Report of Thomas Burton, of the Excise Office, on 1 collective petition (13 people,...

Report of Thomas Burton, of the Excise Office, on 1 collective petition (13 people, members of the Royal East Devon Yeomanry Light Dragoons, the churchwarden and overseer of the poor of Seaton in Devon and others) and 1 individual petition (J.W. de la Pole, Major Commandant of the Royal East Devon Yeomanry Light Dragoons) on behalf of Michael Sweetland, private soldier/victualler, convicted, at the Court of King's Bench, for assaulting excise officers in the execution of their duty. Burton writes an account of the crime; Sweetland 'was one of a large party of daring Smugglers travelling with contraband Goods, and was not only remarkably active in urging them to resistance, and in rescuing two loaded Horses which had been seized, but with his own Hand dangerously wounded one of the Officers'. Grounds for clemency: has served in the local volunteer force since 1794, previous good character, has a dependent wife and nieces, the prisoner is suffering from a pistol wound in the thigh caused by the affray and has served 3 months in Newgate prior to sentencing. Initial sentence: 18 months imprisonment in the [Middlesex] House of Correction at Clerkenwell. Recommendation: no mercy. Folios 252-257.