I can, with truth, say that had I then been the only person concerned, Ishouldhave done as others were doing to free myself of my obligations, but my partner being a clergyman with a large family, and in ill-health, I thought it not unlikely that such a humiliation would cost him his life. I was then, I regret to say, tempted to, as I considered, borrow out of money in my hands to tide over the pressing difficulty, hoping by each mail to receive funds to replace what I had appropriated (little thinking it would lead to such disastrous results); but was disappointed, and instead of the value of flax improving it got worse, and brought many who were engaged in it to bankruptcy which caused all to whom we owed money to press for immediate payment. It was then too late for me to go through the Court, as I could not do so without exposing what I had done. Every pound I have appropriated has gone in this way, as well as a large part of my yearly income. Were it not on account of my family, on whose behalf I considered all that could be done should be done to prevent my being taken from them, I should not have troubled the Court to have tried my case. I wish to say that no one knew of my wrong doing, and it has been a very bitter load to me. Again expressing my sorrow for having yielded to temptation, and for the loss it has caused others, I leave my case in your Honor’s hands, in the hope that for the sake of my wife and family you will extend to me whatever mercy it is in your power to show “ Frederick Pavitt.”

His Honor—Prisoner at the bar, you have been arraigned on two charges of embezzle ment, on the first of which you have been found guilty, and on the other you have pleaded guilty yourself. Your crime is very different from that of a poor or ignorant man who might perhaps be taken to have to some extent at least, extenuating circumstances for the crime. But you are a person of superior education, of outward respectability, and you were placed in a position of trust, and that position you have grossly abused. 