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

Lib. C. B.
No. 20

your wonted Mercy first, and for their their sake to pardon
the most wretched of Men. And Conscious of your Excel-
lency's great Mercy Your Petitioner, with the sincerest Heart,
which due Gratitude must Excite in his Breast, shall ever pray
for Your Excellency (as next to Almighty God) the Author
of his future Welfare.
James Richard

Upon Consideration of the aforegoing Petition, his Excel-
lency with Advice of this Board, was pleased to Order a
Pardon to issue in favour of the said James Richard, upon
Condition of his leaving the Province within Forty days from
the date thereof, and never to return again, which issued
accordingly.

p. 41

Ordered by his Excellency the Governor that the present
General Assembly of this Province which stands Prorogued
to Tuesday the 21^st day of this Instant March, be further
Prorogued until Tuesday the 17^th day of May next and Procla-
mations issued accordingly.

At a Council held in the Council Chamber on Monday the
10^th of April in the Eighteenth year of his Lordship's Do-
minion Anno Domini 1769.

Present
His Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esq^r Governor.

Daniel Dulany Esq^r Walter Dulany Esq^r

The Honble John Ridout Esq^r George Steuart Esq^r

Read the Transcript of the Conviction of Negro Ben, late
of Talbot County, the Slave of a certain Rachel Harrison of
said County, Condemned, at the last March Court held in and
for the said County, and also Read the following Representa-
tion of the Justices and Jurors in favour of the said Negro
Ben.

To His Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esq^r Governor of Mary-
land.
We the Justices of Talbot County beg leave to acquaint
Your Excellency, that Sentence of Death hath this March
Court been passed upon Negro Ben, a Slave belonging to
Rachel Harrison for assaulting with Intent to Ravish Eve
Shanahan. As the Evidence upon which his Conviction was