To the Honourable the Councel & the house of Representitives of the Colloney of the Massachusetts bay in General Court assembled at watertown Sepr 26 1775

the Petition of Ivory Hovey in Behalf of Nine Destricts in the County of Lincoln Laying between pernopskett & Machias, whereas there has been two vessells taken from frenchmans bay & one from Crambory Island abt Septr 1st 1775 by a Number of men from deer Island Commanded by Joseph patrick & Captn Wm Reed & where by there orders Conducted to Deer Island since that one vessell has been Taken Laden with west India goods from the west Indias Consignd to some person in portsmouth, ー there is great Reason to Believe they will be daley draping in & as the inhabitants are aprehensive it will not onley be attended with Great Espence but a Great Inconveaninncy being so farr Removed from the seat of Gove[rnm]ent to be oblig'd to make Report to this honourable Court your Petitioner in Behalf of his Constituants humbly prays that this honourable Court would apoint a Committee of Inspection or that they may have the Liberty to Choose a Committee of Inspection themselves & that the Committee shall have full power to Detain vessells Acting Contrary to the Resolves [of] Congress or to Acquitt vessells acting agreeab[le] to Resolves of the Congress & your petitioner will ever pray