Papers of John Adams, volume 20
ante 14 April 1790
To the Honourable John Adams Vice President of the United States of America
The Petition of Wm: Brown & Jam̃.
Hopkins with advice of the Honourable John Jay most humbly sheweth that they being now
in Confinement in the new Goal of this City suffering under the greatest cruelty that
can be inflicted on any human Person & from the Noble Character that Yr. Honour
bears induces them to apply for redress hoping that if consistent Your Honour will free
them from the Punishment inflicted on them. may the God of Mercy in whose hands are the
hearts of Men dispose Your Honour to befriend them in granting them also their Release
they having sailed out of this State. The Petition would also present to Your Honour
that there is people who is well acquainted with the Captain & know him to be of an
infamous Character. may the Great Sovereign whose unbounded Pity is towards the
distressed make Your Honour the happy instrument in granting them Release & may
every Blessing be shewed on Your Noble Character from the inhabitants of this City who
advised us to apply for Redress. & as in Duty bound we shall ever pray &c.—
m.Brown
John Hopkins
RC (Adams Papers).
William Brown and John (or James) Hopkins were accused of mutiny
and attempted murder aboard the Morning Star, Capt. Henry
Kermit, which sailed from Amsterdam to New York earlier in the spring. They were
arrested upon their arrival on 20 March, tried before the New York State circuit
court, and found guilty. On 14 April Brown and Hopkins were sentenced to stand one
hour in the pillory, serve six months in jail, and receive 39 lashes. The dating of
this letter is based on newspaper accounts of their trial. There is no indication that
JA intervened in the case (
Doc. Hist. Supreme
Court
, 2:22; Minutes, 13–14 April 1790, Circuit Court for the District of
New York, RG 21, NjBaFAR;
New-York Daily Gazette, 22 March; New-York Packet, 15 April).