The Order of the Day being read...

A Petition of John Berwick Esquire was presented to the House and read in the words following

That on or about the night of the 16th of July last while your Petitioner was called from the Care of his private Concerns and bearing Arms in Charles Town in Defence of this State against the cruel Invaders of its just Rights and Priviledges an armed Vessel supposed to be that commanded by Captain Osborn commissioned by the Province of East Florida to cruize against the United States of America landed his men and carried off by violence Eight of his most valuable Slaves compelling the Overseers Wife to conduct them to those Houses where the best of his negroes were known to reside to the great Injury of the Estate of your Petitioner said Slaves together with a Loss sustained in his Crop being in the Opinion of your Petitioner to the value of Seven Thousand Pounds Currency at a moderate Computation

Your Petitioner also begs Leave to represent to the House that he is well informed that John Moultrie Esquire Lieutenant Governor of East-Florida from whence the said piratical cruizer was commissioned and John Stuart Esquire late Superintendent of Indian Affairs are possessed of certain Estates or other Property within this State and the said John Moultrie and John Stuart Esquires having taken an active Part with our Enemies against these United States

Your Petitioner therefore encouraged by some recent Precedents in which Individuals have been permitted to make Reprisals and to indemnify themselves for their Losses by seizing upon the Property of the Enemy within this State prays that the House would take the Premises into Consideration and enable your Petitioner to attach and convert to his own use so much of the Property or Effects of the said John Moultrie or John Stuart Esquires or any other known Enemy of this State and of the Liberties of America in general found within this State as shall fully indemnify him for his great Losses or that the House would be pleased to grant your Petitioner such other mode of Redress as to their wisdom may seem more fit and proper

Ordered That the Petition be referred to a Committee

Ordered That the Honourable Mr [John] Edwards and Captain Joiner do wait on the President to acquaint him that this House and the Honourable the Legislative Council have jointly by Ballot duly elected James Dogharty Esquire Captain and Commander of the armed Brigantine Comet belonging to this State and to request that His Excellency will be pleased to cause him to be sent for Express and to commissionate him accordingly