This Agreement or Charterparty made between Nicholas Cooke Esquire of Providence Owner of the Sloop Diamond burdened eighty Seven Tons and Two Thirds of the One Part and John Jenckes of said Providence Merchant who acts in this Matter for and in Behalf of the Colony of Rhode-Island Of the other Part witnesseth That the said Nicholas Cooke hath letten unto Fright unto the said John Jenckes for the Use of the Colony the aforesaid Sloop for a Voyage from Providence aforesaid to the West-Indies and back again And the said Nicholas Cooke shall be at the Expence of keeping her in good and customary Repair during the Voyage. In Consideration whereof the [said] John Jenckes on the Part of said Colony shall pay unto the [said] Nicholas Cooke for the Hire of said Sloop at and after the rate of one Dollar a Ton per Month for the whole Time she shall [be i]n performing said Voyage to be computed from the first Day of January instant until she shall be returned back and redelivered to the said Nicholas Cooke And the said John Jenckes on Behalf of the Colony shall wholly risque said Sloop in all Cases during the Voyage and in Case of Loss by any Means whatsoever he shall pay unto the said Nicholas Cooke Fifteen Hundred Dollars for her In Witness whereof the said Parties have hereunto interchangeably set their Hands and Seals the twenty second Day of January in the Year of our Lord One Thousand seven Hundred and Seventy Six.

P S. If the Sloop is taken or Lost, no Charter money is to be paid only the Fifteen Hundred Dollars.