The Petition of Basil Lucas most respectfully represents,

That at the last December term of the circuit court, held for the county of Washington in the district of Columbia, your Petitioner was tried for, & found guilty of an assault and battery, & was therefor, fined “one dollar” and made liable for the charges of prosecution, in all, amounting to 36 dollars, 40 cents, exclusive of jail fees—

That being unable to pay the said fine and fees, your petitioner was on the sixth instant committed to the jail of the county aforesaid, by the marshal, where he must remain untill your Excellency is pleased to remit them—

That your petitioner’s inability to pay said fine & fees, is increased, in proportion to the continuance of his confinement—

And that therefore, your petitioner humbly prays that your Excellency will remit & cancel all the aforesaid fine fees, & every cost, thereunto appurtaining, & accruing for which your petitioner is held in durance, that he may be restored to liberty, & for which act of grace, your petitioner most solemnly promises that his future conduct shall be marked with strict obedience to the laws of his country, and as best becomes a quiet & orderly citizen—

And as in duty bound, he will ever pray your petitioner—