Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v2p2.djvu/288

only for the righteous of heart. I have not been found guilty of the slightest act of the detestable crime of mutiny, but am doomed to die for not being active in my endeavours to suppress it. Could the witnesses who appear, ed on the court-martial be tried, they would also suffer for the same and only crime of which I have been guilty – but I am to be the victim! * * * * * * As this is too tender a subject for me to inform my unhappy and distressed mother and sisters of, I trust, dear Sir, you will either shew them this letter, or make known to them the truly dreadful intelligence, in such a manner as, assisted by your wholesome and paternal advice, may enable them to bear it with Christian fortitude. The only worldly feelings I am now possessed of are for their happiness and welfare; but even these, in my present situation, I must endeavour, with God’s assistance, to eradicate from my heart. How hard soever the task! I must strive against cherishing any temporal affections. Endeavour, dear Sir, to mitigate my afflicted mother’s sorrow; give my everlasting duty to her, and unabated love to my disconsolate brothers and sisters, and all the other relatives I have; encourage them, by my example, to bear up with fortitude, and resignation to the divine will, under their load of misfortunes, almost too great for female nature to support; and teach them to be fully persuaded that all hopes of happiness on earth are vain! As to myself, I still enjoy the most easy serenity of mind, and am, dearest Sir, your greatly indebted and most dutiful, but ill-fated.

(Signed)“Peter Heywood^[1].”

The gentleman alluded to above was the late Aaron Graham Esq. formerly a Purser, R.N. and afterwards well known and deservedly respected for his vigilance and integrity as a police magistrate in London. His communication fortunately reached Dr. Scott by the same packet that conveyed Mr. Peter Heywood’s letter; and the worthy divine was thereby enabled to assure his distressed friend that her beloved son was not only considered innocent by all who had attended his trial, but that his enlargement and speedy restoration to her arms might confidently be expected. The following is an exact copy thereof:

“Portsmouth, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 1792.

“Sir,– Although a stranger, I make no apology for writing to you. I have attended and given my assistance at Mr. Heywood’s trial, which was finished, and the sentence passed, about half an hour since. Before I tell you what is the sentence, I must inform you that his life is safe, notwithstanding it is at present at the mercy of the King, to which he is in the strongest terms recommended by the Court. That any unnecessary

1. Mr. Heywood, senior, paid the debt of nature on the 6th of Feb. 1790, and was thereby spared the heart-rending affliction to which his unhappy widow was doomed.