David Briggs was a Mariner on board the Brig Ann Eliza which arrived at Providence from Surinam, in December last—Whilst the Brig lay in the river, he landed a quantity of Coffee, in the night time, without a permit—The Coffee was seized, condemned and sold for about Two hundred Dollars—He was sued for the penalty of Four hundred Dollars; let Judgment go by default, and on the sixth of June last, was imprisoned on the execution, by which he is now confined—He is a single man, about thirty years old, and his general character is fair—The offence of which he was convicted, was wilful, secret, and, I think, a long time premeditated—He took the Coffee on board at Surinam without the knowledge of the Officers of the Brig—never mentioned to them that he had it on board, & landed it without their knowledge—He is poor, and unable to pay the penalty for which he is confined—Under all circumstances, I think four months imprisonment, a reasonable commutation for the penalty, for so wilful a breach, of such an important Act—