lines your much obliged,

obedient humble servant,

P. HEYWOOD.

NO. VIII.

Extract from Mr. P. Heywood's defence, on his Trial by a Court-Martial; held August 12th, 1792, at Portsmouth. Copied from the Minutes of the Court-Martial, lodged in the Admiralty-office[3]

"Captain Bligh, in his Narrative, acknowledges, that he had left some friends on board the Bounty; and no part of my conduct could have induced him to believe that I ought not to be reckoned of the number. Indeed, from his attention to, and very kind treatment of me personally, I should have been a monster of depravity to have betrayed him. The idea alone is sufficient to disturb a mind, where humanity and gratitude have, I hope, ever been noticed as its characteristic features."

NO. IX.

The following Letter, signed P. Heywood, with the Remarks,

appeared in the Cumberland Packet, or Ware's Whitehaven

Advertiser, November 20th, 1792, about three Months after the

Court-Martial

We have the following important Information from the most

unquestionable Authority.

The late most interesting trial at Portsmouth, of the unfortunate Mutineers of the Bounty, will be shortly published by a gentleman of respectability, who was employed before the Court-Martial. That publication will astonish the world; and the public will then correct the erroneous opinions, which, from certain false narratives, they have long entertained; and will be enabled to distinguish between the audacious and hardened depravity of the heart, which no suffering can soften, and the desperation of an ingenuous mind, torn and agonized by unprovoked and incessant abuse and disgrace.

Though there may be certain actions, which even the torture and extremity of provocation cannot justify, yet a sudden act of frenzy, so circumstanced, is far removed, in reason and mercy, from the foul, deliberate contempt of every religious and virtuous sentiment and obligation, excited by selfish and base gratifications.[4]

For the honour of this country, we are happy to assure our readers, That one of its natives, FLETCHER CHRISTIAN, is not that detestable and horrid monster of wickedness, which with extreme, and perhaps unexampled, injustice and barbarity to him and his relations, he has long been represented: but a character for whom every feeling heart must now sincerely grieve and lament.

When Mr. Heywood, the midshipman, had received his Majesty's free pardon, he felt it his duty to write to Mr. Christian's brother the following letter:

GREAT RUSSEL-STREET, 5 NOV. 1792

SIR,

I am sorry to say, I have been informed you were inclined to judge too harshly of your truly unfortunate brother; and to think of him in such a manner, as I am conscious, from the knowledge I had of his most worthy disposition and character (both public and private), he merits not, in the slightest degree: therefore I think it my duty to undeceive you, and to rekindle the flame of brotherly love (or pity now) towards him, which I fear the false reports of slander, and vile suspicion, may have nearly extinguished.

Excuse my freedom, Sir:—If it would not be disagreeable to you, I will do myself the pleasure of waiting upon you, and endeavour to prove, that your brother was not that vile wretch, void of all gratitude, which the world had the unkindness to think him: but, on the contrary, a most worthy character; ruined only by having the misfortune, if it can be so called, of being a young man of strict honour, and adorned with every virtue; and beloved by all (except one, whose ill report is his greatest praise) who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.

I am, Sir, with esteem,

Your most obedient humble servant,

P. HEYWOOD

This character, every officer and seaman, except one, on board the Bounty, who has yet arrived in England, now unites in bestowing upon him. The mystery of this transaction will soon be unravelled, and then the shame and infamy of it will be distributed, in the just proportions in which they are, and have been, deserved.

NO. X.

Taken from the Times, July 16th, 1794

TO THE CONDUCTOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,

A publication has lately made it appearance, intitled, "Minutes of the proceedings of the Court-Martial, held at Portsmouth August 12, 1792, on Ten Persons charged with Mutiny on Board his Majesty's Ship Bounty; with an appendix, containing a full Account of the real Causes and Circumstances of that unhappy Transaction, the most material of which have hitherto been withheld from the Public; written by Edward Christian." The obvious tendency of which is to palliate the conduct of Fletcher Christian, his brother, and ultimately to asperse the character of Captain Bligh. As if any thing could be advanced in extenuation of a crime, at the bare recital of which humanity shudders; a crime, marked by such circumstances as to be unexampled in the annals of nautical history. This publication, Mr. Editor, is disgraced by gross misrepresentations, and low malevolence, of which innumerable instances could be adduced, were long details admissible in a newspaper. The shafts of envy are ever levelled against conspicuous merit, but they recoil with redoubled force on the impotent adversary. Captain Bligh's general conduct during the late expedition, which was crowned with the most ample success, his affability to his officers, and humane attention to his men, gained him their high esteem and admiration, and must eventually dissipate any unfavourable opinion, hastily adopted in his absence. I trust that this imbecile and highly illiberal attack, directed by the brother of the Arch-mutineer, will be received by the world with that indignation and contempt it so justly deserves.

I remain, Sir, your humble servant,

ED. HARWOOD,

Late Surgeon of his Majesty's ship Providence

Captain Bligh

NO. XI.

Affidavit of Joseph Coleman

I Joseph Coleman, late belonging to his Majesty's armed vessel Bounty, William Bligh, Esq. Commander, voluntarily do make oath,

That Mr. Edward Christian sent for me, and asked me concerning the Mutiny in the Bounty, and about Captain Bligh; and I said, I knew nothing of him, but that he was a very good man to me.

I told Mr. Christian, that [I] never heard Captain Bligh say, he would make his officers jump over board, and eat grass like cows.

I told him, that after the ship was taken, I heard the Mutineers say, he swore and damned them; but not that I heard him do it myself. I said, I could never agree with the Mutineers.

I never saw Captain Bligh shake his hand in Christian's face or heard him damn him for not firing at the Indians.

I do not remember any thing about the heap of cocoa-nuts being taken away, but by hearsay from the Mutineers, after the ship was taken, and we came home.

