Thomas Ledward was promoted to H.M.A.V. Bounty's surgeon December 9th, 1788 while at Tahiti.
Letter written in Batavia, Oct. 1789
My dear uncle.
I am extremely thankful to God that I am able to inform you that we arrived safe at Batavia, and that we shall sail in a Dutch Indiaman in the course of a fortnight or three weeks for Europe; so that I am not certain but I shall have the pleasure of seeing you before the receipt of this letter.
You will be surprised when you hear I am deprived of my own ship with every individual thing I took out with me, besides effects to a considerable amount which I purchased at the surgeon, Mr. Huggan’s death, viz, the Medicine Chest, Set of Instruments, Medical Books, the furniture of his cabbin &c., all of which were Articles necessary upon my commencing Acting Surgeon.
The Ship was taken from us on the 28 of April 89 by our people off one of the Friendly Islands, & we sailed to Timor in one of the Ship’s open Boats, a passage of more than 1200 Leagues, in somewhat more than six weeks. During this time we were constantly wet: had only the weight of a small musket bullet of Biscuit, & a gill of Water twice a day: after a month however we allowed ourselves the same quantity three times a day, because we found the former allowance would never do.
When I arrived at Timor I was so weak, I could not walk, so that had we been at sea two or three days longer I should certainly have perished: & it was full six weeks before I gained any tolerable firmness.
The sad affair happened early in the morning watch: as so on as I was informed fully how the matter stood, I instantly declared I would go with the Captain, let the consequence be what it would, & not stay among Mutineers. As the particulars of what followed to our arrival at this place will be immediately in the public papers, I shall say nothing further of them at present, but leave them until I shall have the long wished for pleasure of seeing you & my Aunt.
But I have been at great & unavoidable expenses: first at Timor, where I arrived among the Dutch naked, who I must say behaved extremely well to us: & secondly at this place which is extremely dear. I am now at the only Inn, where strangers are entertained, along with to appear like an outcast or a beggar. When I am paid off for the ship, if I can only clear 50 pounds I shall think myself very well off.
There is one thing I must mention which is of consequence: the Captain denied me, as well as the rest of the Gentlemen who had not Agents, any money unless I would give him my power of Attorney & also my Will, in which I was to bequeath to him all my property: this he called by the name of proper security. This unless I did, I should have got no money, though I shewed him a letter of Credit from my Uncle & offered to give him a Bill of Exchange upon him. In case of my death I hope this matter will be clearly pointed out to my relations.
I hope you & my Aunt have been in good health since I left England, which I hope in God again to see in about seven months: please give my respectful duty to her & believe me to be with the greatest truth.
Your Dutiful Nephew
Tho. Denman Ledward.
Letter written in Batavia, Oct. 1789
My dear uncle.
I am extremely thankful to God that I am able to inform you that we arrived safe at Batavia, and that we shall sail in a Dutch Indiaman in the course of a fortnight or three weeks for Europe; so that I am not certain but I shall have the pleasure of seeing you before the receipt of this letter.
You will be surprised when you hear I am deprived of my own ship with every individual thing I took out with me, besides effects to a considerable amount which I purchased at the surgeon, Mr. Huggan’s death, viz, the Medicine Chest, Set of Instruments, Medical Books, the furniture of his cabbin &c., all of which were Articles necessary upon my commencing Acting Surgeon.
The Ship was taken from us on the 28 of April 89 by our people off one of the Friendly Islands, & we sailed to Timor in one of the Ship’s open Boats, a passage of more than 1200 Leagues, in somewhat more than six weeks. During this time we were constantly wet: had only the weight of a small musket bullet of Biscuit, & a gill of Water twice a day: after a month however we allowed ourselves the same quantity three times a day, because we found the former allowance would never do.
When I arrived at Timor I was so weak, I could not walk, so that had we been at sea two or three days longer I should certainly have perished: & it was full six weeks before I gained any tolerable firmness.
The sad affair happened early in the morning watch: as so on as I was informed fully how the matter stood, I instantly declared I would go with the Captain, let the consequence be what it would, & not stay among Mutineers. As the particulars of what followed to our arrival at this place will be immediately in the public papers, I shall say nothing further of them at present, but leave them until I shall have the long wished for pleasure of seeing you & my Aunt.
But I have been at great & unavoidable expenses: first at Timor, where I arrived among the Dutch naked, who I must say behaved extremely well to us: & secondly at this place which is extremely dear. I am now at the only Inn, where strangers are entertained, along with to appear like an outcast or a beggar. When I am paid off for the ship, if I can only clear 50 pounds I shall think myself very well off.
There is one thing I must mention which is of consequence: the Captain denied me, as well as the rest of the Gentlemen who had not Agents, any money unless I would give him my power of Attorney & also my Will, in which I was to bequeath to him all my property: this he called by the name of proper security. This unless I did, I should have got no money, though I shewed him a letter of Credit from my Uncle & offered to give him a Bill of Exchange upon him. In case of my death I hope this matter will be clearly pointed out to my relations.
I hope you & my Aunt have been in good health since I left England, which I hope in God again to see in about seven months: please give my respectful duty to her & believe me to be with the greatest truth.
Your Dutiful Nephew
Tho. Denman Ledward.
