Hamilton, George | The rare first edition on the Bounty mutineers

Hamilton, George

A Voyage Round the World, in His Majesty's Frigate Pandora. Performed under the Direction of Captain Edwards in the Years 1790, 1791, and 1792. With the Discoveries made in the South-Sea; and the many Distresses experienced by the Crew … Berwick: Printed by and for W. Phorsdon, 1793

8vo (231 x 145 mm). Engraved frontispiece portrait, title-page, 2pp. of tables at end; frontispiece leaf with early ownership inscription to verso, stray marks not affecting portrait, small chip at head and short closed marginal tears, stray early annotations and smudging, puncture to outer margins of p. 143 and p. 151, the latter with an adjacent short closed tear. In 20th-century full calf, spine with raised bands in 6 compartments, 2nd compartment with red morocco label lettered in gilt, 3rd lettered in gilt, others with repeat gilt fleurons, boards ruled and gilt, board edges gilt; light rubbing and scratches to boards.

The rare first edition on the Bounty mutineers, the account rendered by the ship's surgeon, George Hamilton.

On 23 March 1791, H. M. S. Pandora, a 24-gun Porcupine class frigate commanded by Captain Edward Edwards arrived in Tahiti. Edwards, a right Tartar of an officer and a near victim himself of mutiny a few years earlier, had orders to pursue the Bounty fugitives, and did so with a bloodthirsty vengeance. Heywood and another youngster from the Bounty, George Stewart, who paddled out to the ship of their own volition, were immediately arrested and clapped in irons. Twelve others were apprehended on the island shortly thereafter, including the three men whom Bligh had declared innocent of rebellion: Coleman, McIntosh and Norman.

The fourteen men were confined in what was styled "Pandora's Box," a closed area eleven feet long and eighteen feet wide built on top of the quarterdeck. The entrance was through a scuttle, eighteen inches square in the roof, secured by an iron bolt passed through the coamings. The only air admitted was through two iron grates, nine inches square, in the bulkhead. The heat was so intense that the prisoners' sweat streamed in rivulets into the scuppers.

On 28 August 1791 Pandora struck a reef in the treacherous Endeavour Straits, and nine feet of water quickly flooded the hold. Coleman, McIntosh, and Norman were released to work the pumps; Edwards refused to free the other prisoners. The armourer's mate, hearing the prisoners' desperate pleas for mercy, went to remove their irons. Thirty-four Pandoras and four prisoners drowned, leaving eighty-nine of the ship's company, and ten prisoners. Edwards erected tents for his people, but refused the prisoners a useless, old sail so they buried themselves in the hot sand, which scorched their naked bodies. On 1 September, they repeated part of Bligh's track in an open boat (1100 miles), arriving at Coupang 16 September. Upon their return to England in 1792, three of the prisoners were hanged, and the rest acquitted.

In the course of the journey, Edwards determined the best passage to Botany Bay, discovered the islands of Ducie, Nukunono, Rotuma, Anuda, and Pitt, among others.

REFERENCE:

Kropelien 507; Ferguson 151; Hill 766

PROVENANCE:

P.R. Sandwell, sold, Christie's New York, September 21, 2005, lot 45