The Petition of John Adams,

humbly Sheweth,

That your petitioner hath been convicted at the Circuit Court of the United States for the district of Pennsylvania, of smuggling a small quantity of Coffee, for which Offence he hath agreeably to Law been sentenced to pay a fine of four hundred Dollars, all which will more fully appear to your Excellency, by the Certified transcripts from the records of the said Court hereunto annexed, that your petitioner is a poor seaman and offended in a great measure through ignorance of the extent and consequences of so doing, and from poverty being utterly unable to pay his fine implores the Clemency of the Executive magistrate, assuring your Excellency that should you be pleased to remitt his fine and restore him to the exercise of the useful occupation to which he has been bred he will never again violate the laws of his Country, but comport himself, as a good Citizen ought to do.—