Statement by James Morrison
(9/17/1792)
JAMES MORRISON being called
on for his Defence, he delivered a Paper
Writing to the Court containing his Defence, which was read by the
Judge Advocate and is hereto annexed. Consious of my own Innocence
of Evry Article of the Charge Exhibited against me, and fully
saitisfied of my Zeal for His Majesty's service, I offer the following
Narration, in Vindication of my Conduct on the 28th day of
April 1789. I was Boatswain's Mate of
His Majesty's Ship "Bounty," and had the Watch on deck from
eight till twelve on the Night of the 28th. of April, 1789. When I came
on deck, Mr. Fryer, who was an Officer of the Watch, ordered me
aft to the Conn, as Peter Linkletter, the Quarter Master, complaind
that he could not keep his Watch. There was little wind all the
Watch, and we were then Near the Island of Tofoa ; I suppose
about 8 or Nine Leagues off. I staid at the Conn till 12
O'Clock; when I was releiv'd by John Norton, Quarter Master, and went
to my hammock; and slept till daylight; when Mr. Cole the
Boatswain waked me, and told me the Ship was taken, and that Mr.
Christian had made the Captain prisoner; and then said, "I hope.
Morrison, you have no intention to join Christian's party? I answerd him, "No, Sir,
you may depend upon it, that I will not; it is far from
my intentions.” He then left me, and I hurried on my Cloaths,
went up the fore scuttle, and into the Head to look round about me,
when I soon found the truth of what Mr. Cole had said, and saw Jn.
Williams on the Fore Castel with a Musquet and fix”d Bayonet, Wm. M’Coy
and Robt. Lamb at the fore hatchway, Isaac Martin and Wm. Brown on the
after part of the Booms, and Henry. Heildbrant
on the Quarter deck, all Arm’d in the same manner; Captain Bligh was on
the labored Side of the quarter deck between the Guns, with his hands tied
behind him and Mr. Christian standing by him with a bayonet in one hand
and the other on Captain Bligh’s Shoulder.
The small boat was then Out and some hands were Clearing
the large Cutter, and Chas. Churchill on the booms giving directions
with a drawn cutlass in his hand. I staid but a few Minutes in
the head, when I came Aft and met Mr. Cole at the forehatchway
and asked him,” “What was to be done?” he
told me he did not know,
but desired me to assist in Clearing the Cutter; Jn. Smith as the same
time came forward with a bottle of Rum and a Blas; of which he gave me
a glass saying, “you may as well have a drop, Morrison,
Tho’ I am ordered to serve none but the Centinels.” I took the rum and went about Clearing the
Cutter and got her out, when Chas. Norman, who was then in the
small Cutter complaining that he could not keep her free.
She was got in, and in the Meantime Mr. Christian Ordered
Chas. Churchill to see Mr. Hayward, Mr. Halley, Mr. Fryer, and Mr.
Samuel, into the boat, telling them himself at the same time to get
ready to go on shore with the Captain. Mr.
Cole, Mr. Purcell, some others then went to Mr. Christian
and beg’d for the Long boat, which after some hesitation was granted
and Orders given for getting her out. I went about Clearing
her, and while I was thus Emply’d Mr. Fryer came to me and
asked me if I had any hand in the Mutiny.
I told him No! He then
desired Me to see Who I could find to Assist me and try to rescue
the Ship. I told him I fear’d it was then too late, but would
do my endeavour, when Jn. Millward, who stood by Me, and heard what Mr.
Fryer said, swore he would stand by Me if an Opportunity Offered. Mr. Fryer was about to Speak again, but was
prevented by Mathw. Quintell, who, with a pistol in one hand,
Collar’d him with the Other saying, “Come, Mr. Fryer, you Must
go down into your Cabbin,” and hauled him away.
Churchill then Came, and shaking his Cutlass at Me,
demanded what Mr. Fryer said. I told him
that he Only aske’d me if they were going to have the Long-boat; upon
Which Alexdr. Smith, who stood on the Opposite side of the boat, said
“It’s a dam’d lye Charley, for I saw him and Millward
shake hands when the Master spoke to them.” Churchill
then said to me, “ I would have you mind how you Come on,
for I have my Eye upon you.” Smith
at the same time Calld out, "Stand to your arms, for they intend to'
make a Rush." This, as it was intended, put
the Mutineers on their Guard, and I found it Necessary to' be very
Cautious how I Acted, and I heard Captain Bligh say to Smith, "I did
not expect you would be against me, Smith "-but I could not hear
what answer he made. However, I proceeded in
Clearing the boat, and when she was hoisted out I heard Mr.