I never heard, or told Mr. Edward Christian, about his brother's expression, that "he had been in hell for weeks past with you."

I never knew or heard that Captain Bligh and Fletcher Christian had any words at the Cape, or before the Mutiny.

I never told, or heard, of Captain Bligh telling the chiefs at Otaheite, that Christian was a towtow (or servant).

I never knew any thing of Christian intending to make a raft, to quit the ship.

I never told Mr. Christian, that Stewart clapped his hands, and said, it was the happiest day of his life.

I remember Christian having a girl, and of her going with him to the island Tobooy, and lived with him.

I said, I never could be easy with the Mutineers, because they knew I was kept against my will.—Morrison threatened to blow my brains out.

I remember that Musprat, Churchill, and Millward, deserted with the cutter and arms, while at Otaheite, and that they said many others intended to remain among the islands.

I remember that one of our cables was almost cut through at Otaheite, and that afterwards the Captain had always a centinel on the bowsprit.

I know the Captain never suffered any man to hurt the Indians, or insult them.

I know we were at short allowance of bread, and that we were at two-thirds allowance of that article; but I remember, that by the consent of every one, we had only grog every other day while at Otaheite, and that was, that we might not be in want in case we cold not get through Endeavour Straits, and we did not want it so much at Otaheite, because we had plenty of cocoa-nut milk.

I never said more to Mr. Christian, than that his brother behaved very well to me after the Mutiny, and that I knew no harm of him before the Mutiny.

I never said, that Christian, or Stewart, was equal to Captain Bligh in abilities, I never thought of such a thing.

his

JOSEPH x COLEMAN,

mark.

Sworn before me, at the Public

Office in Great Marlborough-

street, this 31st day of July, 1794. (A Copy)

JOHN SCOTT

NO. XII

John Smith's Affidavit.

I John Smith late belonging to his Majesty's armed vessel the Bounty, William Bligh, Esq. Commander, maketh oath, that Mr. Edward Christian sent for me, and asked me how his brother (who was the Mutineer in the Bounty) had behaved in the ship.

I said his brother was well liked in the ship, as far as I knew, by the people.

I never knew Christian and Captain Bligh have any words particular.

On the day before the mutiny happened, I was sent by the Captain to ask Christian to dine with him; but he said, I am so ill I cannot wait on the Captain: and I was sent again in the evening to ask Christian to supper, and he said he was so ill that he could not come.

When in working the ship, and things had been neglected to have been done at other times that the Captain had ordered, I have known the Captain to be angry and damn the people, as is common; but the Captain immediately afterwards always behaved to the people as if nothing had happened.

I never heard the Captain damn the officers, and call them names, and threaten to make them jump over board, kill half of them, and make them eat grass like cows. I never heard any such a thing.

I never saw the Captain shake his hand in Christian's face, and I never heard of it even, that he did; or in any of their faces.

I never heard that the Captain damned Christian for not firing at the Indians for stealing an adz.

I did not hear Christian say to the Captain, I am in hell I am in hell, because I was below; but I never understood but that he did say so. The Captain said so in the boat, and had it in his Narrative, which I never heard any one deny.

I never told Mr. Edward Christian any thing about the cocoa-nuts, or did I know any thing about it, any more than that the Captain found fault at a heap of cocoa-nuts being taken away; and I never knew or heard that such a thing could be the cause of the Mutiny.

I never knew or heard of any words that the Captain had with Christian at the Cape of Good Hope; but I always understood he was on good terms with the Captain, and remember he used to dine with him every third day, and did so until the day of the Mutiny, and frequently supped with the Captain besides.

I never heard, or told Mr. Edward Christian, that Captain Bligh told the people of Otaheite, that his brother was a towtow (or servant), or ever heard of such a thing.

I never knew any thing that Christian intended to make a raft, or ever heard of it until the Mutineers arrived in the Pandora, and I never told Mr. Edward Christian about it.

I never told Mr. Edward Christian that his brother, or Stewart, was equal to Captain Bligh in abilities, nobody could say such a thing as that—I always saw Captain Bligh instructing him.

I never said to Mr. Edward Christian any thing about his brother's abilities, or any thing respecting his qualifications, or the praises which he, in his Appendix, says were repeated by one and the other.

I remember that Christian always had leave to have grog out of Captain Bligh's case whenever he wanted it; and I always gave it him, and Mr. Nelson the gardener, when they chose to ask for it.

I know that we were never at short allowance of provisions except bread, and that was one-third short; but I remember that at Otaheite, all hands, by their own consent, had their grog but every other day, on account of the danger of going through Endeavour Straits, where we might lose our passage; and the want of grog at Otaheite we did not mind, because we had plenty of fine cocoa-nut milk, and the finest fresh pork, bread-fruit, and other things of the country.

Mr. Edward Christian asked me how Captain Bligh was liked in the Providence, and if nothing had happened, and I told him nothing had happened, and all was well, and the Captain very much liked.

I know the Captain was always very kind to the Indians, and would not suffer any man to hurt or insult them.

This is all that I said to Mr. Christian, the brother of Christian the Mutineer on board the Bounty; and Mr. Christian had no right to make use of my name in the manner he has done in his 1st publication.

I know that three of the Mutineers, Musprat, Churchill, and Millward, while at Otaheite, run away with the cutter and arms.

I remember our cable being cut nearly through at Otaheite, in a stormy night, and that Captain Bligh afterwards ordered a centinel on the bowsprit.

JOHN SMITH

Sworn before me at Guildhall, London,

this 1st August, 1794.

WATKIN LEWES.

(A Copy.)

NO. XIII.

