And with regard to the operation of Pardons in general, your Lordship
will be able to Judge of it by the two following cases.

About three Years ago Mr Wood of the Exchequer the occupier of the
Manor-house at Denham near Uxbridge and of the Fishery there, found
himself under the necessity of keeping at a great expence, a constant Watch
to prevent his Fish from being Stole, Two Men were detected in Stealing
Pike and Cray Fish and tried and found Guilty before me and
sentenced toTransportation they applied in the usual way by a Petition
signed by the Minister and Churchwardens and some of the inhabitants
of the Parish were pardoned and Mr Wood necessitated thought to his
great detriment and loss, to quit his house

About the same time William Rooke< no role > was tried before me for extorting
Money of a Gentleman by threats of a charge of Sodomy; he was convicted
and sentenced to Imprisonment; but was pardoned, and last Session
he was tried before me and convicted of a like Offence against another
person

My Duty obliges me to give this information and farther to
recur to a case or two which may possibly dispose your Lordship to
think that the complaints of the Magistrates are not without foundation

One Erskine who had returned from transportation and been
convicted of obtaining Money under false pretences was again
Sentenced to transportation: During his imprisonment he was visited
by a woman in a Chariot with Coronets, and told in the hearing of
other prisioners not to be cast down, for that he might depend upon a
pardon; and accordingly he was pardoned upon condition of
transporting himself, and as I and every one else expected, he is
returned. This I think the more extraordinary as I am informed
from the best authority that the King expressed a desire to know
the truth of Erskine's case

But a case of more importance is that of Thomas Marten< no role > an
Apothecary who being arrested by a Sheriffs Officer for Debt of
twenty Pounds, stabbed the man in the belly with a knife with which
he was cutting Sasafras, and afterwards expressed hisdesireSorrow
that he had not killed him. He was sentenced to three Years