To the Worshipfull His Majesty's Justices of
the Peice for the County of Middx in their
General Sessions of the Peace Assembled

The Humble petition of Margaret
Matthews< no role >

Sheweth that your Petr at this present Sessions
was tryed upon an Indictment for a misdemeanor
in threatning to Set Fire to a House and found
Guilty and Sentened by your Worships to be Pub
lickly Whiped for the Said Offence and is now in
the Custody of the Keeper of new Prison which
Sentence she Confesses to be moste Just That your
Petr: has five small Children to provide for which by her
own Industry She has keept from the parish Several
Years and has no other way of getting her lively
hood but by Serveing Newspapers

That if your petr undergoes the Sd Sentence it will
intirely Ruin your pettn and her Said Chilldren that
Humbly begs that your Worships will be pleas'd to
take her Case into Consideratoin and Mitigate the Sd.
Sentence as to Your worships Shall Sammet

And Your Pettr Shall Ever pray
M:M

We whose Names are Subscribed So humbley Certify
to your worships tha the Petr is averey honest Industri
ous woman who we have known some years and
that She has five Small Chilldren which main
taines by her one Labour and Indutry