To The Honorable General Assembly now Siting at providence
May it please your Honors 

We the Subscribers W^m. Bentley Henry Oman, John Harwood John Newton W^m. Pitman Richard Thomas belonging to Newport have been very Great Sufferers by the Enemy, & been drove off from our Habitations, have now fix'd up a Boat in order to Catch Fish down at point Judah¹ &c

Therefore Pray your Honors to grant us a Commission to make reprisals upon any Enemies shiping that may fall in our way as we propose to Equip ourselves with Arms in order to for our defence ourselves and as there will be Vessels passing & Repassing up the Sound doubt not but we shall have an Opportunity of Distinguishing our Selves² your Honors taking this into Consideration, and granting us a Commission shall be in Duty bound to pray &c &c

Providence May 9^th. 1778—

N B. as we being poor men and having lost our all by the Enemy we Beg your Honors would Supply us with Arms Sufficient, and we will give sufficient Security to your Honors Satisfaction In the Lower House 

May 9^th. 1778

Resolved That his Excellency the Governor be requested to issue a Commission of Letters of Marque and Reprisal to William Bentley one of the Petitioners, and that Col. Daniel Tillinghast supply the Petitioners with Six good Muskets, they giving Security to account for the same when called for. 

Voted and sent up to the Upper House for Concurrence 

By Ord^r. W^m. Coddington Assis^t Clerk.

In the Upper House 
Read the same Day & Concurred 
By order; William Mumford D Secretary