of writing to you. Alas! my beloved brother,
two years ago I never expected again to enjoy
such a felicity, and even yet I am in the most
painful uncertainty whether you are alive.
Gracious God, grant that we may be at length blessed
by your return I but, alas! the Pandora’s
people have been long expected, and are not even
yet arrived. Should any accident have happened,
after all the miseries you have already suffered,
the poor gleam of hope with which we have been
lately indulged, will render our situation ten thousand
times more insupportable than if time had inured
us to your loss. I send this to the care
of Mr. Hayward, of Hackney, father to the young
gentleman you so often mention in your letters
while you were on board the Bounty, and who
went out as third lieutenant of the Pandora—a
circumstance which gave us infinite satisfaction,
as you would, on entering the Pandora,
meet your old friend. On discovering old Mr.
Hayward’s residence, I wrote to him, as
I hoped he could give me some information respecting
the time of your arrival, and in return he sent
me a most friendly letter, and has promised this
shall be given to you when you reach England, as I
well know how great must be your anxiety to hear
of us, and how much satisfaction it will give
you to have a letter immediately on your return.
Let me conjure you, my dearest Peter, to write
to us the very first moment—do not lose
a post—’tis of no consequence
how short your letter may be, if it only informs
us you are well. I need not tell you that you
are the first and dearest object of our affections.
Think, then, my adored boy, of the anxiety we
must feel on your account; for my own part, I
can know no real joy or happiness independent
of you, and if any misfortune should now deprive us
of you, my hopes of felicity are fled for ever.
’We are at present making all possible interest with every friend and connexion we have, to ensure you a sufficient support and protection at your approaching trial; for a trial you must unavoidably undergo, in order to convince the world of that innocence, which those who know you will not for a moment doubt; but, alas! while circumstances are against you, the generality of mankind will judge severely. Bligh’s representations to the Admiralty are, I am told, very unfavourable, and hitherto the tide of public opinion has been greatly in his favour. My mamma is at present well, considering the distress she has suffered since you left us; for, my dearest brother, we have experienced a complicated scene of misery from a variety of causes, which, however, when compared with the sorrow we felt on your account, was trifling and insignificant; that misfortune made all others light, and to see you once more returned, and safely restored to us, will be the summit of all earthly happiness.
’Farewell, my most beloved brother! God grant this may soon be put into your hands