Autograph letter signed : London, to T. S. Gooch, 1818 March 21.

Acknowledging receipt of his letter concerning a petition on behalf of a convict, George Wilkins, sentenced to be hanged; saying "...I think it incumbent upon me, in order to discourage delusive Hopes, which may have been entertain'd by this unhappy Man, & his Friends, to lose no Time in informing you, as I do, with great regret, that there are no Grounds, stated in the Petition, upon which I should be justified in recommending Him, as a fit Object of the Royal Mercy. It is not the Practice to refer a Petition in Favor of a Convict to the Judge before whom He had been tried, unless it contain'd some Circumstances, before unknown to the Judge, and which appear'd particularly deserving of Attention: but former good Character, & Contrition for the fatal Crime, are not sufficient, in such a case, to warrant the Remission of capital Punishment: but the Discretion of the Judge remains entire, whilst He is on the Circuit;" thanking him for the kind words he expressed in the concluding part of his letter.