BLIGH'S VOYAGES 137 



for and sympathy with Bligh, by a vote of five hundred 

 guineas. 



We have no record of the language used by Sir Joseph 

 when the news reached him of Bligh's disastrous failure 

 in 1789. He must have been bitterly disappointed and 

 angry. But he was not the man to sit down in idle 

 resignation when a mischief could possibly be repaired. 

 Scarce was the court martial disposed of, in October, 

 1790, than he began to appeal anew to the Ministry of 

 the day. There is a note to Banks from Lord Auckland, 

 dated the Hague, December 29, approving the proposal 

 that another attempt be made to transplant the Bread- 

 fruit tree. Sir George Yonge, soon after this, sent word to 

 Banks that the King had been speaking to him about it ; 

 and bid him confer with Lord Chatham. " I have only to 

 add, the sooner the better. They have now ships of all 

 sorts to spare. ..." 



There was little delay on this occasion. The Providence 

 was fitted out, as the Bounty had been, with conveniences 

 for plant transportation. The errand was again confided 

 to Bligh. He was accompanied by Lieutenant Portlook 

 and the Assistance ; and the two ships sailed for their 

 destination in June, 1791. It was a long voyage. They 

 made some fresh surveys and discoveries in Torres 

 Straits ; called at St. Helena, whence Bligh wrote a good 

 letter to Sir Joseph ; stayed once more at Otaheite, and 

 eventually landed a cargo of plants in several of the 

 West India Islands. Three hundred Bread-fruit trees 

 were safely disembarked at Jamaica, and a like quantity 

 at St. Vincent's. 



It was now February, 1793. Hinton East was dead 

 in the previous November, and did not, therefore, see 

 the fulfilment of his wishes. He had been an ardent 

 promoter of the first mission entrusted to Bligh. His 

 anger was extreme when he heard of its failure ; and he 

 expressed himself in very strong terms when commenting 



