Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1761-1769. 131

mony upon which he was Convicted, was as Slight Testimony
as ever Man was Convicted on, what could induce the Jury
to Convict him upon such Testimony I know not unless they
suspected he was an old Offender if that was what they went
on, do assure you they were greatly Mistaken for now tell you
upon my Reputation that the fellow Supported a good Char-
acter not only with me but with all the Neighbours where I
resided. Now Sir as am informed you intend to Annapolis
very soon desire you would lay the poor Fellow's Case before
his Excellency, And make no doubt from his known Goodness
and Mercy will grant the poor fellow his Pardon and that
without Transportation that being a matter I must desire to
be excused from as I cant think he in any Sort deserves it.
I am with Esteem your very humble Servant
To Will^m Allen Esq^r Thomas Hayward jun^r

On Consideration of the above Letter and Recommenda-
tion of the Justices, His Excellency with the Advice of this
Board was pleased to Order that a Pardon should issue for
the aforesaid Negro Robin, which was issued accordingly.

Read the following Petition of Sundry Justices of Fred-
erick County.

To His Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esq^r Governor and
Commander in Chief in and over the Province of Maryland.

The Petition of the Subscribing Magistrates of Frederick
County.

Most humbly sheweth
That your Petitioners, with great Sorrow and Regret find
themselves obliged to accuse two of their own Members of a
Scandalous Abuse of that Power which your Excellency hath
thought proper to intrust them with in joint Commission with
your Petitioners.
That without insiting upon other Irregularities, your Peti-
tioners will Confine themselves at present to the Information
they have received of Cap^t Evan Shelby, and M^r Joseph War-
ford, in a Case of Fornication, as follows.
That a certain Catherine Wheate, Daughter of Conrad
Wheate, in the Month of September last, Charged Thomas
Hynes, on Oath, before Cap^t Thomas Price, one of his Lord-
ship's Justices of this County, with being the Father of her
Bastard Child. Whereupon Cap^t Price took Recognizance
for her appearance at November Court, and also for the
Man's appearance and made return thereof accordingly.

Lib. J. R.
& U. S.