Thomas Ledward was promoted to H.M.A.V. Bounty's surgeon December 9th, 1788 while at Tahiti.
Letter written in Batavia, Oct. 1789
My dear uncle.
I am extremely thankful to God that I am able to inform you that we arrived safe at Batavia, and that we shall sail in a Dutch Indiaman in the course of a fortnight or three weeks for Europe; so that I am not certain but I shall have the pleasure of seeing you before the receipt of this letter.
You will be surprised when you hear I am deprived of my own ship with every individual thing I took out with me, besides effects to a considerable amount which I purchased at the surgeon, Mr. Huggan’s death, viz, the Medicine Chest, Set of Instruments, Medical Books, the furniture of his cabbin &c., all of which were Articles necessary upon my commencing Acting Surgeon.
The Ship was taken from us on the 28 of April 89 by our people off one of the Friendly Islands, & we sailed to Timor in one of the Ship’s open Boats, a passage of more than 1200 Leagues, in somewhat more than six weeks. During this time we were constantly wet: had only the weight of a small musket bullet of Biscuit, & a gill of Water twice a day: after a month however we allowed ourselves the same quantity three times a day, because we found the former allowance would never do.
When I arrived at Timor I was so weak, I could not walk, so that had we been at sea two or three days longer I should certainly have perished: & it was full six weeks before I gained any tolerable firmness.
The sad affair happened early in the morning watch: as so on as I was informed fully how the matter stood, I instantly declared I would go with the Captain, let the consequence be what it would, & not stay among Mutineers. As the particulars of what followed to our arrival at this place will be immediately in the public papers, I shall say nothing further of them at present, but leave them until I shall have the long wished for pleasure of seeing you & my Aunt.
But I have been at great & unavoidable expenses: first at Timor, where I arrived among the Dutch naked, who I must say behaved extremely well to us: & secondly at this place which is extremely dear. I am now at the only Inn, where strangers are entertained, along with to appear like an outcast or a beggar. When I am paid off for the ship, if I can only clear 50 pounds I shall think myself very well off.
There is one thing I must mention which is of consequence: the Captain denied me, as well as the rest of the Gentlemen who had not Agents, any money unless I would give him my power of Attorney & also my Will, in which I was to bequeath to him all my property: this he called by the name of proper security. This unless I did, I should have got no money, though I shewed him a letter of Credit from my Uncle & offered to give him a Bill of Exchange upon him. In case of my death I hope this matter will be clearly pointed out to my relations.
I hope you & my Aunt have been in good health since I left England, which I hope in God again to see in about seven months: please give my respectful duty to her & believe me to be with the greatest truth.
Your Dutiful Nephew
Tho. Denman Ledward.
Letter written in Batavia, Oct. 1789
My dear uncle.
I am extremely thankful to God that I am able to inform you that we arrived safe at Batavia, and that we shall sail in a Dutch Indiaman in the course of a fortnight or three weeks for Europe; so that I am not certain but I shall have the pleasure of seeing you before the receipt of this letter.
You will be surprised when you hear I am deprived of my own ship with every individual thing I took out with me, besides effects to a considerable amount which I purchased at the surgeon, Mr. Huggan’s death, viz, the Medicine Chest, Set of Instruments, Medical Books, the furniture of his cabbin &c., all of which were Articles necessary upon my commencing Acting Surgeon.
The Ship was taken from us on the 28 of April 89 by our people off one of the Friendly Islands, & we sailed to Timor in one of the Ship’s open Boats, a passage of more than 1200 Leagues, in somewhat more than six weeks. During this time we were constantly wet: had only the weight of a small musket bullet of Biscuit, & a gill of Water twice a day: after a month however we allowed ourselves the same quantity three times a day, because we found the former allowance would never do.
When I arrived at Timor I was so weak, I could not walk, so that had we been at sea two or three days longer I should certainly have perished: & it was full six weeks before I gained any tolerable firmness.
The sad affair happened early in the morning watch: as so on as I was informed fully how the matter stood, I instantly declared I would go with the Captain, let the consequence be what it would, & not stay among Mutineers. As the particulars of what followed to our arrival at this place will be immediately in the public papers, I shall say nothing further of them at present, but leave them until I shall have the long wished for pleasure of seeing you & my Aunt.
But I have been at great & unavoidable expenses: first at Timor, where I arrived among the Dutch naked, who I must say behaved extremely well to us: & secondly at this place which is extremely dear. I am now at the only Inn, where strangers are entertained, along with to appear like an outcast or a beggar. When I am paid off for the ship, if I can only clear 50 pounds I shall think myself very well off.
There is one thing I must mention which is of consequence: the Captain denied me, as well as the rest of the Gentlemen who had not Agents, any money unless I would give him my power of Attorney & also my Will, in which I was to bequeath to him all my property: this he called by the name of proper security. This unless I did, I should have got no money, though I shewed him a letter of Credit from my Uncle & offered to give him a Bill of Exchange upon him. In case of my death I hope this matter will be clearly pointed out to my relations.
I hope you & my Aunt have been in good health since I left England, which I hope in God again to see in about seven months: please give my respectful duty to her & believe me to be with the greatest truth.
Your Dutiful Nephew
Tho. Denman Ledward.
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