The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-29 00:00:00

HORRIBLE ASSASSINATION.

NAPLES, DEC. 7.—Robberies between this
city and Rome have been of late years such ordinary occur.
rences, that little is thought of them, because the villains have
been contented with what they could get. There is hardly an
instance of their becoming murderers through wantonness; so
that travellers could, in passing from one city to the other,
pretty well guess the worst. It would seem that a band of
25, lately dispersed by the energy of the Austrian Chasseurs, en-
camped themselves ma new quarter, at Pzestum, about 50 miles
to the south of this city. They have massaged lately to carry
on that trade which they could no longer do at Fondi and
Itri. Many of our countrymen have disbursed their piastres,
which some lovers of the tine arts have thought not paying too
dear for a sight of the Temples. Lord Harrowby and the Ladies
Ryder, it is said, narrowly escaped. It is with sorrow I have
to say that these brigands have changed character, and now add
murder to robbery, for a more wanton act of deliberate assassi-
nation never happened than what lam about to relate. There
was an eighty gun ship, called 11 Vesuvio, launched at Castel-
lawman on Thursday last (the 2d), and several of our coun-
trymen who went to see it, continued, the following day,
their journey to Salerno, and so on to nestum. Of this num-
ber were Mr. and Mrs. J. Welsh Hunt, an amiable couple,
of age within a few years, and married about ten months.—
Their carriage was stopped by four ruffians, three of them hav-
ing large handkerchiefs tied over their faces to their eyes, to
serve as masks, and while two attacked the coachman and
Mr. Hunt's servant, the others came to the coach door, and pre-
senting a carbine, commenced pillaging. Mr. Hunt, whose
servant had been knocked down by a blow from the but-end of
a carbine, expostulated with them on their barbarity, and mak-
ing an effort to descend from the carriage, one of the ruffians
fired his piece, and Mr. H. fell out foremost, a ball having
entered his right breast which passed through his back, and poor
Mrs. H. another ball in the left breast, which passed through
the left shoulder. The robbers, after taking what they could
find, made a precipitate retreat. l Ir. Hunt was carried to
a hovel close to the spot, where lie died after four hours suf-
fering; Mrs. H. was brought back to Salerno, where a courier
was dispatched to Mr. Hamilton, the British Minister, who
repaired to the Government to make a report, and sent Dr.
Watson and Mr. Roskelly to afford medical aid to the wounded
Lady, who also died yesterday. It is impossible to describe
to you the horror depicted in the countenances of every body
here at the melancholy fate of this amiable young couple. As
Mr. Hunt's carriage approached where the brigands were post-
ed, another carriage was observed a-head, which had also been
robbed, but with such precipitation that the purse of one of the
Ladies (Mrs. Binion and two other Ladies), which fell to the
bottom of the coach, was not observed. (lens d'armes have
been sent to scour the place, but no clue has been had as yet
towards finding any of the villains.

(ANOTHER ACCOUNT.)
Extract of a letter from Naples, dated December 6th.—" I
am sorry to communicate an account of a very unfortunate oc-
currence which took place near Peestum three days ago.—The
fine weather had attracted several English parties to view the
uins, situate, as you know, in a marsh which pestilential ex-
halations render barely habitable. The few inhabitants are
not much removed from savages. A Lady, with her two daugh-
ters, on returning, were stopped and robbed by three men with
their faces masked ; they were, however, suffered to proceed
without further violence. This Lady's carriage was followed
at a short distance by that of Mr. Hunt, late High Sheriff of
Northamptonshire, who was accompanied by his Lady. They
were stopped by the same party. On demanding his money,
Mr. Hunt gave them a purse containing four dollars and a few
carlins, declaring that he carried no more money along with
him. To convince them of this, he even requested a few car-
lins to carry him to Naples. They replied We know you
have more, and if you do not surrender it you must die.' Mr.
Ilunt replied, lou dare not shoot at this time of day.' He
had scarcely tittered this observation when a shot was fired,
and a ball enteretl his left breast, passing out at the right
side ; although it seems only one piece was discharged, another
ball struck Mrs. Hunt in the left breast and passed through
the lungs. The foremost robber instantly turned round, cry-
ing, " Who fired that shot ?" anti the three immediately ran
off without searching for plunder. Some officers of the Revenge
were within bearing, who conveyedthem to the miserable
place called an inn, at Prestum, where Mr. Hunt expired
almost immediately, expressing his regret at having refused
his money. Assistance, such as could be had, was procured.
One of the Mlicers even returned to Naples, and procured
an English sargeon, together with Gendarmes. Mrs. Hunt
recovered in a slight degree, but only lingered till yes-
terday, when she expired. Mr. Hunt was an only child; he
was in possession of large property, and had only been mar-
ried, seven months. This event has caused a great sensation
'among the English here; a number of Gendarmes were imme-
diately sent from Naples to search for the perpetrators of this
crime, but such a police as exists here is not likely to discover
them. It is evident that they were not professional brigands,
Or they would not have been so alarmed as to have neglected
their booty, on perceiving the effect of their fire-arms."

