From John Jay to Richard Varick, 5 October 1797
To Richard Varick
Albany 5th. October 1797
Dr. Sir
I have received a Petition from Peter Heaton, stating that he had been convicted of Larceny, at a Court of Quarter Sessions held in the City of New York on the 10th. July last and sentenced to Six Months Imprisonment at hard Labor in Bridewell— The prayers for a Pardon and his Petition is supported by a number of very respectable Subscribers— Be so good as to converse with the Recorder1 on the Subject and inform me whether the Case is so circumstanced as that a Pardon would be proper—2 I am &ca.
John Jay—
The Hon’ble Richard Varick Esqr.
LbkC, N: Governor’s Lbk. 1 (EJ: 03095).
1. James Kent.
2. For more on JJ’s policies regarding the issuing of pardons, see the editorial note “Crime and Punishment in Federalist New York,” above.