James Watts proceedingsdefend . My lord, I beg a fewminutes indulgence, to address myself to the Court; I do not mean to refuse my sentence, in my unhappy situation, which is yet different from my unhappy fellow sufferers. Previous to my trial, my prosecutor was proved to have been in a madhouse at Bethnal-green; and two days afterwards, he snatched his child newly born, and had liked to have dashed his brains out; and he was then sent to Bedlam; his two brothers are there now: and from the improbability of the robbery, and the circumstances attending it, I am sure your lordship will be convinced that me and Francis Hardy < no role > were totally innocent: a robbery in St. Clement's-church-yard, at five o'clock in the afternoon, at this time of the year; and no evidence but that of the prosecutor; we had no doubt but we should have received mercy ere now; no unhappy man will have a higher sense of his majesty's clemency and mercy, than myself: want of friends, and long confinement, has rendered us in a deplorable situation; I may appear now a little clean and decent; that I have done, not to offend the Court; but, for three years, the iron hand of oppression has been very severe against me; I do not mean to refuse my sentence; but as I shall never more be heard in this country, I have taken this liberty; my lord, it is not death I fear, by the stroke of the executioner, but I know, by refusing that sentence offered me, I shall offend God, at whose bar I must one day answer for my offences. I appeal to heaven, that I am as innocent of the charge laid against me, as your lordship; and so is the man convicted with me; and the circumstances attending my prosecutor, has induced me thus to appeal, if possible, that my sentence may be taken into consideration; I am sensible of his majesty's mercy; and certain I am, was my case known to him, he would extend a further mercy towards me; the stewards of Bedlam hospital will testify that our prosecutor was there, and his two brothers were there; Mr. Bowman, of a private madhouse, proved in this court, he was at his house; I have undergone a great deal during my three years confinement; but I do not mean to refuse my sentence, because I know I should offend God; I have imbibed these notions of christianity from my parents, which I should be sorry to deviate from; and I am sure, if my case was known to my gracious sovereign, he would look upon me with an eye of compassion. My lord, what I have said, you will find to be perfectly true.

Court. Prisoner, so far, you certainly have done right in accepting the king's pardon; that sort of conduct will give you a chance; if upon the circumstances of your case, there is any hope for mercy at all, (for no man who refuses the king's pardon, and treats it with contempt, can expect after that, to receive any favour from the crown; the best advice I can give you, is to have these circumstances represented to his majesty, as it is to him alone you must make application.

Prisoner. I beg leave, my lord, to return you thanks for the condescension and indulgence you have allowed me in speaking, as I never expected to be heard again here; and I now bow obedience to whatever his majesty's royal pleasure is; I accept it .