To the Honourable the Council of the State of Massachusett's Bay
The humble Petition of Alexander Rose of South Carolina sheweth,

That your petitioner, being induced by the great scarcity of shipping in South Carolina; whereby the trade of that Country has of late suffered very considerably, has undertaken a Jong & expensive Journey, to purchase Vessels for the purpose of forwarding in some measure the exportation of the Staple Commodities of that state, and the importation of such articles as are essential to its comfort and wellbeing.

That he has accordingly made purchase of ten small vessels in this state and is in treaty for some others, but finds that, by one of its late acts, he is prevented from sending them off, without permission first had & obtain'd from your Honourable Board.

Your petitioner therefore prays that Your Honours will grant him this permission to send his vessels either directly to South Carolina or by way of the French Islands or of the Island of Bermuda for Salt; & also to carry such cargos as will answer at those respective Markets by that means easing your petitioner of the expence & hazard incurred by their detention here, and contributing at the same time to the speedy relief of the necessities of a Sister State —

And your petitioner, as in duty bound, shall ever pray &c &c

Boston Feby 28. 1777.

N B: Two of the vessels are intended for the Islands with Lumber, the others directly for South Carolina with about Twenty hogsheads of sugar and Three pipes of Madeira wine.

The Schooner John of about 60 Tons

And the Schooner Lucy of the same tonnage to go by way of the Islands — The others to go to South Carolina in Ballast together with the articles Mentioned on the other side.

[Endorsed] In Council Feb. 28th 1777 read and ordered that the Prayer of the above Petition be granted —