Lawrence Lebogue's Affidavit

I Lawrence Lebogue, late sail-maker on board his Majesty's armed vessel Bounty, William Bligh, Esq. Commander, do voluntarily make oath,

That I was sent for by Mr. Edward Christian to a public-house, and asked whether Captain Bligh did flog his people, and why he kept them at short allowance; but the most of his questions were about Captain Bligh's behaviour to the officers of the Providence, and how he behaved to them, and if I thought they liked him.

I told him that Captain Bligh made no distinction, every officer was obliged to do his duty, and he showed no more favour to one man than another. I was sure every person in the Providence would speak well of Captain Bligh—he was a father to every person.

I said I knew Captain Bligh was a very great friend to Christian the Mutineer; he was always permitted to use the Captain's cabin, where I have seen the Captain teaching him navigation and drawing. He was permitted to use the Captain's liquor when he wanted it, and I have many times gone down at night to get him grog out of the Captain's case.

I have heard the Captain damn the people, like many other captains; but he was never angry with a man the next minute; and I never heard of their disliking him.

I never heard of the Captain abusing his officers; nor ever said to Mr. Edward Christian, that he threatened to make them jump over board; or eat grass like cows; or shake his hand in their faces.

I said, Captain Bligh was not a person fond of flogging his men; and some of them deserved hanging, who had only a dozen.

I said we were never at short allowance but in bread, and that we were at two-thirds, because we did not know how long it would be before we got a supply, as we had to go through a terrible passage near new Guinea. And for fear of being in want of spirits, the ship's company had agreed, while at Otaheite, to have their grog but every other day, because they had plenty of fine cocoa-nut milk, and all they cared about.

I remember that a heap of cocoa-nuts, which the Captain had ordered to be saved as a rarity until we got to sea, for a day or two, when we should enjoy them, was taken away; and that the Captain told the officers they had neglected their duty, and disobeyed his orders; and that all the cocoa-nuts, on that account, were brought upon deck; and the matter ended with their being divided.

I never heard nor told Mr. Edward Christian any thing about—I have been in hell, which he speaks of.

I never knew, or heard, that Christian was ever found fault with by Captain Bligh at the Cape of Good Hope; and I always thought they were very friends, until the Mutiny.

I remember very well, that the Captain came on deck one night and found fault with Christian, because in a squall he had not taken care of the sails. It was after we left Whytootackee.[5]

I never knew that Christian intended to go away on a raft; or could he have made one without its being known by every person.

I remember Christian had a girl, who was always with him.

I never heard any thing at Otaheite that Captain Bligh had told the chiefs, Christian was a towtow; I know the chiefs did not think so of any of the officers.

I never knew Captain Bligh find fault with Christian for not firing at the Indians at Anamoka.

I was the only person mentioned, who sailed with Captain Bligh to the West Indies, and to the South Sea, as Christian did; and I never told Mr. Edward Christian that his brother could not have borne Captain Bligh's conduct to him much longer, because I knew Captain Bligh was always a friend to Christian, when he sailed with him to the West Indies, as well as afterwards.

I know that three of the Mutineers deserted with one of the boats and an arm chest with arms at Otaheite, because they wished to stay among the islands. Musprat, Churchill, and Millward were the three, and they said many others intended to do it.

I remember one of our cables being almost cut through in a dark stormy night, which we thought was to let the ship go on shore; and that after that, the Captain ordered a centinel on the bowsprit. This was at Otaheite.

Mr. Christian asked me if I thought Captain Bligh could hurt his brother, if he ever came home. I said Captain Bligh had such a forgiving temper, that I did not think he would, unless the law of his country would hurt him. I said Captain Bligh was the best friend Christian ever had.

I remember that Christian was drinking with the carpenter, William Purcell, at 12 o'clock at night, although Christian was to be up at four o'clock in the morning to keep his watch, and that when the Mutiny broke out that morning, I saw a musket at Purcell, the carpenter's cabin door.

The mark of

x

LAWRENCE LEBOGUE

Sworn to the truth of the

foregoing Narrative 2d day

August, 1794, at Guildhall, London

WATKIN LEWES.

NO. XIV.

From Lieutenant John Hallet to Captain Bligh.

DEAR SIR,

I have just read a publication, by Mr. Edward Christian, respecting the Mutiny on board the Bounty, and have made a few remarks thereon, which I have transmitted to you, and beg that you will make any use of them you please.

I am, dear Sir,

Your obedient humble, servant,

JOHN HALLET, Junior.

Having been long confined by a severe illness, and having consequently not mixed with the world since my arrival, in February last, from Jamaica; it was but lately that the Minutes of the Court-Martial, held in 1792, on Ten Persons charged with Mutiny on board the Bounty; together with an Appendix to those Minutes, published by Mr. Edward Christian, reached my hands. As I was on board the Bounty at the time of the Mutiny, and as my name is not wholly unimplicated in the Appendix, I cannot but consider myself bound, in justice to my own character, as well as to that of Captain Bligh, to advance my mite towards the confutation of the very malevolent assertions and insinuations conveyed to the public through the medium of that Appendix. I will by no means affirm, that I never heard Captain Bligh express himself in warm or hasty language, when the conduct of his officers or people has displeased him; but every seafaring gentleman must be convinced, that situations frequently occur in a ship when the most mild officer will be driven, by the circumstances of the moment, to utter expressions which the strict standard of politeness will not warrant: and I can safely assert, that I never remember to have heard Captain Bligh make use of such illiberal epithets and menaces as the Appendix attributes to him. I must likewise declare, that I always considered Captain Bligh as being a friend to Christian; and I have frequently heard Fletcher Christian assert that he had conducted himself as such. I remember a complaint of some cocoa-nuts having been stolen, but I did not hear that Captain Bligh accused any individual of the theft.

