LETTERS. 69 
"His MAJESTY'S SHIP Hector, PORTSMOUTH, 
July Uth, 1792. 
" DEAR MADAM, I make no doubt you have 
already heard of my arrival here, as a prisoner, 
to answer for my conduct done on the day that 
unfortunate mutiny happened which deprived 
Captain Bligh of his ship, and I then feared, of 
life ; but, thank God, it is otherwise, and I 
sincerely congratulate you, Madam, upon his 
safe, and almost miraculoiis, arrival in England. 
I hope ere this you have heard of the cause of my 
determination to remain in the ship ; which was 
unknown to Captain Bligh, who, unable to con- 
jecture the reason, did as I have reason to fear 
(I must say, naturally,) conclude, or rather sus- 
pect, me to have likewise been a coadjutor in 
that unhappy affair. But God only knows how 
little I merited so unjust a suspicion, if such a 
suspicion ever entered his breast. My thorough 
consciousness of never having merited it, makes 
me sometimes flatter myself that he could scarcely 
be so cruel ; and ere long let me hope I shall 
have an equitable tribunal to plead at; before 
which (through God's assistance) I shall have it 
in my power to proclaim my innocence, and 
clear up my long-injured character before the 
world. 
" I hear he has gone out again ; if so, may he 
have all the success he can wish ! Alas, Madam, 
I yesterday heard of the melancholy news of 
the death of your best of parents. I heartily 
condole with you for his loss. In him I lost the 
most kind friend and advocate, whose memory 
