The Brigantine Washington, Burthen about Ninty Tons is a privateer Mounted with Twelve Carriage Guns, Six Swivels, & Twenty Small Armes, Powder & all other Warlike Stores Sufficient for a Cruize of five month, also fifty bbs Beef & pork Twelve Thousand wt Bread, and all other Small Stores in Proportion, Navigated with Eighty men. Now Bound on a Cruize under the Command of Capt Manly, Agreeable to a Resolve of the Great & General Courte of this State. —
Said Privateer is Commanded by Elias Smith, and is the Property of John Dyson, Thos Davis & Others Merchts in Beverly, &c —
The Petition of Elias Smith, in behalf of himself and others, Owners of the Brigantine Called the Washington, humbly Sheweth, that your Petitioner, was honored by your Honors, with a Commision, to Command the Said Briggt, Dated the 3d of october I776. that in Extremity of weather in his Late Cruize, his Sd Briggt Shipped a Sea by means of which much water was forced into his Cabin, And wet and wholly destroyed his Commision, as wen as many other things. —
Therefore your Petitioner humbly prays your Honors, To Grant him a New Commision, that he may be enabled to proceede on his intended Cruize, against the Enemise of the United States, and your Petitioner as in Duty bound Shall Ever pray ー
Boston May the 2d 1777.
[Endorsed] In Council May 2d 1777
Read & Ordered that the Prayer of the Petition be granted & that a Commission be issued out to Elias Smith as Commander of the Brige Washington mentioned in the said Petition he complying with the Resolves of Congress —
Jno Avery Dpy Secy
