THE MUTINY. 27' 
that the act of the mutineers was owing to 
tyranny on the part of Bligh, is surely not to 
make their case better ; because, in this point of 
view, the deed must be looked upon as one, not 
only of sinful revenge against him, but of 
cruelty to their unoffending messmates. For 
what prospect was there to men exposed in such 
a manner to the horrors of the deep, but death, 
either by drowning or starvation? 
Those who had been accomplices in the 
mutiny would be likely to make excuses, and to 
throw the fault on any but themselves. Every 
thoughtful reader will naturally doubt the value 
of statements coming from such quarters. 
Bligh was a well-trained and distinguished 
naval officer of a former school. Notwith- 
standing the occasional ebullitions of anger and 
excitement, from the prevalence of which we 
should all strive to keep our own hearts with all 
diligence, still it was his study to make his men, 
not only efficient, but comfortable and happy. 
No one can read his journal without being 
impressed with the tone of thoughtfulnes for 
others which pervades that remarkable work. 
But he could not endure professional neglect. 
Attending strictly to his own duty, he deemed 
it his part to see that those about him should 
attend to theirs : and it will be allowed, that he 
had some men under his command intractable 
enough to try severely a temper less hasty than 
his. On the 9th of March, he had found it 
necessary, on a complaint of the master, to 
punish one of the seamen for insolence, and 
mutinous behaviour. 
