An historically important and very rare letter, one of the fullest and most significant of Bligh's manuscripts remaining in private hands. This substantial letter, boldly signed from Government House "Wm. Bligh" in October 1807, when Bligh was already teetering on the precipice (the Rum Rebellion would crash over him just three months later), gives a rare insight into this significant moment of colonial history. In our experience even Bligh signatures are now notably rare, but full letters, especially relating to his career in Australia, are seen only very occasionally. This is the finest full Bligh letter we have handled in more than forty years.

An historically important and very rare letter, one of the fullest and most significant of Bligh's manuscripts remaining in private hands. This substantial letter, boldly signed from Government House "Wm. Bligh" in October 1807, when Bligh was already teetering on the precipice (the Rum Rebellion would crash over him just three months later), gives a rare insight into this significant moment of colonial history. In our experience even Bligh signatures are now notably rare, but full letters, especially relating to his career in Australia, are seen only very occasionally. This is the finest full Bligh letter we have handled in more than forty years.

The letter is addressed to one of the Bligh loyalists, John Piper, serving since 1804 as the acting commandant of Norfolk Island. It had fallen to Piper to organize the British government's closing of the penal settlement, which was being shuttered due to the high cost of maintaining the outpost, a process which had formally begun in 1805. The situation was still delicately balanced two years later, with many refusing to leave, meaning that Piper had written to Sydney for official approval of his most recent actions.

Here, Bligh notes that he has just had Piper's most recent letter delivered by the Lady Nelson and that while he planned to write a fuller reply via the same ship shortly, the matter is of such urgency that he is writing this initial draft of his ideas to be sent ahead on board the whaler Aurora, Captain Myrric (sometimes 'Meyrick' or even 'Merritt' in other papers of the era).

Piper must have been relieved to have this speedy and positive response from Bligh: "I approve generally of the arrangement & sincerely think it is the best thing that could happen for the settlers. You must do your best to prevent any improper correspondence." In November most of the inhabitants were transferred to Sydney on the Porpoise, Lady Nelson and Estramina.

The letter also includes other important information relating to the impending voyages of the Porpoise and Estramina for the Derwent and Port Dalrymple, not least as Bligh hoped that one or other of them would sail directly to Norfolk Island on their return. Also noted by Bligh is the fact that "many demands for salt pork are going to your Island by shipping therefore take care to secure government in that article & what belongs to our security in the evacuation." Bligh's mention of the Porpoise has a certain poignancy as it was the vessel on which he would be effectively imprisoned after he left Sydney in February 1809, loitering on the Derwent and generally pestering David Collins.

Controversy followed Bligh wherever he went, but his appointment as Governor of New South Wales in 1805, largely at the urging of Sir Joseph Banks, seems in hindsight a recipe for disaster. Paid the handsome salary of £2000 per annum (twice that of his predecessor) he knew even before he sailed that this was no sinecure, writing to his nephew Francis Bond that he feared it would be a "very arduous task to me from having Very rebellious and bad People to Govern".

1807 was not a good year for Bligh. Since his arrival the previous year he had antagonised a number of leading men in the colony. In an effort to disarm the Rum Corps he had organised new port regulations to control the cargo on board ships, in particular the liquor. He introduced laws to stamp out illicit stills, and forbade the bartering of spirits for labour or food – such changes in an unruly colony produced many enemies.

Bligh is known to have sent other letters, notably to the Hon. William Windham, on board the same ship, as well as ridding himself of three prospective settlers he did not like the look of at the same time (HRA, I:6, pp. 137—143).

John Piper had first gone to Norfolk Island in 1793 to escape a personal entanglement in Sydney. The Irish prisoner Joseph Holt said that Piper "had the good will and respect of everyone, for he had always conducted himself as a Christian and a gentleman".