As to the insinuation of the people being at short allowance of provisions, I remember being at two-thirds allowance of bread; but at and from Otaheite, there was full allowance, and fresh pork was thrown over board, because it could not be eaten while it was good; and during our stay there, we were at half allowance of grog. Whether the Mutiny was preconcerted or not, is a question which can be solved only by those who were concerned in it; because any officer or man apprized of the circumstances, and not being a party in it, must have been compelled, if not by his duty, at least by the desire of self-preservation, to have counteracted the plot by his information and exertions.

Much stress is laid on the most part having gone voluntarily into the boat; in answer to which, I would only ask any person, endued with a proper sense of honour, if he would not rather commit himself to the evident danger of the boat, than incur the risk of an ignominious death, or the stigma of being arraigned as a pirate?

The Appendix charges Mr. Hayward and myself with the imputation of being asleep in our watch. With regard to myself, I deny the accusation; and with regard to Mr. Hayward (who is now absent on service), I have reason to believe it is equally false, as I had conversed with him a few minutes before. Besides what immediately belonged to Captain Bligh, every person in the boat had some useful articles; and many general necessaries were included.

I am likewise accused of uttering some dissatisfaction to Captain Bligh in the boat, to which Mr. Edward Christian seems desirous of attaching much criminality. I can only say, that I do not remember to have used such words imputed to me; and even if I had uttered them, they are such as would bear an interpretation diametrically opposite to that put upon them. And it is worthy of observation, that by the kind addition of a note, my whole offence is concentered in the innocent word resource.

As to Mr. Christian's ability as an artist, or a seaman, I never considered them to bear any competition with those of Captain Bligh: and he certainly could not be called a fine scholar; as he did not appear to have received any portion of classical education, and was ignorant of all but his native language.

My situation in the Bounty, together with a proper regard to truth, and the introduction of my name in the Appendix, has compelled me to advance so much, uninfluenced by any personal animosity to Mr. Fletcher Christian, whose memory I wish had been quietly committed to oblivion; as I am convinced that the stain will be deeper impressed on his name, by the endeavours which his friends have exerted in vindication of his character.

JOHN HALLET Junior.

Manchester Buildings,

Aug. 1st, 1794.

NO. XV.

Letter from Mr. Edward Lamb, Commander of the Adventure,

in the Jamaica Trade, to Captain Bligh.

ST. GEORGE'S PLACE, ST. GEORGE'S IN THE EAST, OCT. 28,

1794.

DEAR SIR,

Upon my arrival from Jamaica, I saw a pamphlet, published by Mr. Edward Christian, who, in order to lessen the guilt of his brother, Mr. Fletcher Christian, wishes to make the public believe that the Mutiny on board his Majesty's ship the Bounty, proceeded from your treatment of his brother, and the other Mutineers. I was much surprised at what Mr. Edward Christian has introduced in page 78 in the Appendix, as he insinuates that your bad behaviour to Mr. Fletcher Christian commenced during his last voyage with you to Jamaica, in the ship Britannia, when I was chief mate, and eye witness to every thing that passed. Mr. Edward Christian must have been misinformed, and known very little either of his brother's situation, abilities, or the manner in which he conducted himself during that voyage, he mentions his being second mate with you, when, in fact, he was no officer. I recollect your putting him upon the articles as gunner, telling me, at the same time, you wished him to be thought an officer; and desired I would endeavour to make the people look upon him as such.

When we got to sea, and I saw your partiality for the young man, I gave him every advice and information in my power, though he went about every point of duty with a degree of indifference, that to me was truly unpleasant; but you were blind to his faults, and had him to dine and sup every other day in the cabin, and treated him like a brother, in giving him every information. In the Appendix it is said, that Mr. Fletcher Christian had no attachment amongst the women at Otaheite; if that was the case, he must have been much altered since he was with you in the Britannia; he was then one of the most foolish young men I ever knew in regard to the sex. You will excuse the liberty I have taken in addressing you upon so unpleasant a subject; but I could not pass over many assertions in the Appendix, without feeling for a man, whose kind and uniform behaviour to me, through the whole voyage to Jamaica, was such as to lay me under an everlasting obligation; and I shall still think myself fortunate in having engaged with such an attentive officer, and able navigator as yourself.

I have no pique at Mr. Fletcher Christian; but finding Captain Bligh's character suffering in the opinion of the public, I think it my duty to offer my services in the vindication of it, so far as comes within my knowledge; therefore, can I render him any service, he may command me.

I remain, Sir,

Your most obliged and humble servant,

EDWARD LAMB.

To Captain William Bligh.

I submit these evidences to the judgment of the Public, without offering any comment. My only intention in this publication, is to clear my character from the effect of censures which I am conscious I have not merited: I have therefore avoided troubling the Public with more than what is necessary to that end; and have refrained from remark, lest I might have been led beyond my purpose, which I have wished to limit solely to defence.

WILLIAM BLIGH.

Dec. 3, 1794.

A

SHORT REPLY

TO

Capt. WILLIAM BLIGH's

ANSWER

A Short Reply, &c.

If Captain William Bligh's Answer had been confined to endeavours to refute the imputations upon his conduct, contained in the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Court-Martial, or in the Appendix annexed to it, I should have been glad to have left him in possession of any benefit or success which those endeavours might have been attended with. But as almost all the material parts of what are called proofs are little more than insinuations that the statements, which I thought it my duty to lay before the public, have been unfairly obtained, or unfairly represented, I feel myself called upon to make a few observations in vindication of my own conduct and character. The first intimation which I received, that the dreadful mutiny on board the Bounty originated from motives, and was attended with circumstances, different from those which had been represented to the world, was in consequence of the following letter from Mr. Heywood, and which is printed in Captain Bligh's Answer, p. 16.

GREAT RUSSEL-STREET, 5TH NOV. 1792.

SIR,

I am sorry to say I have been informed you were inclined to judge too harshly of your truly unfortunate brother; and to think of him in such a manner as I am conscious, from the knowledge I had of his most worthy disposition and character, (both public and private,) he merits not in the slightest degree: therefore I think it my duty to undeceive you, and to rekindle the flame of brotherly love (or pity now) towards him, which, I fear, the false reports of slander and vile suspicion may have nearly extinguished.

