’To Mr. Samuel (clerk) I am indebted for securing my journals and commission, with some material ship papers.  Without these I had nothing to certify what I had done, and my honour and character might have been suspected, without my possessing a proper document to have defended them.  All this he did with great resolution, though guarded and strictly watched.  He attempted to save the timekeeper, and a box with my surveys, drawings, and remarks, for fifteen years past, which were numerous; when he was hurried away with “D—­n your eyes, you are well off to get what you have.”

It appeared to me that Christian was some time in doubt whether he should keep the carpenter, or his mates; at length he determined on the latter, and the carpenter was ordered into the boat.  He was permitted, but not without some opposition, to take his tool-chest.

’Much altercation took place among the mutinous crew during the whole business:  some swore “I’ll be d——­ d if he does not find his way home, if he gets anything with him”; and when the carpenter’s chest was carrying away, “D——­ n my eyes, he will have a vessel built in a month”; while others laughed at the helpless situation of the boat, being very deep, and so little room for those who were in her.  As for Christian, he seemed as if meditating destruction on himself and every one else.

’I asked for arms, but they laughed at me, and said I was well acquainted with the people among whom I was going, and therefore did not want them; four cutlasses, however, were thrown into the boat, after we were veered astern.

’The officers and men being in the boat, they only waited for me, of which the master-at-arms informed Christian; who then said—­“Come, Captain Bligh, your officers and men are now in the boat, and you must go with them; if you attempt to make the least resistance, you will instantly be put to death”; and without further ceremony, with a tribe of armed ruffians about me, I was forced over the side, when they untied my hands.  Being in the boat, we were veered astern by a rope, a few pieces of pork were thrown to us, and some clothes, also the cutlasses I have already mentioned; and it was then that the armourer and carpenters called out to me to remember that they had no hand in the transaction.  After having undergone a great deal of ridicule, and been kept for some time to make sport for these unfeeling wretches, we were at length cast adrift in the open ocean.

’I had with me in the boat the following persons: 

     Names.  Stations.

JOHN FRYER                      Master. 
THOMAS LEDWAKD                  Acting Surgeon. 
DAVID NELSON                    Botanist. 
WILLIAM PECKOVER                Gunner. 
WILLIAM COLE                    Boatswain. 
WILLIAM PURCELL                 Carpenter. 
WILLIAM ELPHINSTONE             Master’s Mate. 
THOMAS HAYWARD      }           Midshipman. 
JOHN HALLET         }               do.