t done with a view to help the captain;
of which, however, I have no doubt of being able to give a
satisfactory explanation in evidence.

'Observations on matters of opinion I will endeavour to
forbear where they appear to have been formed from the impulse
of the moment; but I shall be pardoned for remembering Mr.
Hayward's (given I will allow with great deliberation, and
after long weighing the question which called for it), which
cannot be reckoned of that description, for although he says
he rather considered me as a friend to Christian's party, he
states that his last words to me were, "Peter, go into the
boat," which words could not have been addressed to one who
was of the party of the mutineers. And I am sure, if the
countenance is at all an index to the heart, mine must have
betrayed the sorrow and distress he has so accurately
described.

'It were trespassing unnecessarily upon the patience of the
Court, to be giving a tedious history of what happened in
consequence of the mutiny, and how, through one very imprudent
step, I was unavoidably led into others.

'But, amidst all this pilgrimage of distress, I had a
conscience, thank heaven, which lulled away the pain of
personal difficulties, dangers, and distress. It was this
conscious principle which determined me not to hide myself as
if guilty. No--I welcomed the arrival of the _Pandora_ at
Otaheite, and embraced the earliest opportunity of freely
surrendering myself to the captain of that ship.

'By his order I was chained and punished with incredible
severity, though the ship was threatened with instant
destruction: when fear and trembling came on every man on
board, in vain, for a long time, were my earnest repeated
cries, that the galling irons might not, in that moment of
affrighting consternation, prevent my hands from being lifted
up to heaven for mercy.

'But though it cannot fail deeply to interest the humanity of
this Court, and kindle in the breast of every member of it
compassion for my sufferings, yet as it is not relative to the
point, and as I cannot for a moment believe that it proceeded
from any improper motive on the part of Captain Edwards, whose
character in the navy stands high in estimation both as an
officer and a man of humanity, but