Excuse my freedom, Sir:—If it would not be disagreeable to you, I will do myself the pleasure of waiting upon you; and endeavour to prove that your brother was not that vile wretch, void of all gratitude, which the world had the unkindness to think him; but, on the contrary, a most worthy character, ruined only by having the misfortune (if it can be so called) of being a young man of strict honour, and adorned with every virtue; and beloved by all (except one, whose ill report is his greatest praise) who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.

I am, SIR, with esteem,

Your most obedient humble servant,

P. HEYWOOD.

Having had an interview with Mr. Heywood, I immediately communicated the information I had received to a confidential friend of mine, Mr. Romilly, a Barrister of Lincoln's Inn; and, by his advice, I afterwards waited upon a gentleman, then high in the profession of the law, who has since been advanced to the Bench, and who now presides in one of the Courts in Westminster-hall. The object of that visit was to inquire of him what credit was due to the account I had heard, as it had been mentioned in the newspapers that he was present at the trial. His Lordship received me with that politeness and benevolence which have ever distinguished his character. It might be thought indelicate in me to relate any conversation that passed between his Lordship and me; and I trust he will have the goodness to forgive the liberty I have taken in referring to this interview with his Lordship, as a strong proof of the caution with which I wished to proceed in this inquiry. Although it is true that I received the first intimation of the circumstances related in the Appendix from Mr. Heywood, yet, before I saw that gentleman, Mr. Fryer (the master of the Bounty) had communicated the same circumstances to Mr. Joseph Christian of the Strand, No. 10, which were made known to me soon after the conversation I had with Mr. Heywood. He is a distant relation of mine; his name had induced Mr. Fryer to call upon him, and give him the information. From that time I was determined to investigate the subject fully; and I had the precaution upon every occasion, (except when I called upon Mr. Hayward of Hackney,) when I expected to see any of the people of the Bounty, to have some gentlemen in company with me. By the favour of these gentlemen I have published their names and places of residence, that any person interested in the subject might have an opportunity of making inquiries of them, whether the information I received in their company has or has not been fairly represented by me.

It is unnecessary for me to declare that the list is filled with the names of gentlemen, who may be justly said to be the most honourable characters in society; and I may be truly proud in calling them my friends. If I could have entertained a thought of misrepresenting the testimony, to the prejudice of Captain Bligh, I ought to be considered the most infamous of mankind; and if in fact I have misrepresented it, I must have forfeited the esteem of the most valuable part of my acquaintance, and must have incurred a punishment almost equivalent to banishment from society. But I still hope that I shall continue, whilst I live, to enjoy their good opinion and their friendship. Captain Bligh has published Mr. Heywood's letter as one of his proofs, p. 16. I presume, with intent to prove the inconsistency between that letter and a passage taken from Mr. Heywood's defence, in which he speaks strongly of Captain Bligh's attention and kind treatment to him personally, p. 15. A note is subjoined, that "this part of Mr. Heywood's defence does not appear in the Minutes of the Court-Martial published, or in Mr. Edward Christian's Appendix." As far as this is an insinuation of a wilful omission on my part, I need only answer that Mr. Barney has declared, in his prefatory letter, that his minutes did not extend beyond the evidence for the prosecution. This passage was therefore not contained in those minutes, nor was it in any copy which I could command. I anxiously solicited (as all my friends know) another gentleman to publish, or to permit me to publish, his copy of the minutes, which contained the several defences of the prisoners. Being unable to prevail upon him, I waited upon one of the Lords of the Admiralty to request the copy transmitted to the Board. He politely informed me that it could not be granted to any individual in a private situation. I shall therefore, I trust, stand acquitted of any imputation of having industriously suppressed this testimonial in Captain Bligh's favour. It may be also observed that Mr. Heywood's letter complains of no ill treatment received by him personally from Captain Bligh, and that the defence was drawn up by his counsel when he was tried for his life, charged with an act which can admit of no justification; and I have the authority of one of his counsel to declare that his defence was left entirely to their discretion. Captain Bligh has inserted among his proofs, p. 18, a letter signed by Ed. Harwood, late surgeon of his Majesty's ship Providence. This letter is a certificate by the surgeon, and by the surgeon only, of Captain Bligh's good conduct in the Providence; but, as Mr. Harwood never belonged to the Bounty, it is difficult to say how it can be considered as a proof of any circumstance which ever occurred on board that ship. Indeed, if abuse and scurrility can be regarded as evidence, it is true that no proof can be stronger. When it was published in the newspaper the Times, I was advised to treat it with silent contempt; and I should have thought myself degraded in the opinion of every man of sense and honour if I had condescended to have taken notice of so illiberal and indecent a letter. With regard to the affidavits made by Joseph Coleman, who is a pensioner in Chelsea Hospital, and by John Smith, who was Captain Bligh's servant, and I am told is now living in his house, I have not much to object to them. Most of the paragraphs begin with "I never told Mr. Ed. Christian, &c." These two persons might easily be induced, without much (or any) violence to their consciences, to swear thus in negatives. Coleman has the appearance of a decent and honest man, but he is old and dull; and I never saw him but in the company of other persons belonging to the Bounty, who took the lead in conversation; but to their information he certainly in every instance assented by his silence, or without making any contradiction. The only observation I ever remember him to have made was, that "Mr. Christian was a fine young man, or a fine young officer"; and throughout the whole of the Appendix there is not a single word used by me as referable to his evidence. John Smith, the Captain's servant, I never saw but once: he came of his own accord to my chambers. He spoke of Mr. Christian in the highest terms of praise and affection; and the sentence in p. 76 in the Appendix was spoken by him, viz. 'Mr. Christian was always good-natured; I never heard him say Damn you to any man on board the ship.' He said, that 'during the mutiny he ran backward and forward to put all the Captain's things on board the launch; that he was not ordered to leave the ship, but that he went of his own accord, thinking it his duty to follow his master: That there was no huzzaing on board.'

