Mr. Adams, Secretary of State, to Mr. Austin.
Washington, May 25, 1820.
Sir: In answer to your letter of the 22d ultimo, and that of the 10th instant, I have to state that, upon the receipt of the former, which inclosed the petitions of William Holmes, Edmund Rosemaine, and Thomas Warrington, for pardon, in the case of their conviction for the crime of piratical murder, they were submitted to the President, who referred the papers to the Attorney-General for his opinion. A copy of that opinion is herewith transmitted to you, in which, from a full consideration [Page 503] of all the circumstances presented to his view, the President reluctantly feels himself compelled to concur. [139]
I am, &c.,
James T. Austin, Esq.,
Boston, Massachusetts.