Revised Jun 6 2021
No. 79. J: Delafons Esqr. to Dr. Scott.
Sir.
As I call every Day to see Mr. P. Heywood in whose Fate I am anxiously interested, I thought it wou'd be cruel to have persuaded him not to send a Letter he had written to his Sister (after the dreadful sentence of last Tuesday was pronounced) — & on which I found his Mind was bent — I therefore thought it most proper to enclose it under your Cover; & to your Prudence & Circumspection I leave it to be delivered when you think his Sister's Sensibility will not be too much alarmed, — I left my young Friend on board the Hector this Morning in that State of true Fortitude & resignation which his Friends cou'd desire him to be bless'd with in his present melancholy Situations — The Minutes of the Court Martial were Yesterday sent to the Admiralty & no steps can be taken till they accompany the sentence to be laid before his Majesty — whether the Extension of the royal Mercy (which we all hope & expect to be the Effect of the Court's strong recommendation) will be signified immediately, is at present uncertain — Mr. Graham was obliged to go to Town Yesterday. —
I am Sir
your most ob't.
hbl'e. serv't.