od's sake--let it not be argued that my
fears were groundless, and that the arrival of the boat at
Timor is a proof that my conduct was wrong. This would be
judging from the event, and I think I have plainly shown that,
but for the death of Norton at Tofoa, and the prudent order of
the captain not to overload the boat, neither himself nor any
of the people who were saved with him, would at this moment
have been alive to have preferred any charge against me, or
given evidence at this trial.

'If deliberate guilt be necessarily affixed to all who
continued on board the ship, and that in consequence they must
be numbered with Christian's party--in such a strict view of
matters it must irrevocably impeach the armourer and two
carpenter's mates, as well as Martin and Byrne, who certainly
wished to quit the ship. And if Christian's first intention of
sending away the captain, with a few persons only, in the
small cutter, had not been given up, or if even the large
cutter had not been exchanged for the launch, more than half
of those who did go with him would have been obliged to stay
with me. Forgetful for a moment of my own misfortunes, I
cannot help being agitated at the bare thought of their narrow
escape.

'Every body must, and I am sure that this Court will, allow
that my case is a peculiarly hard one, inasmuch as the running
away with the ship is a proof of the mutiny having been
committed. The innocent and the guilty are upon exactly the
same footing--had the former been confined by sickness,
without a leg to stand on, or an arm to assist them in
opposing the mutineers, they must have been put upon their
trial, and instead of the captain being obliged to prove their
guilt, it would have been incumbent upon them to have proved
themselves innocent. How can this be done but negatively? If
all who wished it could not accompany the captain, they were
necessarily compelled to stay with Christian; and being with
him, were dependent on him, subject to his orders, however
disinclined to obey them, for force in such a state is
paramount to every thing. But when, on the contrary, instead
of being in arms, or obeying any orders of the mutineers, I
did every thing in my power to assist the captain, and those
who went with him, and by al