seaman; he, however, always proved a worthless wretch.'

If the sincere repentance of Adams, and the most successful exertions to
train up the rising generation in piety and virtue, can be considered as
expiating in some degree his former offences, this survivor is fully
entitled to every indulgence that frail humanity so often requires, and
which indeed has been extended to him, by all the officers of the navy
who have visited the island, and witnessed the simple manners, and the
settled habits of morality and piety which prevail in this happy and
well-regulated society. They have all strongly felt that the merits and
redeeming qualities of the latter years of his life have so far atoned
for his former guilt, that he ought not to be molested, but rather
encouraged, in his meritorious efforts, if not for his own sake, at
least for that of the innocent young people dependent on him.

Still it ought never to be forgotten that he was one of the first and
most daring in the atrocious act of mutiny and piracy, and that, had he
remained in Otaheite, and been taken home in the _Pandora_, nothing
could have saved him from an ignominious death. His pretending to say
that he was in his cot, and that he was forced to take arms, may perhaps
be palliated under his peculiar circumstances, wishing to stand as fair
before his countrymen as his case would admit--but it is not strictly
true; for he was the third upon deck armed, and stood sentry over Bligh
with a loaded musket and fixed bayonet. The story he told to Beechey
respecting the advice stated to have been given by Mr. Stewart to
Christian, 'to take possession of the ship,' is, as has been shown,
wholly false; but here his memory may have failed him. If any such
advice was given, it is much more likely to have proceeded from Young.
He also told two different stories with regard to the conduct of
Christian. To Sir Thomas Staines and Captain Pipon, he represented this
ill-fated young man as never happy, after the rash and criminal step he
had taken, and that he was always sullen and morose, and committed so
many acts of cruelty, as to incur the hatred and detestation of his
associates in crime. Whereas he told Captain Beechey, that Christian was
always cheerful; that his example was of the greatest service in
exciting his companions to labour; that he was naturally of a happy,
ingenuous disposition, and won the good opinion and respect of all who
served under him: which cannot be