To the Honorable the Grand Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania 

The Petition of the Private men belonging to the Fleet of this state

Sheweth 

That your Petitioners have for Some Time past laboured under many Grievances which they were of Necessity obliged to bear as they were not near the Place where your Honours were but where they are now come and are in hopes to get Redress—That your Petit^rs. have come a long fatiguing Journey and upon their Departure from Trenton² were faithfully promised that they should be paid in Reading but so far was such Promise from being performed that your Petitioners yet remain without their Pay—That your Petitioners were likewise promised to be paid their prize Moneys at Reading but were informed when they came there that his Excel^y the Governor³ was dead they was therefore under the Necessity of coming to this Town where they expect and are in hopes to get Relief from your Honours—That at the Time your Petit^rs entered on board their respective Vessels half a pint of Rum ⅌ Day was allowed to each Man but for a long Time past their Rum has been stopped and but 1 Shilling ⅌ Day allowed them in the Lieu of it which Your Petit^rs. humbly think is rather too small an Allowance in the Place of their Daily Rations 

Therefore humbly hoping that your Honours will look into these Matters and order your Petitioners in the first Place speedily to be paid what Wages is due to them and that you will do what in your Honours Judgment shall seem best and most equitable as to the Remaining Part of your Petit^rs. Request 

And your Petitioners   

As in Duty bound 

Shall ever pray &^c.