endation in his favour than any
thing I can urge.[13]

'I need not tire your patience, my ever loved uncle, by
dwelling longer on this subject (the dearest and most
interesting on earth to my heart); let me conjure you only, my
kind friend, to read it, and consider the innocence and
defenceless situation of its unfortunate author, which calls
for, and I am sure deserves, all the pity and assistance his
friends can afford him, and which, I am sure also, the
goodness and benevolence of your heart will prompt you to
exert in his behalf. It is perfectly unnecessary for me to
add, after the anxiety I feel, and cannot but express, that no
benefit conferred upon myself will be acknowledged with half
the gratitude I must ever feel for the smallest instance of
kindness shown to my beloved Peter. Farewell, my dearest
uncle. With the firmest reliance on your kind and generous
promises, I am, ever with the truest gratitude and
sincerity,--Your most affectionate niece,

NESSY HEYWOOD.'

CHAPTER V

THE 'PANDORA'

--O! I have suffer'd
With those that I saw suffer! a brave vessel,
Who had, no doubt, some noble creatures in her,
Dash'd all to pieces. O, the cry did knock
Against my very heart! Poor souls! they perish'd
Had I been any god of power, I would
Have sunk the sea within the earth, or e'er
It should the good ship so have swallow'd, and
The freighting souls within her.

The tide of public applause set as strongly in favour of Bligh, on
account of his sufferings and the successful issue of his daring
enterprise, as its indignation was launched against Christian and his
associates, for the audacious and criminal deed they had committed.
Bligh was promoted by the Admiralty to the rank of Commander, and
speedily sent out a second time to transport the bread-fruit to the West
Indies, which he without the least obstruction successfully
accomplished; and his Majesty's government were no sooner made
acquainted with the atrocious act of piracy and mutiny, than it
determined to adopt every possible means to apprehend and bring to
condign punishment the perpetrators of so foul a deed. For this
purpose, the _Pandora_ frigate, of twenty-four guns and one hundred and
sixty men, was despatched under the command of Captain Edward Edwards,
with orders to proceed, in the first instance, to Otah