Being then asked what could be the cause of the mutiny, and if there had been any previous misunderstanding between Christian and the Captain; he said he could not speak to that, as his duty as cook and Captain's servant confined him below, and he could not say what might have passed upon deck. I told him he spoke like an honest man, and that I should not trouble him with any more questions. It was very fortunate that Mr. Gilpin in the Strand, No. 432, happened to be in my chambers at the time. Mr. Gilpin had an opportunity of seeing several more persons belonging to the Bounty. He can bear witness that this man's information was perfectly consistent, as far as it went, with the account which he heard from the others. Mr. Gilpin, and every gentleman whose name I have used, I am confident will always do me the justice to declare, that what they have heard I have represented fairly, and without the slightest exaggeration. I may add too, that they have all a numerous and honourable acquaintance, who must be perfectly convinced that they would each of them reprobate, with an honest indignation, an attempt to give authenticity by their names to a statement which was inconsistent with their notions of the purest honour and the strictest justice; and which at the same time must necessarily wound the feelings or lessen the reputation of any individual.

Though I have said I have little objection to make to the two first affidavits, yet I am obliged to declare that the third, which is made by Lawrence Lebogue, is the most wicked and perjured affidavit that ever was sworn before a magistrate, or published to the world; and it is perhaps a defect in the law that these voluntary affidavits are permitted to be made; or that, when they are false, the authors of them are subject to no punishment. For if Lawrence Lebogue had made the same affidavit in a court of justice, he would most probably, upon the united evidence of three gentlemen, have been convicted of the grossest and foulest perjury. John Atkinson, Esq. Somerset Heraid, and James Losh, Esq. Barrister of the Temple, went with me to dine at the Crown and Scepter at Greenwich. After dinner we sent to the Hospital for Joseph Coleman, Michael Byrne, and Lawrence Lebogue, three of the pensioners, who had belonged to the Bounty. Coleman and Byrne were at home, and came immediately; Lebogue could not then be found. After much conversation with Coleman and Byrne, in which Byrne took the lead, Lebogue came into the room; and without any hesitation, (at which we were much surprised, as he had sailed a second time with Captain Bligh in the Providence,) he gave a full detail, in clear and strong language, of all the material circumstances recited in the Appendix, and which we had just before heard from Byrne. Mr. Atkinson and Mr. Losh have given me permission to publish the following certificate from them:

We were present with Mr. Edward Christian at the Crown and Scepter at Greenwich, and had much conversation with Michael Byrne. Joseph Coleman, and Lawrence Lebogue, and upon another day a long conversation with Mr. Peckover, respecting the unfortunate mutiny on board the Bounty; in which conversations we observed no contradiction or inconsistency: and we hereby declare, that we think that the result of these conversations is faithfully and without exaggeration represented by Mr. Edward Christian, in the Appendix to the Minutes of the Court Martial: and we also declare, that we were much astonished at reading Lebogue's affidavit in Captain Bligh's Answer; as we believe that all the material paragraphs in that affidavit respecting the conversation we had with him at Greenwich are directly the reverse of the truth; and this we should be ready to make oath of, if it were necessary. We also declare, that Mr. Peckover asserted in our company that he was upon shore with Mr. Christian all the time the ship was at Otaheite, and that Mr. Christian had no favourite or particular connection among the women.

JOHN ATKINSON, Heralds' College.

JAMES LOSH, Temple.

Some of the questions, indeed, attributed to me in that affidavit, must have proceeded from such extreme weakness and folly, that I cannot but flatter myself that those who know me will think that they carry with them internal evidence of misrepresentation. Though this man has not only retracted all that he told us, but has had the audacity to swear to the direct contrary, I shall appeal to every candid reader which are most to be credited—his simple declarations made without any solicitation, and which corresponded with the accounts given by several others at different times; or an affidavit made to serve his captain, directly the reverse of what he himself declared, and an affidavit for which in this world he is subject to no punishment whatever.

As to Mr. Hallet's letter to Captain Bligh, I have only to observe upon it, that Mr. Hallet was not in England before the Appendix was published, and this letter is now published after his death. If I had had an opportunity of seeing Mr. Hallet, I certainly should have thought myself much obliged to him if he would have corrected any misrepresentation which I had received from others. But he certainly is mistaken when he thinks so unkindly of me as to suppose I meant any malevolent or false accusations against him.

Nor would it, I conceive, have been a very heinous offence, if what I had been told was true, that two young men, viz. himself and Mr. Hayward. then about 15 or 16 years of age, had fallen asleep in their watch after four o'clock in the morning: and if the mutiny had not been preconcerted, (and Mr. Hallet himself admits there was no proof that it was so,) and if these two young gentlemen were not asleep, it will appear to have been more sudden in its commencement, as it must have been proposed and resolved upon whilst they were upon deck, but out of hearing. I am sorry that Mr. Hallet has ventured to assert that "Christian did not appear to have received any portion of classical learning, and was ignorant of all but his mother tongue." It is very probable that a young midshipman may be unacquainted with the extent of the learning of any other officer on board; but Mr. Hallet's assertion that Christian was absolutely ignorant has been made either with too little caution or too much zeal. Christian was educated by the Reverend Mr. Scott, at St. Bees school in Cumberland, where the young men of the best families in that country receive their education, and from which many are sent to the universities; and I am confident that Mr. Scott, his school-fellows, and all who knew him well, will testify that "Christian was an excellent scholar, and possessed extraordinary abilities." This is a point which a great number of gentlemen in the most respectable situations in life must be acquainted with; and I shall leave it to them to determine, whether Mr. Hallet or I, in this instance, be most deserving of credit. I was sorry also to see in the letter written by Mr. Lamb, who had once been a mate to Captain Bligh in the merchant's service, an attempt to degrade Christian's character, by stating, that he went about every point of duty with a degree of indifference, that to him (Mr. Lamb) was truly unpleasant. This representation is certainly different from the character which Captain Bligh himself has always given of Christian; it is contrary to the opinion that the gallant Capt. Courtenay had entertained of him, who had immediately before this given him the charge of a watch in the Eurydice throughout the voyage from the East Indies; and it cannot be reconciled with Christian's conduct, which Major Taubman, of the Nunnery in the Isle of Man, can testify, viz. that, from his recommendation of Captain Bligh as a navigator, Christian voluntarily preferred sailing with Captain Bligh as a common man in a West India ship, till there was a vacancy among the officers, to the immediate appointment to the rank of a mate in another ship.

