Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 3]
[Cutting from newspaper - Note: this cutting did not form part of this letter]
Court Martial.
At a Court-Martial held on board the Duke in the harbour, on Wednesday the 12th inst. [1792] and every day since.
Before the Right Hon. Lord Hood, Vice Admiral of the Blue, President.
Captain Sir A.S. Hammond, Captain Celpoys,
Bart. Sir Roger Curtis,
Montagu, Knt.
Bageley, Sir A.S. Douglas,
Duckworth, Knt.
Knight, Ingleheld,
Keate, Bertie,
On a charge of mutiny on the 28th day of April, 1787, on board his Majesty's armed vessel BOUNTY, for running away with the ship, and deserting his Majesty's service, against
Joseph Coleman, Peter Haywood, Thomas Birkett,
Charles Norman, Isaac Morris, Thomas Ellison,
Thomas Mackintosh, John Milward, and
Wm Muspratt, Michael Byrn.
The evidence for the prosecution closed on Friday night, and the Court indulged the prisoners till Monday to give in their defence, and this day took the whole into their consideration, when they were pleased to pass sentence of death on Haywood, Morris, Millward, Muspratt, Birkett, and Ellison, the two first of whom the Court recommended to mercy. Coleman, Norman, Mackintosh, and Byrn, were acquitted and discharged.
During the whole of this very interesting trial, the Attorney General has attended the Court, which has frequently been visited by people of rank, among these may be reckoned Lord Macartney, Sir Nash Grose, Judge Ashurst, Mr. Secretary Rose, &c. &c.
On the part of the prisoners, Aaron Graham, Esq. formerly Judge Advocate of Newfoundland, and now one of the Justices for Westminster, appointed by the new Police Bill, attended by a Counsel from Westminster Hall, and Stephen Barrey, Esq. Town Clerk of this Borough, acted as Solicitors, and did every thing for their unhappy clients that humanity could dictate, or indefatigable industry and abilities accomplish.
Mr. Haywood is an accomplished young gentleman, genteely connected, with a fortune of 30,000L, fallen to him since he has been in confinement.