Viscountess Bor.xcr.EY, that most excellent
and benevolent Lady, independent of her innumerable charities
throughout the year, has been distributing at her different
houses, to the neighbouring poor, several hundred yards of flan-
nel, blankets, sheets, clothing, beef, coals, and money, during
the last few days.
The Duke of BEDFORD has at length let on
building leases all his valuable ground In Tavistock-square,
and the neighbourhood, and the square itself is rapidly ad-
vancing towards completion, under the superintendence of Mr.
CUDITT, the principal lessee. Tavistock House, the residence
of the late Mr. PEliltY, is undergoing a conversion into three
capacious, but at the same time most comfortable separate
residences, with a large and aropriate garden to each.—
pp
S. IlEazi.EY, the architect, has the merit of constructing these
buildings.
Admiral Kul/BEI:STERN has written to Professor BARLOW*
of Woolwich, a very satisfactory and complimentary letter on
the result of some experiments made on a ship of the Russian
Navy, at Cronstadt, with the guard plate, for correcting the
errors of the mariner's compass needle from the local attrac-
tion of the ship's guns and other iron stores; and the Russian
Government, in consequence, have given orders for all their
ships to be furnished with correcting compass plates, similar to
those now fitting up for the ships of our navy, and many of out
merchant vessels.—(Kentisle Gazette.)
The Detachment of French Gen'd'armes, who
arrived at Dover some time since in a ship, and have been ac.
commodated with quarters in the Barracks, caused a disturb-
ance among the inhabitants about the town on Christmas Eve,
when some of the Frenchmen appeared to have had the worst
of the affray, which was at last terminated by magisterial in-
terference.—( Kentish Gazette. )
PASSAGE THROUGH THE STRAITS OF MAGELLAN.--
The Sakrn Register gives the following directions for navigat-
ing these straits, on the authority of Captain Verdi, late of the
Wasp, of New York :—Vessels bound through those straits
should keep the north shore on board, as far as Indian Sound,
and then take the south shore as far as the west entrance,
or Cape Piller ; by so doing they will have the advantage
of prevailing winds and goal anchorage. Passing the straits
fhroemeastl
tlewawrt, elstflroritnin Qitreeth
neChlaatirlttlotdte's
eoFforehteCaPedt and then strike Pillar, and from
over for the north shore, and look for a small shoal on the south
side of the straits, about five miles below the Narrows. This Is
the only danger in the straits, except a few sunken rocks in the
west entrance on the north shore, and many small inlands.
Therefore the passage is safe and easy, by keeping the south
shore from the westward, as far as Indian Sound, and then
taking the north shore on board. Vessels bound through those
straits have nothing
to fear from the Indians, as they are very
inoffensive, and free from any hostile intentions.
A voluntary subscription has been entered into by the pa-
rishionens or the parish of St. Alphage, in the most handsome
manner, for the purpose of taking down the whole of the pews
in that Church, and altering them to single pews, agreeable to
new, produced at the Vestry ; by which means there will be
double the number of pews, the unpleasant necessity of
tang two or three families into a pew, and half the con re-
anon sitting with their back to the Clergyman, will be avoided.
n improvenient which must aid to the comfort of the pa.
rishioners, and render that Church one of the handsomest in the
city.—(Kentish Gazette.) _

Yesterday morning, at half-past eleven o'clock;
the body of the mother of Mrs. FAUNTLEROY
was removed from the residence of the latter, in
Arundel-street, for interment. The procession
consisted of a hearse and four, preceded by a lid
of plumes, and followed by two mourning-
coaches and pair. In the coach which imme-
diately followed the hearse were Mrs. Fauntle-
roy's son, another youth, apparently of the same
age, and two elderly gentlemen. Three gentle-
men occupied the second coach. There were
not more persons assembled than are ordinarily
attracted by the appearance of a burial ceremony.
Mrs. Fauntierny continues absorbed in the
deepest mental distress.

MERCANTILE SHIPPING.

NEW ENGLAND COFFEE-HOUSE.

LIVERPOOL, DEC. 27.—The wind continues to
blow very hard from the westward. The out-
ward-bound remain ; amongst which are the
packet-ship Florida and the Leeds, for New
York. There is every appearance this evening
of the continuance of bad weather.

DEAL, DEC. 28.—Wind S.W.—Arrived and remain the
Mulgrave Castle, Ralph, from the Isle of France ' • Aid, Teas.
dale, from Marseilles; Ben Lomond, Style, from the westward.
Arrived frolL London and remain the Nassau, Cars, for New
South Wales ; Herald, Thomson, for Berbice; and Doner,
Duskier, far Trieste; the outward-bound remain all well.
PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 28.--Wind S.W. blowing hard in
the early part of the day, afterwards veered to N.W. ; the
outward-bound remain all well. No arrivals or sailing.
FALMOUTH, Duc. 27.—Wind S.W. fresh gales and thick
weather.—.,rrived the Sandwich packet from Lisbon t Harmo-
nie, Ahrens, from Bahia, in 70 days, for Hambuygh, with
much damage. Put back the Berbice, Wayth, for Genoa and
Leghorn, with sails split, head rails and knees washed away,
has been as far as lat. 49. long. 8. 56. Passed up yesterday a
Swedish schooner from Lisbon, which reports having seen, on
the 24th instant, about 25 leagues W. by S. of the Lizard, a
Bark ship, abandoned and water-logged, name on her stern
" Janus, of North Shields," timber laden.
LIVERPOOL, DEC. 28.—Wind S.W.—Arrived the Beaver,
Love, from St. John's, N.B. ; and Syren, Downing, from
Alexandria (Egypt). The John Cullen, Douglas, has not
arrived as reported yesterday.
COWES, DEC. 28.—Arrived the Indus, Moriarty, from
Batavia.

The Barkworth, Cotgrove, from Bombay to London, was
spoken with the 24th September, otlthe Cape de Verdi', by the
Cumberland, which arrived at Rio Janeiro the 24th October.
The Ability, Roberts, from Cork to Penzance, was totally
lost on Sunday near Bude ; the crew drowned.
The Amphion, -, from New York to Buenos Ayres,
was totally lost in the river Plate the 4th October ; crew saved.

[Extract of a Letter from the Agent to Lloyd's at Jersey,
dated 28th December.]
" Arrived the Hero Romeril, fromlila. Two days pre-
vious to her sailing there had been serious disturbances. rhe.
Governor had been shot by an individual, but et the time of
the Ilero's departure tranquillity was restored.