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[Phoe]nix Hulk

[Aug]'t 20th 1832 }

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[on right]

{ To his Excellency General Burke [sic] ~

... Commander in Chief of the ~

... Territory of N. S. Wales. &c ... &c ... &c.

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The humble petition of William Breffitt, tried
before his honor, Mr Justice Dowling, on 4th day of Aug't; praying
your Excellency to take into consideration the Circumstances attendent [sic]
on the Situation of your unfotunate [sic] petitioner, .............................

Your Excellency's petitoner filled the Situation of Constable
in the Sydney police for nearly three Years, and his uniform good conduct
succeeded in Gaining the Good will of the officers of the Court, & also
the esteem of his brother Constables. That your Petitioner in
company with a brother Constable by the Name of Suttond [sic], about
two Years Since, apprehended two bushrangers, one by name, William
Ridgley, the name of the other I do not Recollect. Wm Ridgeley was Sent
to Norfolk Island, and, I believe that the other went there also and
that Some of the prisoners being aware of the Circumstances, attendent [sic] on
Ridgley, and threaten to make your Petitioner Sorry for having discharged
[added in left margin] (his duty) while in the Sydney Police as having been the occasion of the apprehension
of William Ridgley and the other, and Regrett [sic] that the Regulation on board
prevents them from their purpose, but on the passage they promise them-
Selve's [sic] an Opportunity, and if that Should not Occur, that Ridgley and the
Other will not forget me when I go to Norfolk Island, under all these
Circumstances, in Addition to my wretched Situation in having Innocently
been the occasion of the death of my Wife, Which circumstance alone is
Sufficient so make your petitoner Miserable, your Petitioner need only
Refer to his trial, where it will be Seen that untill [sic] the Unfortunate act took
[added in left margin] (place) Your Petitioner allways [sic] Studied to make his wife Comfortable and happy
and allways [sic] bore toward his wife the Strongest Affection, and can never cease
to regrett [sic] the fatal Occurence that deprived him of one So dear to him -
and the insult that your petitioner meet [sic] with from those placed in a Similar
Situation, and the threats that I have reason to believe they will not fail to
execute when opportunity Shall offer, I humbly trust that your Excellency
will deign in your Clemency to Consider the circumstances attendent [sic] on my
unfortunate Situation, and not to Suffer one So deeply afflicted already to be
left to the Mercy of those who will endeavour to make him him yet more wretch-
ed and if it Should Please to Send me to a Penal Settlement, I hope that
on account of William Ridgley Your Excellency will in humanity to my
Sufferings, allow me to go to Moreton Bay --

[signed, on right] William Breffitt

And as in duty bound your petitioner will ever pray ~