the conduct of neither of them has been
spared, whenever an occasion has presented itself for bringing their
names before the public.

Bligh, it may be recollected, mentions young Heywood only as one of
those left in the ship; he does not charge him with taking any active
part in the mutiny; there is every reason, indeed, to believe that Bligh
did not, and indeed could not, see him on the deck on that occasion: in
point of fact, he never was within thirty feet of Captain Bligh, and the
booms were between them. About the end of March, 1790, two months
subsequent to the death of a most beloved and lamented husband, Mrs.
Heywood received the afflicting information, but by report only, of a
mutiny having taken place on board the _Bounty_. In that ship Mrs.
Heywood's son had been serving as midshipman, who, when he left his
home, in August, 1787, was under fifteen years of age, a boy deservedly
admired and beloved by all who knew him, and, to his own family, almost
an object of adoration, for his superior understanding and the amiable
qualities of his disposition. In a state of mind little short of
distraction, on hearing this fatal intelligence, which was at the same
time aggravated by every circumstance of guilt that calumny or malice
could invent with respect to this unfortunate youth, who was said to be
one of the ringleaders, and to have gone armed into the captain's
cabin, his mother addressed a letter to Captain Bligh, dictated by a
mother's tenderness, and strongly expressive of the misery she must
necessarily feel on such an occasion. The following is Bligh's reply:--

'_London, April 2nd_, 1790.

'MADAM,--I received your letter this day, and feel for you
very much, being perfectly sensible of the extreme distress
you must suffer from the conduct of your son Peter. _His
baseness is beyond all description_, but I hope you will
endeavour to prevent the loss of him, heavy as the misfortune
is, from afflicting you too severely. I imagine he is, with
the rest of the mutineers, returned to Otaheite.--- I am,
Madam,

(Signed) 'WM. BLIGH.'

Colonel Holwell, the uncle of young Heywood, had previously addressed
Bligh on the same melancholy subject, to whom he returned the following
answer:--

'_26th March_, 1790.

'SIR,--I have just this instant received your letter. With
much concern I inform you that your nephew, Peter Hey wood, is
among th