Christian order Churchill to see that no Arms were put
into her, to keep Norman, McIntosh and Coleman
in the Ship, and get the Officers into the boat as fast
as possible while Churchill was putting his Orders into execution I was
employ'd in getting a Towline and Grapnell and sundry
other articles into the boat, but she in the meantime was got so
full and so deep that those who were in her began
to Cry out that she would sink alongside if any more came
into her; upon which Captain Bligh said, "you can't all go in
the Boat, my lads; don't overload her, some of you must
stay in the Ship." Captain Bligh then ask'd Mr. Christian to let the Master
and same of the Men remain in the Ship, to which he
replied, " The Men may stay, but the Master must go
with you," and Ordered Mr. Fryer to go into the Boat Imediately. Mr. Fryer beg'd permission
to stay, but to no purpose, and he was forced to go into the
Boat; an seeing Mr. Fryer and Mast of the Officers go into the boat
without the least Appearance of an effort to rescue the Ship I
began to' reflect on my own Situation and seeing the situation of the
boat, and Considering that she was at least 1000 leagues from any
friendly Settlement and Judging by what I had seen of the Friendly
Islanders but a few days before, that nothing Could be expected from
them but to' be plunder'd, or killd, and seeing no
Choice but of one evil, I chose, as I thought, the least, to' stay
in the Ship, especially as I Considered it as Obeying Captain
Bligh's Orders, and depending on his promise to do Justice to
those who remaind, I informed Mr. Cole of my Intention, who made me the
like promise, taking me by the hand and saying, " God
bless you, my boy, I will do you Justice if ever I reach
England." I also inform'd Mr. Thos.
Hayward of My intention, and on his droping a hint to me that he
intended to knock Chas. Churchill down I told him I would second him,
pointing at some of the Friendly Island Clubbs which were sticking in
the Booms and telling him there were tools enough! I was heartily rejoiced
to think that any Officer intended to make an Attempt, but was as
suddenly damp'd to find that he went into the Boat without
making the Attempt he had proposed, and now gave over all
hopes, and resolved to bear my fate with as much fortitude
as I was Able. As Soon as Captain Bligh was
in the Boat she was wore Astern. I went aft and on heading Captain
Bligh request some provisions I got all the pork which was in the
harness Casks, twenty five or six pieces, and handed into the
boat. I also got two large Gourds
of Water out of my Own birth which contain'd from 3 to 4,
Gallons each; these I also handed in, and on Captain Bligh's
desiring me to get him a Musquet or two I went to Christian and beg'd
him to let me give one into the Boat, but was refused; when on
making further intersession he Ordered four Cutlasses, two of which I
handed in my self and Churchill brought the other two and said,
" There, Captain Bligh! you don't stand in Need of fire
arms as you are Going among your friends." There being little wind,
Christian said, " They will make better at their Oars than wait
to be tow'd." Notice of this being given to those in
the Boat, Mr. Cole asked for some thing to sling the Masts over
the side that they might be the better able to work at their Oars; on
hearing this I procured a Ball of Spun yarn and gave into the
Boat. She was now Cast
off and Christian call' d me to hoist in the Cutter. I heard Captain
Bligh desire to speak to Mr. Christian, but he gave Orders that
no person should answer. With respect to the Evidence
given against me, it has been said that from my alacrity
in assisting to Clear the Boats, and get them out, it would appear,
as if I rather favoured those in Arms; But! it has been fully
proved to this Honorable Court that the Boats were only granted
after Much solicitation by the Officers who intended
quitting the Ship; and if the Launch had not been prepared
with the utmost expedition the Chief of the Mutineers might
have recall'd his grant. I acted in this, by
order of Mr. Cole, the Boatswain, nor can more Guilt (if it can be
deem'd such be imputed to me in this particular than to Himself,
Who hoisted them out, or to the Carpenter and his Crew
who were also active in pre-paring them My Countenance has
also been compared with that of another employ'd on the same
business. This Honorable Court knows that all Men do not bear
misfortunes with the same fortitude or equanimity of Mind, and
that the face is too often a bad index to the Heart. If there were No sorrow
mark'd in my Countenance, it was to deceive those whose Act I
abhorred, that I might be at liberty to seize the first
Opportunity that might appear favourable, to the retaking of
the Ship. The Evidence who drew this
Comparison has Owned that it did not then appear to him
I was Concerned in the Mutiny, and that it was only an opinion
formed, from not finding me in the Boat. An Opinion so
founded will, I trust, have no Weight with this Honorable
Court, having no foundation whereupon it may rest. So uncertain is the Judging of Countenances,
that Captain Bligh declares in his letter, from the
Carpenter's sullen and ferocious aspect, he took him to
be one of the Chief Mutineers; which unfavourable Opinion was entirely
overthrown by his bearing him Company in the Boat; but, had he chosen
to remain in the Ship, to an Uncertain (and Judging by
Appearances) inevitable fate in the Boat, such Conjecture would
have been thought well grounded on him, though his
innocence would have been equally strong, to a being who Could have
discerned his Inward Soul. It has been fully proved and
Owned that I was not the only person who bore no
active part in the Mutiny that wish'd to remain in the Ship, had
they been permitted; and I Humbly conceive it is impossible
to say who might have staid had permission been granted. Let the Members of this
Honorable Court Suppose them-selves in my then unfortunate
situation, and it will appear doubtful even to them, Which
alternative they would have taken. A Boat alongside already
crowded, those who were in her Crying Out she would sink, and Captain
Bligh desiring no more might go in, with a slender
stock of Provisions; what hope could there be to reach any
Friendly Shore, or with-stand the boisterous attacks of Hostile Elements? The Perils those underwent who reached
the Island of Timor, and whom Nothing but the Apparent Interference of
Divine Providence could have saved, fully justify my fears, and
prove beyond a Doubt, that they rested on a solid foundation;
for by staying in the Ship an opportunity might offer of
escaping, but by going in the Boat nothing but Death appeared,
either from the lingering torments of Thirst and Hunger,
or from the Murderous Weapons of Cruel Savages, or being Swallowed
up by the Deep. Mr. Hayward in Saying there
were other Boats, which those who had chosen might have
got into, tacitly acknowledges that the Launch was then as
deep as she could swim, and which also fully appears
from Mr. Fryer and the Carpenter's Evidence to have been
the Case. As to the suggestion of
having another Boat, This Honorable Court is well informed
that the small Cutter, by reason of her defective Bottom, would not
swim; is it therefore in the least probable that
Christian would have granted me the large Cutter, the only Boat
then remaining; and the only one fit for Service?
