Catalogue description Folios 160-161. Letter from Richard Kent, surgeon aboard the Irish convict transport...

Folios 160-161. Letter from Richard Kent, surgeon aboard the Irish convict transport Boddington in the Atlantic Ocean, informing Evan Nepean [under-secretary] of a conspiracy to take over the vessel, carry her to America and murder any crew that offered opposition. The scheme had been foiled when the irons of one convict were found cut through. A soldier named John Watts, sent on board from the Savoy prison, had been in league with the ringleaders, Thomas Murry, Patrick Morrisson and James McGarr. He was to be kept in irons until arrival at Port Jackson where he would be handed over to the Governor. 36 convicts had been punished by flogging which, for the ringleaders, would be repeated. Kent still hoped to maintain the health of the transportees despite the difficulties.