The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-01-13 00:00:00

HERTFORD, Moxnny EVENING, JAN. lg.

Hunt continues to decline, and is reduced almost to a skeleton. 1
l)iri:ig the whole of Itirr!ay he etas so very ill, that medical aid
was obliged to be called to his aseisutnee. lie was much disap-
pointed on Saturday right, and more so on Sunday mornir g, hav-
ing fully expected information fmm hoyden that his sentence was
rummuted to transportation for life. Indeed so prevalent was the
report in Hertford, during the whole of Sunday, that the inqdiries
at the gaol vere numberless. The town was thronged with
strangers of all ranks ; and the road, part of which was, on the fat::(
morning of Thurtell's execution, railed in, was tilled with different
equimiges. Two constables placed themselves on the spot to
answer the different icquiries made by the over-anxious strangers,
who, on Friday morning, were so numerous, that the dilapidanons
ensuing therefrom are estimated at nearly 301. Houses, which had
been erected to shelter cattle from the inclemency of the weather, in
• field facing the prison, were levelled with the ground,
and all the young wood, forming part of several newly-planted
hedge, was destroyed : indeed the execution of Simmons, II years
since, for the murder of two young females at Hoddesdon, four
miles from Hertford, did not *raw together so vast a concourse of
spectators, by hundreds. Various reports as to the disposal of Thor-
tell's body prevail ; one is, that his father has paid 2001. for it,
the law having first been satisfied, by the Critsian incision being
made. Some say his mother is as yet ignorant of the wretched
fate of her son ; others say, sir.ce his condemnation, she has labour-
ed under a state of mental derangement, likely to be produced in
a maternal parent, by so ignominious a death. At the time of
his suffering a hearse waited for his remains; this was not consi-
dered an advisable conveyance for the body to London ; a stage-
coach, which had been under repair, without name or number, was
therefore resorted to as is proper conveyance, and in that it was sent
off for town, where it arrived about eight o'clyck on Friday night.
The necessary offices having been performed, we understand that
it au then delivered over to the father for his disposal in the mode
of interment ; and that the report of this day (Tuesday) being
appointed for its dissection is a mere fabrication. A number of
persons in Hertford have locks of Thurtell's hair, and we have
heard of as much as 500. being given for one lock by a resident of
East Barnett, who has bed it glazed, and i$ now becomes one of the
ornamental displays of his parlour. Nothing can equal the sensa-
tion that is produced by this horrible event in the minds of persons
inhabiting houses by the road-aide between town and Hertford; in-
deed it is the topic of conversation with high and low, and an appeal
is instantly made to the stranger, as to what will he Hunt's doom ;
and many do not forget to vociferate their feelings of indignation
against him. That he expected to suffer with Thurtell is errone-
ous ; he on Saturday, evening declared to 31r. Wilson that he con-
ceived and still hoped, as his hands were not imbrued in " the
blood of the slams" that he should escape the jaws of
death, since which he has scarce made any communication
to any one, but has evinced great penitence for his offence, by
evident feelings of remorse, blended with • reduced habit, and
great depression. When speaking of his mother on Saturday, it was
with a tear of sorrow, that " he had ever been born, thus to de-
heretic the best of parents, and end life in penury and disgrace."
Wednesday week, in the event of no reprieve, is the time appointed
for his execution ; and the populace of Herttnrd seem to express a
sincere wish that the former may be the result.
The Hertford-road is infested with a bad gang. On Friday even.
inn one of the Hatfield waggons was attacked by several men, who
' plundered it of tso pigs and other property, with which they
made Off. - . _ .

On our reporter leaving Hertford last evening, a rumour pre.
railed that Hunt'A life wee spared, but not being able to see Mr.
Wilson, he could not ascertain the fact. He however lenrut from
a person connected with the prison that it was erroneous.