$ 171 at least. But it appeared to me that under the circumstances, the execution of these men at Mongesting, one of the parties being the British Crown, and when the Piracy committed, as I have already observed, on many Individuals. Before meeting my Council I gave the whole question of the subjects of the Cract_ of Hainan at such a distance from Colony could have but little effect towards the accomplishment of this object. It likewise appeared to me that in this instance the Sentence of death was carried out, it might form a most inconvenient precedent for future occasions; for, situated as we are here, it is impossible that we may not have, at some time or other, one hundred Convicts under sentence of death, and yet we could not carry out the sentence under similar circumstances. It is clear, My Lord, that one Sentence of Death on such a number of Prisoners, and yet, if there mine had been executed, it would be difficult to afford any substantial reason why execution, under like circumstances, should not be done on ten, or perhaps two or three, should it appear that any of the Prisoners had taken a more active part than the others.
I gave my most anxious consideration, and examined the depositions closely with a view of carrying out the sentence on those who had made themselves conspicuous. I found that the first three, Prisoners I Chun Akteup, Chun, Ahtent, and Lei Shong, had certainly made themselves more conspicuous than the rest. I then forwarded the Judge's Notes, the Magistrates Depositions with a memorandum of my own to the Members of the Council that they might have full time to understand the merits of the question, before it was formally brought before them for discussion.
6. On the ... instant the Council met when I addressed them to the effect, that ...