“Sir,– I should have returned an earlier answer to your letter of the 15th inst., if I had not been desirous, before I answered it, to look over with as much attention as was in my power, the proceedings on the Court-martia], held in the year 1792, by which Court Mr. Peter Heywood was condemned for being concerned in the mutiny on board the Bounty. I felt this to be necessary, from having entertained a very strong opinion that it might be detrimental to the interests of his Majesty’s service if a person under such a predicament should be afterwards advanced to the higher and more conspicuous situations of the navy: but having, with great attention, perused the minutes of that Court-martial, as far as they relate to Mr. Peter Heywood, I have now the satisfaction of being able to inform you, that I think his case was such an one, as, under all its circumstances (though I do not mean to say that the Court were not justified in their sentence) ought not to be considered as a bar to his further progress in his profession; more especially when the gallantry and propriety of his conduct, in his subsequent service, is taken into consideration. I shall, therefore, have no difficulty in mentioning him to the Commander-in-Chief on the station to which he belongs, as a person from whose promotion, on a proper opportunity, I shall derive much satisfaction, more particularly from his being so nearly connected with you. I have the honor to be, Sir, with great truth, &c. &c.
“To Sir Thomas Pasley, Bart.”
On the 17th May, 1799, Vice-Admiral Rainier being in daily expectation of a despatch announcing the fall of Seringapatam, and the Earl of Mornington, contemplating that event, having previously applied to him for an armed vessel to carry home the important intelligence, was pleased to select the subject of this memoir for that service; and accordingly appointed him Lieutenant and Commander of the Amboyna brig, then cruising with the squadron off Mangalore. To Mr. Heywood’s great mortification, however, he found on his arrival at Madras, after a passage of only nine days, that the Governor-General’s despatches had been sent away in a merchant vessel before he left the Suffolk; Tippoo Sultan having been slain, and the Mysore capital carried by storm, thirteen day’s prior to the date of Admiral Rainier’s order. In consequence of this disappointment he rejoined the Suffolk, and continued in her till Aug. 1800, when he was promoted to the command of the Vulcan bomb, and sent in an armed transport to join her at the island of Amboyna.
Captain Heywood subsequently commanded the Trincomalee of 18 guns, Trident 64, Leopard 50, and Dedaigneuse frigate. His post commission was confirmed by the Admi-
