By &c.

Whereas, at a Court Martial asseml?led and held on board His Majesty's Ship the Bristol on Tuesday the 17th day of December 1776, the Right Honble Lord Shuldham, Vice Admiral of the Blue Squadron of His Majesty's Fleet President, a Sentence was passed to the Effect following, Vizt

The Court in pursuance of an Order from the Right Honorable Lord Viscount Howe, Vice Admiral of the White and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels empioyed and to be employed &c in North America dated the 14th Instant, proceeded to try James Woolspring Seaman belonging to His Majesty's Ship Phoenix for Desertion from a Prize Brig on the Night of the 5th of April last, with John Rollo Seaman, and taking with them the Boaf belonging to the said Brig, having first broken open and robbed a Chest belonging to a Mulatto Mari belonging to the said. Brig, And having heard the Evidence and the prisoner's Defence, and very maturely considered. the same [illegible] _of Opinion that part of the Charge against the prisoner James Woolsprihg has been fully proved, and thathe falls under the first part of the Fifteenth Article of an Act made in the Twenty Second Year of the Reign of King George the Second, Entitled 'an Act for amending, explaining and reducing into One Act of Parliament, the Laws Felating to the Government of His Majesty's Ships Vessels and forces by Sea; and do therefore adjudge the said James Woolspring to suffer Death, by being hang'd by the neck till he is dead, at such time, and on board such of His Majesty's Ships or Vessels as the Commander in Chief shall please to direct; And he is hereby Adjudged to suffer Death accordingly.

And Whereas, in consideration of what your Lordship hath represented in your Letter of the 6th of February last, of the said James Woolspring's extraordinary Sufferings by long confinement which, amongst other circumstances attending his case, had induced your Lordship to respite the t;xecution of the above sentence, the King hath been graciously pleased to extend His Mercy to him, and to signify to Us by the Earl of Sandwich His Royal pleasure that he should be pardoned; Your Lordship is therefore hereby required and directed, in pursuance of His Majesty's said pleasure, to cause the said James Woolspring to be made acquainted with the Royal pardon, and to be forthwith released from his Confinement. For wh.ich this Shall be your Lordship's Warrant. Given under our hands, and the Seal of the Office of Admiralty the 27th of March 1777.

By the Isis.