Sir,

We the Subscribers² all of Providence in the State of Rhode Island &c. Merchants request your Honor to grant a Commission or Letters of Marque and Reprisal to Christopher Whipple Commander of the Private Brigantine of War called the Putnam, of which we are Owners; She is burthen'd about Eighty Tons carries Ten Carriage Guns Four Pounders and Three Pounders and Fourteen Swivel Guns manned with Twenty five Men and fitted with a Suitable Quantity of Muskets, Blunderbusses, Cutlasses, Pistols, Powder Ball and other Military Stores. She hath on board Forty five barrels Beef and Pork, Six Thousand weight of Bread, Three Tierces Rice, Eight barrels Flour with some Beans Pottatoes &c. Phineas Frazier is First Lieutenant, William Hopkins is Second Lieutenant, and Jonathan Donridon is Master. We are with great Respect Sir [&c.]