Or even should I go so far as to allow she would have been
granted, it would have been Madness in me to have got into a
heavy Boat by myself without Water or provision, for, after
having with much assiduity and Intreaty, only procured so Small a
quantity for the Number Crowded into the Launch, Could I have expected
anything for myself? And Might I not have Perished with Hunger,
thirst, and fatigue, without getting one Mile
nearer the Land, or if I had reached it, from the reception
those met with in the Launch would not a cruel death have been my
portion: for such a disposition I conceived the Natives to
be of. It has also been said
that when the Boat veerd astern, I appeared by the Taffarel
under Arms. Amidst such a Crowd, Tumult, and Confusion
Might not the Arms in the hands of another wedged by my side easily
be thought to be in my possession? And might not the Voice of
another easily have been taken for mime? To what purpose should
I have Armed myself when all Apprehensions of an Attempt to
retake the Ship must have been over? Had I approved of the Mutiny
and wish'd to Arm myself to Assist in putting it into Execution, I
surely would not have defered till the Officers and the
Men who accompanied them were placed in a helpless situation,
where they Could have no recourse to Arms and could make no
Effectual attack on those who had assumed the Command. Had I approved of
the violence carried into execution, would I have been so active
in procuring subsistance for those whom by so doing I gave perhaps the Only
Chance they could have of reaching an European Settlement,
and appearing against me at a Bar of Justice? I have endeavoured to recall
to Mr. Hayward's remembrance a proposal he at one time made by
Words; of attacking the Mutineers, and of my encouraging him to
the Attempt, promising to back Him with all the Efforts
I was capable of making-He says he has but a feint recollection
of the business, so feint indeed, that he cannot recall to his
Memory the particulars: but owns there was something
pass'd to that purpose. Feint as the Remembrance is
(which for me is the more unfortunate) ought it not to do away
with all doubt with respect to the Motives by which I was then
Influenced? If I Offered to second the Only
Attempt that was proposed for the recovery of the Ship, and which
to me appear'd practicable if put in Execution, Could
My Heart be on the side of the Mutineers? No!
If I had wish'd them to succeed would I not Immediately have
left him and put them on their Guard? Besides,
it fully proves by Mr. Hayward's disclosing his Mind to me,
that he had unlimited Confidence in my Attachment to
Him, or he would not have expressed himself to one of who's
intentions he was doubtful, in that Manner. After the Members of this
Honorable Court have Maturely weigh'd in their Minds, these
Circumstances which to me are of the Utmost Importance, if any
doubts remain in their Minds with respect to my Innocence
on that fatal Day; it has always been Accounted the Glory of Justice
in a doubtful Case to throw Mercy into the
Ballance, when, I doubt not, I shall be acquitted of so black
a Crime. Resting with entire confidence on
the Humanity and Integrity of this Honorable Court, I
humbly wait its Awful decision. I beg leave most humbly to
remind the Members of this Honorable Court that I did freely
and of my Own Accord deliver myself up to Lieutenant Robt. Cornor, of
His Majesty's Ship" Pandora," on the first Certain
Notice of Her Arrival. JAMES MORRISON. [With his defence Morrison
handed in the following evidence as to character. I do certify that Mr. James
Morrison served as a Midshipman on board His Majesty's Sloop"
Termagant" under my command during the year 1782, and I perfectly
recollect his conduct met with my entire approbation, not only for
sobriety and attention to his duty, but I have ever found he paid due
respect to his superiors, and that he was always London, September 3rd, 1792, Captain Stirling encloses
Mr. Morrison a certificate of good behaviour whilst serving under his
command on board the" Termagant"; and he most earnestly hopes that as
Mr. M. at that time behaved… well he will now be able to vindicate his
character from the charge exhibited against him. Bryanston Street, THE BOUNTY MUTINEERS TRIAL HOMEPAGE |