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

Lib. C. B.
No. 20

erto guiltless of any harsh or cruel Misdemeanour, lies now
under Sentence of Death for the Murder of his own child.
Your Petitioners humbly beg leave to Observe to Your Excel-
lency, that the said Constantine, at that unguarded Hour,
must have been out of his Senses, to which Cause the dreadful
Crime for which he now lies under Condemnation, must, in
the opinion of Your Petitioners, be wholly ascribed, for Your
Petitioners humbly conceive, that no Father, in the proper Use
of his reason, would be guilty of the Death of his own Child.
Your Petitioners further most humbly beg leave to Observe to
Your Excellency, that most of us have known the said Con-

p. 28

stantine from a Child, and all of us for several years, and
can assure Your Excellency that we verily believe and always
understood said Constantine to be a loving Husband, and
tender Father, especially to the unfortunate Deceased, who,
of many Children, seemed to us to be his Favourite, he was
likewise always Counted a Good Neighbour. Your Petition-
ers in the most humble manner implore Your Excellency's
wonted Goodness and Clemency in behalf of the miserable
Criminal, his poor afflicted Wife, helpless Children, and num-
erous Relations, upon whom his Ignominious Death would
entail indelible Scandal, and Disgrace to their latest Posterity.
Your Petitioners therefore most humbly beg that Your Ex-
cellency would be graciously pleased to grant the said Con-
stantine a Reprieve.
And your Petitioners as in Duty bound will ever pray &c.
Whereupon Consideration of the Premisses being had, It
is the humble Advice of this Board that a Pardon issue in
Behalf of the said Patrick Constantine, which was issued
accordingly.

Read the Transcript of the Conviction of Thomas Robin-
son, Condemned at the last Court of Assize held in Baltimore
County, for a certain Burglary by him Committed, and also
the Petition of Alexander M^cMechan, Master of the aforesaid
Thomas Robinson, recommending him to his' Excellency as
an Object of Mercy.

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

The Petition of Alexander M^cMechan of the Town and
County of Baltimore. Humbly Sheweth.
That Your Excellency's Petitioner was the Master of a
certain Thomas Robinson, a youth not exceeding Sixteen
Years of Age, and who came into this Country in the year
One Thousand Seven hundred and Sixty five. That the said
Thomas Robinson behaved, during the space of One year and