Since the publication of the Appendix I have only had an opportunity of seeing two persons belonging to the Bounty —Mr. Peckover, the gunner, who lives at No. 13,. Gun-alley, Wapping; and Mr. Purcell, the carpenter, who has since sailed to the West Indies. Mr. Purcell declared, in the hearing of James Losh, Esq. of the Temple, that he had read the Appendix, and that every part of it within his knowledge was correctly stated: and Mr. Peckover also declared once before John France, Esq. of the Temple, and at another time before John Caley, Esq. of the Augmentation-office that he had read the Appendix, and that every part of it within his knowledge was correctly stated; except that he thought too much praise had been bestowed upon Mr. Stewart, though he thought highly of him before the mutiny as a deserving officer. Mr. Peckover lives constantly in London, and has the appearance of a cautious, discreet man, and a steady, manly officer; yet no application has been made to him by Captain Bligh respecting the publications. Lebogue begins his affidavit by stating that I sent for him to a public house; from which the reader would be induced to infer, that I had attempted to seduce these sailors in a corner of a common alehouse falsely to accuse their captain: but as I have already observed, I not only had the precaution to have some gentleman of honour and character in my company, but I also requested several gentlemen to examine the witnesses when I was not present. Mr. Purcell having accidentally mentioned that he was recommended to the Bounty by Sir Joseph Banks, and expressing a wish to call upon him, I immediately wrote a note to introduce him to Sir Joseph Banks, and to request Sir Joseph to examine him respecting the causes and circumstances of the mutiny. Having never had an opportunity of seeing Mackintosh (the carpenter's mate) but once, and for a short time, I desired Mr. Fearon, a Barrister, resident at Newcastle, to inquire for him at Shields, where his mother lived, and to examine him fully upon the subject. Mr. Fearon went over to Shields with the Reverend Mr. How, of Workington, for that purpose. At the first, Mackintosh was very unwilling to give them any information, saying, that "he had like to have got into trouble for what he had told Mr. Christian in London": but I am authorized to say by these gentlemen, that upon further conversation he confirmed every material circumstance related in the Appendix. Though it may be suspected that I might have an interest or a wish to obtain improper evidence in an improper manner from the witnesses, yet all the gentlemen I have named could only be actuated in their conduct by the purest regard for truth and justice.

Captain Bligh complains that I have not appropriated to each individual the precise and actual information I received from him. If I had requested them to give it in the manner of depositions, they probably would have been deterred from telling any thing, as Mackintosh declared he had been threatened for what he had mentioned. I made the first inquiries only for my own satisfaction, as I was assured by another gentleman that he would publish the trial with the information which he had collected; and it was only when he had declined to proceed in it that I was obliged to undertake the painful task myself. But if what I have ventured to communicate to the world in the Appendix is false, it is the grossest libel that ever was published; for which every Judge would be compelled to declare that no punishment could be too severe, or no damages too excessive. Many gentlemen, besides myself, suppose, that if any answer could be given, it would be attempted in a court of justice by some judicial proceeding. Indeed the bookseller would not have dared to have sold the Appendix if I had not undertaken to stand between him and danger, and to indemnify him as far as was in my power from the consequences of legal prosecutions. It would scarcely then have been prudent to have disclosed the testimony of each witness, by which I was to defend so hazardous a publication; some of whom, as seafaring men, might easily have been sent into a distant part of the world, and others might perhaps have been induced, like Lebogue, to reverse every thing that they had said. But I assert again, and I solemnly appeal to all the gentlemen whose names I have mentioned, that in the accounts we received there was no material (if any) contradiction or inconsistency.

The statement in the Appendix has been insidiously called a defence and vindication. God forbid that any connection or consideration should ever induce me to vindicate the crime of mutiny! But though it is a crime which will admit of no defence, yet with respect to its motives and circumstances it is capable of great exaggeration.

I bear no malice to Captain Bligh; and I trust neither love nor fear will ever impel me to shrink from that which I conceive I owe to myself and to society. I solicit no favour I supplicate no mercy. It is to austere and rigorous justice I have made the appeal, which will protect from unmerited obloquy the object of its severest vengeance. Great crimes demand great examples. I will not under any circumstances deprecate, or endeavour to intercept, the stroke of justice. Mine has been a painful duty to discharge; I am happy in knowing that I have discharged it with the approbation of some wise and good men; but I am still happier in feeling that I have discharged it with the approbation of my own heart and conscience.

EDWARD CHRISTIAN.

