Revised Jun 6 2021

Early on Sunday Morning [September 30] Dr. Scott called on Mrs. Heywood's Family & brought the following Letters which he had recieved by the Packet. — [This through No. 81.]

No. 74. A. Graham Esq'r. to Dr. Scott.

Portsmouth Tuesday 18^th Sep'r. 1792

Sir –

Although a stranger I make no Apology for writing to you — I have attended & given my Assistance at Mr. Heywood's Trial, which was finished & the sentence passed about half an Hour since. Before I tell you what the sentence is, I must inform you that his Life is safe, notwithstanding it is at present at the Mercy of the King, — to which he is in the strongest Terms recommended by the Court — That any unnecessary Fears may not be productive of Misery to the Family, I must add that the Kings Attorney Gen'l. (who with Judge Ashurst attended the Trial) desired me to make myself perfectly easy, for that my Friend was as safe as if he had not been condemned! — I wou'd have avoided making Use of this dreadful Word—but it must have come to your Knowledge, & perhaps unaccompanied by many others of a pleasing kind: — to prevent its being improperly communicated to Mrs. or Miss Heywood's; (whose Distresses first engaged me in the Business, & cou'd not fail to call forth my best Exertions upon the Occasion), I send you this by Express. — The Mode of Communication I must leave to your Discretion, & shall only add, that although from a Combination of Circumstances, Ill-nature, & mistaken Friendship, the Sentence is in itself terrible, yet it is incumbent on me to assure you, that from the same Combination of Circumstances, every body who attended the Trial is perfectly satisfied in his own Mind, that he was hardly guilty in Appearance, in Intention he was perfectly Innocent — I shall of course write to Commodore Pasley, whose Mind from my Letter to him of Yesterday must be dreadfully agitated, & take his Advice about what is to be done when Mr. Heywood is released; I shall stay here till then, & my Intention is afterwards to take him to my House in Town, where I think he had better stay till one of the Family calls for him; for he will require a great deal of tender Management after all his sufferings; & it wou'd perhaps be a necessary preparation for seeing his Mother that one or both his Sisters shou'd be previously prepared to support her upon so trying an Occasion. — I can only say that they wou'd make me very happy in taking the Charge out of my Hand, & if to spend a few Days in London will not be disagreeable to them I have a Daughter, who tho' young will feel herself bound to make their Stay (however short it may be) as agreeable as possible. —

I have the Honor to be – Sir

  your most obedient

    humble servant

      A: Graham

since writing this Letter I find it will reach you sooner by Post than Express.