Bligh, William | One of the most remarkable incidents in maritime history

Bligh, William

A Narrative of the Mutiny, on board His Majesty's Ship Bounty ... London: for George Nicol, 1790

4to (282 x 230 mm). 4 engraved charts, 3 of which folding, title-page; third folding chart with internal closed tear not affecting plate, offsetting from charts 3 and 4 onto text, some creases to the folding charts due to improper folding. In contemporary tree calf, spine with raised bands in 6 compartments, second compartment lettered in gilt; rebacked at an earlier date, upper board detached but present, lower board partially detached, overall rubbed and worn.

First edition of Captain Bligh's own account of the mutiny, one of the most remarkable incidents in the whole of maritime history. On 27 April 1789, Captain Bligh noticed that his private store of coconuts, kept on the deck, had shrunk a bit. He questioned his officers, and allegedly accused his second-in-command Fletcher Christian, in rather colorful language, of stealing them. Fletcher had for weeks been "in hell," feeling the scourge of Bligh's violent temper, fist-shaking, and offensive language, but to be labelled a thief surpassed the limits of decent conduct. At midnight, Christian had been seen drinking, even though he was to be on watch at 4 AM. Shortly after daybreak on the morning of 28 April 1789, Christian, along with Charles Churchill (master-at-arms), John Mills (the gunner's mate), and seaman Thomas Burkett—all under arms—surprised the captain asleep in his cabin and seized control of the Bounty. Eighteen men (some so ordered by Christian) were shipped in the Bounty's 23-foot launch. Bligh was then forced over the side with only a five-day supply of rations and water and without the benefit of his charts, surveys, and drawings. Whatever his personal shortcomings, Bligh was an excellent navigator, astronomer, and cartographer. With only a quadrant, sextant, compass, and navigational tables, he negotiated the launch through more than 3,600 miles of dangerous waters, often in heavy weather, to the Dutch colony of Coupang on the island of Timor.

After the publication of his narrative, Bligh presented copies to the Lords of the Admiralty and other influential people in the hope that his account of the mutiny would absolve him from any blame. The official account did not appear until 1792 under the title A Voyage to the South Sea.

REFERENCE:

Ferguson I, 71; Hill 132

PROVENANCE:

Lord Clifton (pencil annotation to pastedown and accompanying note)