To the Honble Council, and Honble House of Representatives for the State of Massachusetts Bay

The Petition of John Dean & Mungo Mackay, Agents for the Private Ship of War, American Tartar,² in Behalf of themselves and the other Owners

Your Petitioners humbly beg leave to represent to your Honors, That the Ship American Tartar carries 24 Carriage Guns ー 9, 6 & 4-pounders ー That she is perhaps as fast a sailing Ship as any on the Continent; That she is compleatly fitted at the Expence of £12,000 Lawful Money, and will be able to lay along side of any 20 Gun Ship in the British Navy ー That she has many of her Hands now on board, and are maintained by Contract, until she is permitted to Sail on a Cruize ー That she has been fitted for Sea a long time past and might have sailed in ten Days after the Embargo took place Your Petitioners need not suggest to your Honors the great difference between this Ship, and small Privateers ー They therefore most humbly beg your Honors will permit her to proceed on her Cruize ー Taking into Consideration that the Government have been forward in encouraging private Adventurers, and 'twas in consequence of that, this Ship was fitted at so great Expence ー That the Privateers have done signal Service to these States, and lasting damage to the Enemy, and that this Ship in special is every way well calculated to perform her Part, and that although we may take ー a small number of Men out of this State, yet we might in a very short time be able to add a much greater to it, who if they were of no other Service, might be exchanged for our unfortunate Countrymen in the hands of the Enemy That as the State are in great want of Cloathing and Provisions, we are in hopes, and have abundant reason to suppose, we shall soon be able to supply them with large Quantities of both, which will be ordered into this State.

Your Petitioners are willing that the Ship American Tartar for the General Good shall go out in Company with the Continental Cruizers, and Cruize from Ten to Twenty Days in Company with them, and there is no doubt they will be able to take any of the Vessels now Infesting our Coast, which unless they are soon drove off, we have good reason to fear all the little Supplies which are expected by the Merchants will be cut off, and the Inhabitants of this State be reduced to great distress. They therefore humbly Pray your Honors will take their Petition into your wise and impartial Consideration, and as the General Good as well as the Interest of the Owners are inseparably connected herewith, we hope and trust your Honors will grant the Prayer thereof. And as m Duty bound will ever pray

[Endorsed] The Committee appointed to consider the petition of John Dean &c have attended that service, & beg leave to report by way of resolve

In the House of Representatives March 22d. 1777

Resolved, that the prayer of the within petitioners be granted under the following Restrictions, vizt That said Ship American Tartar shall be permitted to sail in Company with one of the Continental Frigates now in this Harbour, That she shall keep in Compy with sd Frigate for & during the term of Twenty five days from the day of their sailing, & that she shall be under the control of the Commander of sd Frigate during said Term ー & shall assist him in any engagement which may happen, & [illegible] him in all respects during said Term ー After which the said Ship American Tartar shall be permitted to proceed upon her intended Cruise And for the performa of the above Conditions on the part of the petitioners to be performd & kept, they shall give Bond to the Treasurer of this State in the penal Sum of £2000 ー