On the 24th October, the king’s warrant was despatched from the Admiralty, granting a full and free pardon to Heywood and Morrison, a respite for Muspratt, which was followed by a pardon; and for carrying the sentence of Ellison, Burkitt, and Millward into execution, which was done on the 29th, on board his Majesty’s ship Brunswick, in Portsmouth harbour.  On this melancholy occasion, Captain Hamond reports that ’the criminals behaved with great penitence and decorum, acknowledged the justice of their sentence for the crime of which they had been found guilty, and exhorted their fellow-sailors to take warning by their untimely fate, and whatever might be their hardships, never to forget their obedience to their officers, as a duty they owed to their king and country.’  The captain adds, ’A party from each ship in the harbour, and at Spithead, attended the execution, and from the reports I have received, the example seems to have made a great impression upon the minds of all the ships’ companies present.’

The same warrant that carried with it affliction to the friends of these unfortunate men, was the harbinger of joy to the family and friends of young Heywood.  The happy intelligence was communicated to his affectionate Nessy on the 26th, who instantly despatched the joyful tidings to her anxious mother in the following characteristic note:—­

     Friday, 26th October, four o’clock.

’Oh, blessed hour!—­little did I think, my beloved friends, when I closed my letter this morning, that before night I should be out of my senses with joy!—­this moment, this ecstatic moment, brought the enclosed.[32] I cannot speak my happiness; let it be sufficient to say, that in a very few hours our angel Peter will be FREE!  Mr. Graham goes this night to Portsmouth, and to-morrow, or next day at farthest, I shall be—­oh, heavens! what shall I be?  I am already transported, even to pain; then how shall I bear to clasp him to the bosom of your happy, ah! how very happy, and affectionate

     NESSY HEYWOOD.’

’I am too mad to write sense, but ’tis a pleasure I would not forgo to be the most reasonable being on earth.  I asked Mr. Graham, who is at my elbow, if he would say anything to you, “Lord!” said he, “I can’t say anything”; he is almost as mad as myself.’[33]

Mr. Graham writes, ’I have however my senses sufficiently about me not to suffer this to go without begging leave to congratulate you upon, and to assure you that I most sincerely sympathize and participate in the happiness which I am sure the enclosed will convey to the mother and sisters of my charming and beloved Nessy.’

This ‘charming’ girl next writes to Mr. Const, who attended as counsel for her brother, to acquaint him with the joyful intelligence, and thus concludes.  ’I flatter myself you will partake in the joy which, notwithstanding it is so excessive at this moment, as almost to deprive me of my faculties, leaves me however sufficiently collected to assure you of the eternal gratitude and esteem with which I am,’ etc.