I have for some time past intended writing to you in regard to an unfortunate convict who formerly was from this county and who I now hear is at work on the rail road in either McDowell or Buncombe. His name is William Taylor the son of Nathan Taylor a highly respected citizen of this county who died a few years since and left a widow one of the best and most estimable of women, the mother, by a former husband of Nathan Clayland whose sad history you but too well remember. This young man (Taylor) I understand is very penitent and as he is a bright & intelligent man would it not be well to gladden the heart of his bereaved mother by pardoning him on the 1st of January. The theft he committed was in the county of New Hanover I believe he hired a horse & buggy which he forgot to return, if it had been in this county, I would send you a large petition for pardon as I am confident many persons in town & country would both sign it. I have always believed that the young mind is never improved by the contact with sore hardened criminals as must be the case with all parties sent to the penitentiary in this state and as the object of confinement is twofold to punish the individual and to reform one certainly in this particular case the latter is not liable to be attained in this case with his present surroundings.

There are many reasons I should like to see this pardon granted some of which you can readily understand and which I hope you will take into consideration—

Please excuse this hastily written letter and with every wish for your happiness