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The Full Particulars of the Sudden and Awful MURDER of HUNT!
THE ASSOCIATE OF THURTELL & PROBERT,
With a Narrative of the Mutiny on Board the MARQUIS of HUNTLY,
ON WHICH OCCASION 17 CONVICTS WERE SHOT AND HUNG.
In giving an account of the Murder of Hunt, we cannot avoid casting a retrospective view at the circumstances which led to his transportation. We are far from being superstitious, yet we must acknowledge that it appears to us, that the hand of heaven interferes. - One of his associates in Crime, Hung - Another! saved for the mere purpose of becoming King's evidence, and again transgressed, and at this very moment waiting the punishment of his crime, and himself Murdered, before he reached the destination of his banishment - thereby terminating the existence of those who planned and put into execution one of the most cold blooded Murders perhaps the annals of crime ever related.
When the Marquis of Huntly, Convict Ship, sailed from England, she had upwards of 200 prisoners on board, among which, perhaps there were never a more desperate set of villians in one vessel before. Not a day, or scarcely an hour was passed, without some fresh tokens of villainy being practised; there were amongst the rest, a number which seemed to bid all law at defiance, and even dared the sailors to acts of hostility.
The most severe and strict discipline was obliged to be observed towards them; in short, their overbearing and turbulent actions called forth the greatest energy and courage of the captain and crew, to keep them in the least subjection. In many instances, the conduct of a few were such, that the Captain would have been fully justified in causing them to be hung at the yard-arm. But he being naturally of a mild and peaceable disposition, shuddered at the idea of taking away the life of a fellow creature, when it was possible to avoid it; therefore he only put into action every coercice