In 1780, Gerrald moved back to the West Indies to tend to matters of the family fortune.

Gerrald's wife died soon after the birth of the second child and he was left to raise two young children without much money.

Gerrald was mostly concerned with parliamentary reform and was a large proponent of a national convention, alongside Thomas Paine.

Throughout this pamphlet, Gerrald addresses the people of England on the need for common folk to be involved in politics.

He believed that this was important because of the eruption of war between England and France, caused by the majority British opposition to French Revolution.

On this front, Gerrald uses the young United States, an example showing that there exists a country that doesn't go to war unless its citizens decide to.

He suggests that negotiations could have made a larger impact on the people because the outcomes of the wars left civilians in a worse state than they had started with.

To overcome these issues, Gerrald suggests a plan where people can elect representatives who will follow instructions set by the general body.

It was felt that the case was prejudiced, and while out on bail Gerrald had been urged to escape by his friends such as Dr. Parr, but he considered that his honour was pledged.

At his trial in Edinburgh he made an admirable speech in defence of his actions but was condemned to 14 years transportation.

The apparent courtesy and consideration with which the trial was conducted could not conceal the real prejudice which ruled the proceedings.

He was then in a poor state of health suffering from tuberculosis and was allowed to buy a small house and garden in which he lived.