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