Description Mutineers P. 1 Home William Bligh Letter to Secretary
Revised May 13 2021
[I first put this letter on the site before I had learned to go, where possible, to the original source. Today (revision date) I discovered it was incomplete. Unfortunately my old tools do not work on the new computer, and the old computer is completely dead, so some things are missing from this update. Some unfamiliar words do not have popups and none of the new material is included in Find Stuff. The popups I may be able to fix, but the Find Stuff all depends on database functions, all of which I had to strip from the program to get it to run, so that is probably a dead letter. Eh, eh, the popups wasn't broken, I'd just forgotten how to use it.]
I am now in a part of the world that I never expected, it is however a place that has afforded me relief and saved my life, and I have the happyness to assure you I am now in perfect health. That the chance of this letter getting to you before others of a later date is so very small I shall only just give you a short account of the cause of my arrival here.—What an emotion does my heart & soul feel that I have once more an opportunity of writing to you and my little Angels, and particularly as you have all been so near losing the best of Friends—when you would have had no person to have regarded you as I do, and must have spent the remainder of your days without knowing what was become of me, or what would have been still worse, to have known I had been starved to Death at Sea or destroyed by Indians. All these dreadful circumstances I have combated with success and in the most extraordinary manner that ever happened, never despairing from the first moment of my disaster but that I should overcome all my difficulties.
Know then my own Dear Betsy, I have lost the Bounty.-On the 28th April at day light in the morning Christian having the morning watch, He with several others came into my Cabbin while I was a Sleep, and seizing me, holding naked Bayonets at my Breast, tied my Hands behind my back, and threatned instant distruction if I uttered a word. I however call'd loudly for assistance, but the conspiracy was so well laid that the Officers Cabbin Doors were guarded by Centinels, so that Nelson, Peckover, Samuels or the Master could not come to me. I was now dragged on Deck in my Shirt & closely guarded—I demanded of Christian the cause of such a violent act, & severely degraded him for his Villainy but he could only answer—"not a word Sir or you are Dead." I dared him to the act & endeavored to rally some one to a sense of their duty but to no effect. Besides this Villain see young Heywood one of the ringleaders, & besides him see Stewart joined with him. Christian I had assured of promotion when he came home, & with the other two I was every day rendering them some service—It is incredible! these very young Men I placed every confidence in, yet these great Villains joined with the most able Men in the Ship got possession of the Arms and took the Bounty from me, with huzza's for Otaheite. I have now reason to curse the day I ever knew a Christian or a Heywood or indeed a Manksman.
The Launch being hoisted out 18 People & Officers were put into her, while I was kept under a guard of armed men, & Christian holding me by the bandage round my wrist with a Bayonet at my Breast (for all their fear was that I should get loose.) He told me Sir your officers & men are now in the Boat & you must go with them. I therefore determined again to bring on some people to my assistance, but I was carried across the Deck, guarded & forced over the Gangway were the Boat was waiting for me, and we were steered a stern. They had got water & a few triflng articles in the Boat with abt 150 lbs of Bread & Samuel saved cloaths for me, but all my valuable maps drawings & Instruments were kept and T. Keeper. I was now cast a drift on the sea 10 leags to leeward of Tofoa the NWmost of the Friendly Islds. with the following People with me-John Fryer, Thos. Ledward, Davd. Nelson, Wm Cole, Wm Purcell, Wm Elphinstone, Thos. Hayward, Jno. Hallet, Jno. Norton, Peter Linkletter, Wm. Peckover, Lawrence Lebogue, Jno. Smith, Robt. Lamb, Thos. Hall, Jno. Samuels, George Simpson & Robt. Tinkler.
The Day proved favorable to us & most providentially we rowed to land and I remained at Tofoa looking for food & water untill 2d May when the Natives discovering we had no fire arms they made an attack with clubs & stones in the course of which I had a very worthy man (Jno. Norton) killed and most of us more or less hurt. Our getting into our Boat was no security for they followed us in Cannoes loaded with stones which they threw with much force and exactness. Happily Night saved the rest of us.
