The Bounty remained at Otaheite until the 3d of April 1789, at which place the number of bread fruit plants was completed. The number amounted to 1015, and they were contained in 774 pots, 39 tubs, and 24 boxes. Lieut. Bligh sailed from Otaheite on the 4th of April, and having passed through the Society Islands, and visited some of the Friendly Islands, the voyage promised every success, until the 28th of March 1789, when a conspiracy, which had been planned with infi nite caution, was carried into effect, and the whole of Lieut. Bligh's exertions were blasted for a season.
"Until the day of the mutiny," says that gentleman in his narrative, " the voyage had advanced in a course of uninterrupted prosperity, and had been attended with many circumstances equally pleasing and satisfactory. A very different scene was now to be experienced. A conspiracy had been formed, which was to render all our past labour productive only of extreme misery and dis tress. The means had been concerted and prepared with so much secrecy and circumspection; that no one circumstance appeared to occasion the smallest suspicion. of the impending calamity." Early on the morning of the 28th of April 1789,. Lieutenant Bligh was seized, when asleep in his cabin, by a party of armed mutineers, and forced on deck in his shirt, with his hands tied with a cord behind his back. On at rivingupon deck, he found that such of the officers (the master, the gunner, the surgeon, one of the master's mates, and Nelson the botanist) as had maintained their allegiance, were confined in the fore hatchway, and were guarded by centinels. The launch was hoisted, and the designs of the mutineers were then evident. Particular individuals were ordered into the boat ; and those that hesitated were forced to comply. Their commander was compelled to accompany them. Eighteen of Lieu tenant Bligh's crew remained faithful to their duty. Among these, particular praise is due to Mr Samuel, (the clerk of the commander,) for his very meritorious exertions in securing Mr Bligh's journals, commission, and some valuable ship-papers. His attempts to carry off the timekeeper, with a box containing the lieuten ant's surveys, drawings, and remarks, for fifteen years, were frustrated. Four of the crew were detained by the mutineers, in opposition to their own wishes.
Mr Bligh and his unfortunate party, with 1501bs. of bread, a small quantity of wine and rum, a few pieces of pork, a quadrant and compass, with a few other ma terials necessary for navigation, were cast adrift on the open ocean, by the unfeeling mutineers. The ring leader of this mutiny appears to have been a Mr Chris tian, the master's mate ; and his associates were two midshipmen, some petty officers, and about fourteen seamen, making all together twenty-five men. It may be difficult to develope the motives of their extraordi nary conduct ; and as the transaction has for a long time been nearly forgotten, it is not necessary to wound the feelings of those who may have the misfortune to be con nected with men capable of forgetting their duty to their king and country so completely as Mr Christian and his associates appear to have done.
After having encountered no less danger from the elements than from the treachery of the savage inhabi tants of the island of Tofoa, one of the Friendly Islands, this band of determined heroes reached New Holland, where they refreshed themselves by rest, and obtained some supplies of food. From New Holland they pro ceeded across the ocean, and on the 14th of June 1789, after having encountered famine, and exposure to the inclemency of the elements, they arrived at the Dutch settlement of Coupang, in the island of Timor, ..fter having traversed the open ocean for more than 124:0 leagues, in an open boat, without the loss of a single in dividual by disease. The reception which those unfor tunate people met with from the Dutch government, was gratifying in the last degree ; and the benevolent attention she wn them, enabled to return to their native land. Lieutenant Bligh arrived in England on the 14th of March 1790. During this most perilous voyage many valuable observations were made, and have been recorded by Admiral Bligh in his narrative. They are worthy of attention ; but, as they are not con nected with the subject of this article, we must refer to the original work itself.
Thus, for a time, the benevolent wishes of the king were disappointed, by those, whose most anxious desire should have•been to promote such praise-worthy efforts by every means in their power.