To the Honourable Committee of
Safety appointed by The Hon^o. General Court, to transact the Prudential matters of the said State, during the recess of said Court, Convened at Exeter.— 

The Petition of a Number of the Freeholders, and other Inhabitants of said State, in behalf of their Captivated Friends, unto your Honors, Humbly shews.—That your Petitioners have received undoubted Intelligence that the Privateer Briganteen McClarey¹ of Portsmouth, Commanded by John Gregory, was Taken about the Tenth day of February last, and carried into Newport by the Unicorn Man of War, whereby the Fathers, Sons, Brothers & Friends, of Nine of said Crew, are become the objects of the Enemies Cruelty, and are now suffering a Close Confinement in a Loathsome Prison, at this unfavourable season of the year, and are thereby not only exposed to Penury & Want, but to the Ravages of Putrid Fevers, and Infectious Distempers, and without the Intervention of this Hon^ble Committee most of them we fear will loose their Lives, before they can be releived, We therefore Pray your Honors would take into your consideration the miserable sittuation of the aforesaid persons, And take such methods as your Honors shall think most probable to effect an immediate release, and as in Duty they will eyer Pray &c. 

June 15. 1778—