Revised 6/4/2008

Bond Letter

[The following is an excerpt of a letter from Francis Godolphin Bond to his brother in December, 1972. Mr. Bond served as First Lieutenant on Bligh's second Breadfruit mission in the Providence. He is speaking of Bligh, who was 'a close relation.']

I assure you that it is no small disappointment to my hopes that I have not gained as much information as expected;—an insurmountable bar has always lain in my way, since my pride will not allow me to receive magisterial tuition, nor bow with servile flattery. Is it the fashion to begin or end a miscellaneous epistle with our grievances?... Before this enigma is cleared up, let me enjoin the strictest secersy [sic] and insist on your not acquiring even your good wife, my mother, nor my dear sister with the circumstance.... Yes, Tom, our relation had the credit of being a tyrant in his last expedition, where his misfortunes and good fortune have elevated him to a situation he is incapable of supporting with decent modesty. The very high opinion he has of himself makes him hold every one of our profession with contempt, perhaps envy. Nay, the Navy is but a sphere for fops and lubbers to swarm in, without one gem to vie in brilliancy with himself. I don't mean to depreciate his extensive knowledge as a seaman and nautical astronomer, but condemn that went [wont] of modesty in self-estimation. To be less prolix I will inform you that he has treated me (nay, all on board) with the insolence and arrogance of a Jacobs; and not withstanding his passion is partly to be attributed to a nervous fever, with which he has been attacked most of the voyage, the chief part of his conduct must have arisen from the fury of an ungovernable temper. Soon after leaving England I wished to receive instruction from this imperious master, until I found he publically exposed any deficiency on my part in the Nautical Art, &c. A series of this conduct determined me to trust to myself, which I hope will in some measure repay me for the trouble of this disagreeable voyage — in itself pleasant, but made otherwise by being worried at every opportunity. His maxims are of a nature that at once pronounce him an enemy to the lovers of Natural Philosophy; for to make use of his own words, "No person can do the duty of a ist Lieut., who does more than write the days work in his publick journal!" This is so inimical to the sentiments that I find the utmost difficulty in keeping on to tolerate terms with him. The general orders which have been given are to that purport.—I am constantly to keep on my legs from 8 o'th morning to 12 or noon, altho' I keep the usual watch. The officer of the morning watch attends to the cleaning of of the decks; yet I am also to be present, not only to get it done, but be even mentally active on these and all other occasions. He expects me to be acquainted with every transasction on board, notwithstanding he himself will give the necessary orders to the Warrant Officers before I can put it in execution. Every dogma of power and consequence has been taken from the Lieutenants, to establish, as he thinks, his own reputation—what imbecility for a post Captn! The inferior warrants have had orders from the beginning of the expedition, not to issue the least article to a Lieut. without his orders; so that a cleat, fathom of log line, or indeed a hand swab, must have the Commander's sanction. One of the last and most beneficent commands was, that the carpenter's crew should not drive a nail for me without I would first ask his permission, — but my heart is filled with the proper material always to disdain this humiliation.... My messmates have remarked he never spoke of my possessing one virtue — tho' by the bye he has never dared to say I have none. Every officer who has nautical information, a knowledge of natural history, a taste for drawing, or anything to constitute him proper for circumnavigating, becomes odious; for great as he is in his own good opinion, he must have entertained fears some of his ship's company meant to (submit) a spurious Narrative to the judgement and perusal of the publick.... The future will determine whether promotion will be the reward of this voyage. I still flatter myself it will, notwithstanding what I have said. Consistent with self-respect, I still remain tolerably passive; and if nothing takes place very contrary to my feelings, all may end will; but this will totally depend on circumstances, one of which is the secrecy requested of you concerning the tenor of this letter....