Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1761-1769. 199

Read the following Letter from John Beale Bordley Esq^r
and the Petition of John Wilson, and also took into Considera-
tion his Conviction, Postponed at the last Meeting.

Sir
After the Conviction of the Criminal Wilson, at the Ann
Arundel Assizes, M^r Justice Ghiselin who took his Examina-
tion and Confession, informed me the Prisoner had his
Promise that if he would make a free Confession and discover
the Principal Offender he would use his Interest on his behalf
and that he would be favoured or spared, or Words to that
effect and that he believed the Prisoner would not have made
any Confession but for the Promise. I intended to have men-
tioned this to your Excellency at M^r Ghiselin's instance, but it
Slipt my Memory M^r Hepburn and I thought this Circum-
stance could not be Certified to your Excellency in Our Letter,
it appearing not till after the Conviction and we were to Speak
of the Evidence delivered in Court on which the Verdict was

Lib. J. R

& U. S.

founded. M^r Ghiselin in his Evidence only declared that the
Confession was taken by him and that the Prisoner made it
freely. I am Sir
To Your Excellency's most Obedient
His Excellency the Governor humble Servant
29^th April 1767. Beale Bordley.

Most Honoured Sir
As it is my hard Misfortune now to lay under Sentence of
Death and under hard Irons and Chaines Confined down and
knowing there is no One in this World can Release me but your
Honour most humbly beg and pray for Compassion at your
Hands and not let me Die as I was brought to it by a most
Cruel and Vile Man; I am now in Prime of Youth and heartily
Repent for all my Crimes past and if you will please to Spare
my Life I will forever hereafter Lead a Godly Honest Life
and always have a Due Regard of running into any kind of
Sin I should willingly be Banished of this Province and never
more be seen in it, pray Good Sir have Compassion on your
Poor afflicted Servant, and am with the greatest Submission.
John Wilson.
30^th April 1767.

Ordered by his Excellency the Governor with the Advice
of this Board that a Pardon issue for the above John Wilson
on Condition of his leaving the City of Annapolis in 6 Hours
and the Province in four Days; which issued accordingly.

p. 459