To James Madison from James Breheney, [ca. 29 January 1815]
From James Breheney
[ca. 29 January 1815]
Sir
With due Difference I take the liberty of Mentioning that On this morning the Goeallre of Baltimore Hath informed me that an Order hath came to my release and demandd, of $40.27 for Jeal Fees together with setting me Out for this States cost, if one Single dollar would release me I could not command it as Your Excellency has been So Kind to me the former1 I hope you will point Out to me Some way that I may be dischar⟨ge⟩d from the present demands & Shall in duty Bound ever pray
James Breheney
P. S. Sir I scend you enclosd. the Sheriffs Bill by the Jailler.2
RC and enclosure (DNA: RG 59, ML). Undated; postmarked Baltimore, 29 Jan.; docketed “29. Jan. 14.” in an unidentified hand and filed at that date. Conjectural date assigned here based on the postmark and evidence in nn. For enclosure, see n. 2.
1. On 23 Jan. 1815, citing Breheney’s poverty, JM pardoned him for the crime of selling liquor without a license and remitted the $150 fine assessed by the federal circuit court at Baltimore (DNA: RG 59, PPR).
2. The enclosed bill (1 p.) stated that “Mr. James Breaney” owed Sheriff John Chalmers $40 for jail fees from 15 July 1814 through 30 Jan. 1815, and 27 cents “To commit & release.”