To the Honourable the Committee of Safety of the province of Pennsylvania.
The Remonstrance of the Captains of the Row-Gallies belonging to this province,
Respectfully sheweth,

That your Remonstrants, understanding that this Board is about to appoint Capt. Samuel Davidson to the Commodoreship or chief command of the fleet for the defence of our river and province, conceive that said appointment would be contrary to every rule of war, and the custom of all nations, because he is one of the youngest Captains in the service, and cannot be put over the heads of senior commanders on any other principle than as an insult offered to them, and with a design to render the service disgusting and disagreeable, especially as he has borne little or no part in training up the service, and bringing it to a perfection, which has convinced the public of its great utility in defending [the] province against the attacks of the enemy, and as he had not the least share in the late engagements with the enemy's ships of war.

They do therefore warmly remonstrate against any such appointment, and declare to this Board that they will not submit to it; nor will they obey any commander so irregularly set over them. And lest the Board should imagine that you Remonstrants intend to resign their commissions, in case such an appointment should take place, they would inform this Board, that as the safety of their country appears to require it, the[y] mean to continue in the service, and to appeal to the ju[stice] of their country, and they have not the least doubt of obtaining ample redress from that public which it has ever been their greatest glory to serve with fidelity. They do further remonstrate against any appointment of marine officers to command the Row-Gallies now on the stocks,² seeing they are built upon a larger and better construction, as this Board must know that it is equally contrary to custom and the laws of war, and tending to fix a s[tigma] upon the elder commanders without shewing reason therefor; and thereby holding up to the public suspicions of their want of abilities. Your Remonstrants conceive that the line of appointment is plain and easy, and can never be deviated from without manifest injury to the characters of those over whose heads the appointment is made. They do therefore object to all such appointments, and as they wish not to be troublesome to this Board, they conclude with requesting, that, whatever fate their Remonstrance may meet with, this Board would be kind enough forthwith to inform them of what they mean to do in the matter, that your Remonstrants may have it in their power to pursue that line of conduct, which shall enable them to obtain from their country, that justice which may be denied them by this Board.

Philadelphia, June 18th, 1776 ー Signed for and by order of the whole,