'MADAM,--I received your letter this day, and feel for you very much, being perfectly sensible of the extreme distress you must suffer from the conduct of your son Peter. _His baseness is beyond all description_, but I hope you will endeavour to prevent the loss of him, heavy as the misfortune is, from afflicting you too severely. I imagine he is, with the rest of the mutineers, returned to Otaheite.--- I am, Madam, (Signed) 'WM. BLIGH.' Colonel Holwell, the uncle of young Heywood, had previously addressed Bligh on the same melancholy subject, to whom he returned the following answer:-- '_26th March_, 1790. 'SIR,--I have just this instant received your letter. With much concern I inform you that your nephew, Peter Hey wood, is among the mutineers. _His ingratitude to me is of the blackest dye_, for I was a father to him in every respect, and he never once had an angry word from me through the whole course of the voyage, as his conduct always gave me much pleasure and satisfaction. I very much regret _that so much baseness formed the character_ _of a young man_ I had a real regard for, and it will give me much pleasure to hear that his friends _can bear the loss of him without much concern_.--I am, Sir, etc. (Signed) 'WM. BLIGH.' The only way of accounting for this ferocity of sentiment towards a youth, who had in point of fact no concern in the mutiny, is by a reference to certain points of evidence given by Hayward, Hallet, and Purcell on the court-martial, each point wholly unsupported. Those in the boat would no doubt, during their long passage, often discuss the conduct of their messmates left in the _Bounty_, and the unsupported evidence given by these three was well calculated to create in Bligh's mind a prejudice against young Heywood; yet, if so, it affords but a poor excuse for harrowing up the feelings of near and dear relatives. As a contrast to these ungracious letters, it is a great relief to peruse the correspondence that took place, on this melancholy occasion, between this unfortunate young officer and his amiable but dreadfully afflicted family. The letters of his sister, Nessy Heywood (of which a few will be inserted in the course of this narrative), exhibit so lively and ardent an affection for her beloved brother, are couched in so high a tone of feeling for his honour, and confidence in his innocence, and are so nobly answered by the suffering youth, that no apology seems to be required for their introduction, more especially as their contents are strictly connected with the story of the ill-fated crew of the _Bounty_. After a state of long suspense, this amiable and accomplished young lady thus addresses her brother:-- '_Isle of Man, 2nd June_, 1792.