To the Honble the Councel & House of Representitives of the State of the Massts Bay, in General Court now Sitting ー

The Owners of the Private Vessels of War, having been applyd to by a Committee from the General Court, to Know if they will send their Vessels in Company with the Continental Ships upon a Cruize, and upon what terms ー

The Subscribers, Owners & Agents for themselves & the rest of the Concern'd, having the good of the Country Especially in View; are willing to foregoe their prospect of Gain and Agree, that their Vessels shall sail in Campy with the Continental Ships, under the Command of Comodore Manly, and Cruize under his Orders, for the term of twenty days, from the time of their sailing, upon Condition, that the Honbl Court will engage to make good the loss if any of them are lost or taken, or damaged by the Enemy, provided there is not prize Money enough obtain'd from such engagements, to Defray the loss or damage; but if there is, they then Aquit the General Court as they only wish to Keep themselves whole ー

The Subscribers beg leave to Suggest to the Court that they are Assured it will be impossible for these Vessels to be fitted away, unless the Court will take off the Restrictions, with Respect to maning them, and they apprihend it would have a very good tendency, if no privateers were permitted to man, unless they could be ready to go with the fleet, and if it was Immediately Known that all Vessels of War, in the different Seaports in this State, that could be got ready might have the priviledge of getting M[en] upon the best terms they could, they Apprihend in this way, a very formidable force might be Collected in 8 or 10 days, at least sufficient to Scour the Coast of the destroyers of our Trade the British Cruisers ー As a great number of the Private Vessels are now ready, & the rest may be in 8 or 10 days from this d~te and as the present oppertunity if delayd may be lost forever, they pray the Court would Interpose in the fitting the Continental Ships; that the private Vessel[s] may not be delayd on their Account ー If this proposal should be agreable to ,the Honble Court, would it not be prudent, that no Vessel be permitted to depart, or any person to go to Halifax, Newport, or New York untill the fleet are sail'd

We pray your honors to Act upon this Matter & give your Answer as Speedily as may be, for Untill you are determined, every thing is at a loose, and Unless this Affair is push't with Secrecy & Spirit, We fear the benefits in view, will be in a great measure, if Not Intirely lost

Boston April 19th 1777

All the Above we apprihend can be got ready and will be willing to go.