During the period that I served on board of your frigate, I confidently rely upon the captain and the officers for my character.
"The love of our country, although dormant for a time, will ultimately be roused, and peculiar circumstances occurred which rendered the feeling irresistible.

I returned to my duty, and for having so done, am I to be debarred from again returning to that country so dear to me-- from again beholding my aged parents, who bless me in my absence--from again embracing my brothers and sisters--to end my days upon a scaffold; not for the crime which I did commit in entering into your service, but for an act of duty and repentance--that of returning to my own?
Allow me to observe, that the charge against me is not for entering your service, but for having deserted from it.

For the former, not even my misery can be brought forward but in extenuation; for the latter I have a proud consciousness, which will, I trust, be my support in my extremity.
"Gentlemen, I earnestly entreat you to consider my situation, and I am sure that your generous hearts will pity me.

Let that love of your country, which now animates your breasts, and induces you to risk your lives and your all, now plead for me.

Already has British humanity saved thousands of my countrymen from the rage of the Spaniards; let that same humanity be extended now, and induce my judges to add one more to the list of those who, although our nations are at war, if they are endowed with feeling, can have but one sentiment towards their generous enemy--a sentiment overpowering all other, that of a deep-felt gratitude."[1] Whatever may have been the effect of the address upon the court individually, it appeared at the time to have none upon them as a body.
Both the men were condemned to death, and the day after the morrow was fixed for their execution.