Footnotes

1 Now of the Inconstant man of war. [return]

2 Now Lieutenant in the Diomed, East Indies. [return]

3 Lives at No. 13, Gun Alley, Wapping. [return]

4 Now of the Dromedary, West Indies. [return]

5 In London, but residence unknown. [return]

6 In Greenwich Hospital. [return]

7 In Greenwich Hospital. [return]

8 In the merchants' service, his mother keeps a public house at North Shields. [return]

9 In Greenwich Hospital. [return]

10 During the mutiny, Captain Bligh said to Mr. Young, "this is a serious affair Mr. Young" Mr. Young replied, "Yes, it is a serious affair to be starved, I hope this day to get a belly full." [return]

11 By this he meant his warrant; the warrant-officers can only be punished by suspension and confinement, they cannot be broke and flogged like midshipmen. [return]

12 Norman's family live at Portsmouth. [return]

13 It is worthy of notice that Lambe the butcher was a mutineer; but when he saw such a number going off in the launch, he actually laid down his arms and joined them; he afterwards died at Batavia.

Martin, another mutineer, attempted to get into the launch, but was opposed by the carpenter, who said he would get him hanged when they got to England; and he was then ordered back by the people in the ship. [return]

14 When Mr. Nelson told Mr. Peckover, that the ship is taken from us, Mr. Peckover in evidence says, he answered, "We were a long way from land when I came off deck," (thinking, as he declares, that the people in the canoes had followed and taken the ship); and so it was understood by Mr. Nelson, who replies, "It is by our own people." [return]

15 It just be supposed that, after a distance of time, although the ideas and impressions are remembered, the exact words will be forgotten; but one person particularly recollects, that Mr. Hallet used the word resource upon this occasion, because he afterwards fancied it was thus suggested to Captain Bligh's mind, as the name which he gave to the vessel purchased at Timor. [return]

16 They had sailed from Otaheite twenty-four days, when the mutiny broke out, and as in those seas a constant trade wind blows from east to west; in order to return to Otaheite, they must have been obliged to have gone into a high southern latitude before they could have gained the advantage of the variable winds. Their return to Otaheite would probably have taken up twice or thrice twenty-four days. If the mutiny had been plotted at Otaheite, it is not probable the execution of it would have been so long delayed. [return]

17 Though all acknowledge: Captain Bligh's great skill and abilities in theory, and in making observations, yet they all declare, that in the practical management of a ship he was not superior to Stewart or Christian. For the two last are thus classed and compared with the Captain. Captain Bligh was the best artist on board; Stewart the best seaman; and Christian was the best in both characters united. Stewart was several years senior to Christian, both in age and in the service. [return]

18 One of the four acquitted, said, "Mr. Christian was a fine scholar, he carried us like a shot to Tobooy, and told us within half an hour where we should make land." [return]

19 They prevailed upon the king to give them a bull and a cow, which were kept tied up as royal curiosities; but the voyage back to Tobooy was very tempestuous, and the bull being old could not stand upon his legs, and died in consequence of the bruises from his falls. There is a breed of English cattle, which run wild upon the mountains of Otaheite, but the natives cannot be persuaded to make use either of their flesh or milk. [return]

20 Christian having endeavoured to convince them of the necessity of building a fort for their protection, assured them, that he would take his share of the labour, and calling for a pick-axe, was the first who began the operations. [return]

21 Sixteen were left at Otaheite, one of whom, in a quarrel about their arms, was shot by another Englishman, who was put to death by the natives, as an act of justice, the other fourteen surrendered themselves to Captain Edwards, or were taken by the people of the Pandora; four of these were lost when the Pandora was shipwrecked; four have been honourably acquitted; two have received his Majesty's pardon; one has been discharged by the opinion of the judges in his favour; and the remaining three have suffered death according to the sentence of the court-martial. Millward, one of the three, was in bed when the mutiny broke out; the other two were in Christian's watch; Ellison, one of them, was a young boy at the time. When the others went down to arm themselves, He was left at the helm. He was afterwards active in the mutiny. He had got a musket in his hand, which Christian having observed, said, "You little monkey, what business have you with that?" and ordered it to be taken from him. [return]

22 Though they say kept up good discipline in the ship, yet he was generally below, leaning his head upon his hand, and when they came down for orders, he seldom raised his head to answer more than Yes, or No.

One of the seamen being asked, if they never mutinied afterwards in the ship, and told Christian, they had as good a right to the command as he had, said, "No, no man would ever have mutinied against Mr. Christian, no one ever thought of resisting his authority."

One method, it is said, which he adopted to prevent riot and confusion in the ship, was, to draw off secretly the spirituous liquors from the casks, and he then persuaded the people they had drank them to the bottom. [return]

23 Christian always spoke of Captain Courtenay as an officer and a gentleman, with the greatest affection and gratitude. The gentlemen and people on board the Eurydice, the writer of this Appendix has been assured, declare that Christian was the last person whom they would have expected to have committed such a crime. [return]

24 Upon Christian's return from the second voyage to the West Indies with Captain Bligh, he had no opportunity of a personal interview with his friends, and he made no complaint by letter. But a person, who had sailed with Captain Bligh and Christian, both to the West Indies and the South Seas, being asked, if Captain Bligh's treatment of Christian had always been the same? said, "No, it would not long have been born in the merchants service." [return Appendix] [return Answer]

1 These three persons, who were afterwards Mutineers, had ran away with the large cutter, and a chest of fire-arms, and this is what Millward, on his trial by the Court-Martial, calls "the former foolish affair." [return]

2 This fact, and the huzzaing mentioned in the preceding page, are denied by Mr. Edward Christian in a very pointed manner (see his Appendix, page 69); yet he professes to have received his information from "every one of those who came in the boat," the very persons who had affirmed both circumstances on their oaths in this instrument. [return]

3 This part of Mr. Heywoods defence does not appear in the Minutes of the Court-Martial published, or in Mr. Edward Christian's Appendix. [return]

4 The great resemblance between the last page of Mr. Edward Christian's Appendix and this paragraph is very remarkable, if they were written by different persons. [return]

5 Mr. Edward Christian declares no one ever knew of this circumstance. [return]