_Edwards_--'Joseph Coleman attempted to come on board before the ship came to an anchor at Otaheite; he was soon afterwards taken up by canoes and came on board before the ship came to an anchor; I began to make inquiries of him after the _Bounty_ and her people. The next who came on board were Stewart and Peter Heywood; they came after the ship was at anchor, but before any boat was on shore. I did not see them come alongside. I desired Lieutenant Larkin to bring them down to the cabin. I asked them what news; Peter Heywood, I think, said he supposed I had heard of the affair of the _Bounty_. I don't recollect all the conversation that passed between us; he sometimes interrupted me by asking for Mr. Hayward, the lieutenant of the _Pandora_, whether he was on board or not--he had heard that he was; at last I acknowledged that he was, and I desired him to come out of my state-room, where I had desired him to go into, as he happened to be with me at the time. Lieutenant Hayward treated him with a sort of contemptuous look, and began to enter into conversation with him respecting the _Bounty_, but I called the sentinel in to take them into custody, and ordered Lieutenant Hayward to desist, and I ordered them to be put into irons; some words passed, and Peter Heywood said he should be able to vindicate his conduct. _Lieutenant Corner_, of the _Pandora_, merely states his being sent to bring the rest of the mutineers on board, who were at some distance from Matavai Bay. The prisoners being called on for their defence, the witnesses were again separately called and examined on the part of the prisoners. _Mr. Fryer_, the master, called in and examined by Mr. Heywood.--'If you had been permitted, would you have stayed in the ship in preference to going into the boat?' _Witness_--'Yes.' _Prisoner_--'Had you stayed in the ship in expectation of retaking her, was my conduct such, from the first moment you knew me to this, as would have induced you to intrust me with your design; and do you believe I would have favoured it, and given you all the assistance in my power?' _Witness_--'I believe he would: I should not have hesitated a moment in asking of him when I had had an opportunity of opening my mind to him.' The same question being put to _Mr. Cole_, the boatswain, _Mr. Peckover_, the gunner, and _Mr. Purcell_, the carpenter, they all answered in the affirmative. Mr. Heywood asked, 'What was my general conduct, temper, and disposition on board the ship?' _Witness_--'Beloved by everybody, to the best of my recollection.' To the same question, _Mr. Cole_ answers, 'Always a very good character.' _Mr. Peckover_--'The most amiable, and deserving of every one's esteem.' _Mr. Purcell_--'In every respect becoming the character of a gentleman, and such as merited the esteem of everybody.'