Record

Document Reference	Pl C 52/156/1-2
Title	Letter from George Smith, Gower Street, London to [W.H.C. Bentinck] 3rd Duke of Portland; 28 Apr. 1801
Date	28 April 1801
Extent	4 ff
Level	Item/file
Content Description	Solicits the duke's intervention in the case of Francis Steele Bond, now in Newgate under sentence of transportation for stealing £2550 from William Alston; explains that he is acquainted with both these men as they are inhabitants of Rochester where his father [Nathaniel Smith] represented Parliament; gives a brief outline of Bond's unblemished life and the immediate circumstances surrounding the robbery; describes Bond's flight to London with money that Alston had entrusted to him; suggests that he left for London without word not to steal this money but to meet with an 'abandoned woman'; explains why this is a credible possibility and asks the duke to investigate the case further; will answer any enquiries of Mr Fox or Mr Baldwin. For the duke's draft response to this letter see Pl C 52/35.
Term	justice, appeals for clemency
	crimes, robbery
	punishments, transportation

Persons

Code	PersonName	Dates of existence
NA40073	Smith; Nathaniel (1730-1794); Mr; MP; deputy chairman of East India Company 1783	1730-1794
NA11771	Fox; Charles James (1749-1806); Mr; statesman	1749-1806
NA32221	Baldwin; William (c.1737-1813); Mr; M.P. and lawyer; founder member of Whig Club	c.1737-1813
NA41340	Alston; William (fl 1801); Mr; a butcher of Rochester	fl 1801
NA41339	Bond; Francis Steele (fl 1801); Mr; convict	fl 1801
NA41341	Smith; George (fl 1801); Mr; son of Nathaniel Smith MP for Rochester	fl 1801
NA905	Bentinck; William H.C. Cavendish- (1738-1809); 3rd Duke of Portland; succ. 1762	1738-1809