Folios 188-189. Petition to the Duke of Newcastle from Robert Taylor 'under sentence...

Folios 188-189. Petition to the Duke of Newcastle from Robert Taylor 'under sentence of death for rebellion and ordered aboard the 'Delaware' East India-man and to serve in the Independent Company under pain of death in case of refusal'. He apologises for troubling the Duke with another petition but Lord Cathcart and others who applied for Taylor's life to be spared are abroad and unaware of the order given by the Duke that Taylor was immediately to enter the service of the 'Independent Companies' failing which he was to be taken to Carlisle and executed. This order was communicated to Taylor by Major Mount Pleasant on 23 October [1747] and Taylor rather than suffer death submitted to being carried on board. He says 'had not my behaviour been grossly misrepresented I scarce can think such an order would been for me, while all the others were, the Major read, left in some measure to the Admiral's disposal to be left for banishment or as your Grace should send orders about them'. He prays that 'more favourable orders' be sent.