Report of George Wood, Baron of the Court of the Exchequer, on a report by Mr Parkin,...

Report of George Wood, Baron of the Court of the Exchequer, on a report by Mr Parkin, solicitor to the General Post office on 3 individual petitions (2 from the prisoner and C. Lilly) and 2 collective petitions (11 people, comprising the rector, churchwardens and overseers of Coventry; 2 copies) on behalf of Nathaniel Alexander, Post Office employee, convicted at the City of Coventry Assizes on 1 April 1809, for the theft of a banknote from a letter. Evidences supplied by William Perkins, one of the Sheriffs of Coventry; ------ Peers, Sheriff; Alderman Whitewell; Mr Soden, postmaster; William Bradshaw, John Smith and Luke Dresser. There is a covering letter to the report on the case by the solicitor to the General Post Office from F Freeling [Francis Freeling], Secretary to the General Post Office. Grounds for clemency: previous good character, has a wife and 3 children to support who are starving, has been in prison for 16 months, several respectable gentlemen stood up for him at his trial, is penitent, if the part of the sentence concerning transportation is remitted he will be able to weave in prison and support his family. Initial sentence: death, commuted to transportation (solicitor states transportation for life, petitions state 7 years transportation). Recommendation: further mercy 'even the Punishment of Transportation might be remitted under the very Favourable Circumstances of the Case'. Folios 233-242.