Revised Jun 6 2021

No 24. Mr. P. Heywood to Miss Heywood

Hector July 5th 1792

My dear Sister Mary.

Forgive my long Silence to you, when I assure you that I have not done it through any Neglect, but from a supposition that t'wou'd be equal, which of my every dear Sister received my first Epistle, though it was addressed to my Sister Nessy; – which with my not knowing where you now are hath occasioned my Taciturnity — having heard from some, that you are at Douglas, from others, at Whitehaven; to both Places I have directed my former Jun 21, 1792 Letters. — the first of which was sent from this Place on the 21st. of last Month, since that Time I have had no Answer, which I attribute only to the Chance of the Packet's having been detained 'twixt Ports. — But: — my Impatience has been somewhat alleviated by receiving from Mrs. Bertie who had received Letters from some of you; informing her that you were all in perfect Health; — from that Lady, I have received the greatest Civilities — she sends me constant Supplies of necessary, and vegetable Nurishment my Confinement, & weak State of Body stood in very great Need of, but by more wholesome Diet, I am now much recruited. — I have the highest sense of Gratitude for the Kindness & Assistance of Mr. Heywood, who will supply with whatever I am in Need of, & furnish me with such Cloaths as will be requisite for me to appear in upon my Trial; exclusive of this I have likewise by a Letter from my Uncle Pasley Yesterday received his kind Professions of Friendship through Sir Andrew Snape Hammond, whom he has authorized to supply me with Money or whatever else I shall apply to him for. — to repay such Marks of Friendship as I have already received from all my most worthy Friends, I can only hope to be able by shewing an ever grateful remembrance, of, & by proving myself deserving of having received them.

I had a Letter Yesterday from Mr. Fryer late Master of the Bounty, in Answer to one I wrote him, who say's "Keep your Spirits up, for I am of Opinion no one can say, you had an active Part in the Mutiny, & be assured of my doing you justice when called upon." — I had the Honor of a Visit, on Monday from a Mr. Delafons, (a Friend of my Uncle Pasley's) who after enquiring into the Particulars relative to my situation, & advised me to write a Petition to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to grant me a speedy Trial; the Form of which he was so good as to draw Jun 20, 1792
Apr 28, 1789 up & sent to me on Tuesday, a Copy of it with a Narrative (similar to what I wrote to Nessy on the 20th. setting forth my Conduct on the 28th. of April & my Innocence) inclosed, I sent Yesterday to their Lordships, (who are now at Portsmouth,) & hope it may have the desired Effect, of speedily making my Guilt or Innocence known to the World, & of relieving me from the miserable State, of Anxiety, & Suspense, I am now in.

A Lieut. Spranger who frequently visits me informed me that he saw you all well at Douglas, six Weeks ago, & I had the same Account from a young Gentleman Yesterday, who was there, only three Weeks ago, – but those Accounts only serve to whet my Impatience to hear from some of you to inform me of your worldly Felicity; which alone will alleviate my Misfortunes, which nevertheless, I account as nothing, & endeavour to amuse myself with the pleasing Hopes of e'er long being at my wonted Liberty, & of returning to my long-lost Native Country, & of crowning my past years of Affliction, with Years of Joy, in the Enjoyment of the solacing Conversation of my dear Sisters & all my relations, & again taste the Sweets of Domestic Happiness. — With the most profound Duty to my ever honor'd Mother & Love to my Sisters &c &c –

Believe me ever to be

  your most affectionate Brother

    Peter Heywood