ut that any one of them (Stewart in particular)
should have "recommended, rather than risk his life on so
hazardous an expedition, that he should try the expedient of
taking the ship from the captain, etc.," is entirely at
variance with the whole character and conduct of the latter,
both before and after the mutiny; as well as with the
assurance of Christian himself, the very night he quitted
Taheite, that the idea of attempting to take the ship had
never entered his distracted mind, until the moment he
relieved the deck, and found his mate and midshipman
asleep.[7]

'At that last interview with Christian he also communicated to
me, for the satisfaction of his relations, other circumstances
connected with that unfortunate disaster, which, after their
deaths, may or may not be laid before the public. And although
they can implicate none but himself, either living or dead,
they may extenuate but will contain not a word of his in
defence of the crime he committed against the laws of his
country.--I am, etc.,

'P. HEYWOOD.'

Captain Beechey stated only what he had heard from old Adams, who was
not always correct in the information he gave to the visitors of his
island; but this part of his statement gave great pain to Heywood, who
adverted to it on his death-bed, wishing, out of regard for Stewart's
memory and his surviving friends, that it should be publicly
contradicted; and with this view the above reply of Captain Heywood is
here inserted.

The temptations, therefore, which it was supposed Otaheite held out to
the deluded men of the _Bounty_, had no more share in the transaction
than the supposed conspiracy; it does not appear, indeed, that the cry
of 'Huzza for Otaheite!' was ever uttered; if this island had been the
object of either Christian or the crew, they would not have left it
three hundred miles behind them, before they perpetrated the act of
piracy; but after the deed had been committed, it would be natural
enough that they should turn their minds to the lovely island and its
fascinating inhabitants, which they had but just quitted, and that in
the moment of excitement some of them should have so called out; but
Bligh is the only person who has said they did so.

If, however, the recollection of the 'sunny isle' and its 'smiling
women' had really tempted the men to mutiny, Bligh would himself not be
free from