Meantime, the country, or a great portion of the people, took the last step in the direction of debasement by praying the Queen and the Lord Lieutenant for a free pardon.

The petitions were spurned; but her Majesty, yielding to the powerful sentiment of abhorrence against the punishment of death for political offences, commuted the sentence into transportation for life.
This final sentence was carried into effect on the 9th day of July, 1849, when the ship of war _Swift_ spread her sails and hoisted her felon flag, bearing out to sea, and having on board the four illustrious exiles.
Martin and O'Doherty had been conveyed to Cork on board the _Triton_, on the 16th of June, whence they were sent to herd with common malefactors on board the _Mount Stewart Elphinstone_--at the time infested with the plague.

This vessel remained off Spike Island while the cholera was doing its ravages among her passengers, and finally put to sea, with the patriots and pestilence, a few days before the departure of the _Swift_.
FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 11: The following is from the _Freeman's Journal_:--An eminent Queen's counsel, who was present during the awful ordeal, was heard to give utterance to a sentiment so truthfully graphic that we record it in full:--"Well," said he, his eyes full and his countenance flushed with emotion, "never was there such a scene--never such true heroism displayed before.

Emmet and Fitzgerald, and all combined did not come up to that--so dignified, so calm, so heroic.

HE _is_ a hero."].