John Jay Papers

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).

1James Kent.

2For more on JJ’s policies regarding the issuing of pardons, see the editorial note “Crime and Punishment in Federalist New York,” above.

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