I was now earnestly sollicited by all hands to take them towards home & when I told the no hopes of relief remained but what I might find at New Holland untill I came to Timor a distance of 1200 leagues, they al agreed to live on one ounce of Bread a day & a jill of water. I therefore after recommending this promise for ever to their memory, bore away for New Holland & Timor across a Sea but little known, & in a small Boat deep loaded with 18 souls, without a single ap of any kind & nothing but my own recollection & general knowledge of the situation of Places to direct us.
Unfortunately we lost part our provisions, what we had was 20 lbs of Pork 3 Bottles 5 Quarts Rum 150 lbs Bread & 28 galls. of water.
I steered to the WNW with strong gales and heavy Rains, suffering every calamity & distress. I discovered many Islands & at last on the 28th May the Coast of New Holland. On the 4th June I past the north part of New Holland & steered for Timor and saw in on the 12th, which was a happy sight to every one, particularly several who perhaps could not have existed a week or a day longer. I got into this place on the 14th and was received with every kindness & civility. Perhaps a more miserable set of Beings were never seen.
Thus happily ended through the assistance of divine providence without accident a Voyage of the most extraordinary nature that ever happened in the world let it be taken either in its extent, duration, or so much want of the necessaries of life.
The Secresy of this Mutiny is beyond all conception so that I cannot discover that any who are with me had the least knowledge of it. Even Mr. Tom Ellison took such a liking to Otaheite that he also turned Pirate, so that I have been run down by my own Dogs. I however have every expectation to get the better of every thing I have purchased a Vessel to Carry me to Batavia & being now ready for sea I shall sail in the morning.
This is a very poor little Town. I have nevertheless reeived great attention from its inhabitants particularly the Governor & Second. Poor Nelson died since here having caught a violent fever. The Doctor died at Otaheite of drunkenness.
The longest I expect to stay at Batavia is the 25th October when the Dutch Fleet sail for Europe in which I shall take my passage if no English ship is in the way. I give myself great hopes my Life, of hearing from you at Batavia, for I desired it in one of my letters. The next summer will however I trust in God bring me to you and my Dear little Girls and that we shall find our affairs in a flourishing way. I shall certainly see you before this letter ever gets to England and as the uncertainty of its being sent is so great, it prevents me from saying as much as I otherwise should, and indeed I should not have wrote at all, if I had not considered it as putting it out of the power of chance that you should never hear from me again.
My misfortune I trust will be properly considered by all the World—It was a circumstance I could not foresee—I had not sufficient Officers & had they granted me Marines most likely the affair would never have happened—I had not a Spirited & brave fellow about me & the Mutineers treated them as such. My conduct has been free of blame, & I showed every one, that tied as I was, I defied every Villain to hurt me. Hayward & Hallet were Mate & Midshipmen of Christian's Watch, but they alarmed no one, & I found them on Deck seemingly unconcerned untill they were ordered into the Boat—The latter has turned out a worthless impudent scoundrel, but I beg of you to relate nothing of them untill I come home.
I know how shocked you will be at this affair but I request of you My Dear Betsy to think nothing of it all is now past & we will again looked forward to future happyness. Nothing but true consciousness as an Officer that I have done well could support me. I cannot write to Your Uncle or any one, but my publick letters, therefore tell them all that they will find my character respectable & honor untarnished. I have saved my pursing Books so that all my profits hitherto will take place and all will be well. Give my blessing to my Dear Harriet, my Dear Mary, my Dear Betsy & to my Dear little stranger & tell them I shall soon be home.
Remember to your Father & Annie Campbell & give affection and respect to your uncle & family. To you my Love I give all that an affectionate Husband can give—Love, Respect & all that is or ever will be in the power of your ever affectionate Friend & Husband
Wm. Bligh
Description Mutineers P. 1 Home William Bligh Letter to Secretary