A petition from William Richardson,² setting forth, that he, at the time of the alarming appearance of a hostile fleet under the direction of lord Dunmore, on the thirteenth of July last, observed a sloop drifting towards the shore within about a mile and a half of his dwelling house, and a barge from the fleet rowing towards her, which soon scuttled the said sloop; that he went off with his own negroes, intending to board her and save every thing on board the said sloop he possibly could; that he accordingly saved and brought away a mainsail, topsail, and gib, a quantity of old iron, thirty-six pair of iron hinges, and fifty-three cow hides; and that all the said articles were sent for and taken away by captain Uriah Forrest; and praying to be authorized to receive a moiety of the said articles procured by him as aforesaid, was read and ordered to lie on the table.