The Committee of Safety for the Town of Newbury Port, beg Leave to represent, that the Harbour of this Town, is so obstructed by Nature, & so blocked up by certain Piers, which have been sunk at the Mouth of it, that it is fitted for, & is already become an Assylum for many Vessells, who seek to avoid the Piratical Ships of our Enemies: Yet as there are many small armed Vessells, which are cruising along all the shores of the Province, & frequently crossing this Bay: many Vessells some loaded with Provissions, & some with Fuel & Lumber, have been taken before they coud reach the Mouth of this Harbour, & sent to Boston, this we humbly conceive might in a great Measure be prevented, & this Bay, as well as Harbour, be safe from these depredations, if an Armed Vessell, was stationed in this River, which shou'd occasionally Cruise from Cape Ann, to Cape Elizabeth: many other Advantages cou'd arise from such a Guard to this Part of the Coast; it would be a great security to the several Harbours, between the two Capes beforementioned, for by sometimes taking a Station at the Isle of Shoals, she wou'd command most of these Harbours & prevent their being annoy'd, by Vessells belonging to the Enemy, unless they were of superior Force; & we think we may add too, without Vaunting of much superior Force, New large Vessells of Force, cannot come very near this, & some other Harbours in this Bay, without great Hazard, nor can their Stay, be of any Continuance, so that the Risque from them, wou'd be small &doubtless many more Vessells from our Friends in the other Governments, wou'd visit us, than now do ー some Powder Vessells, are already expected here, others wou'd go for the same Purpose, if this Measure took Place ー large Quantities of Lumber, Flour & Grain might conveniently & safely be bro't here, for the use of the Army, & perhaps they might be supplied thro' this Course, with more Ease, safety & Convenience, & with less Expence than thro' any other Channel

The said Committee, woud further represent to your Honours, that impressed with these Ideas, the Inhabitants of this Town, are ready to engage in such an Undertaking ー It is not in their Power to fit out & employ a Vessell of sufficient Force, at their own Expence, they have already greatly exerted themselves, in their own Defence, & in the common Cause, the Mercantile Part of the Town, only, will receive a Peculiar Benefit, & that as their foreign Commerce is cut off, in a small Proportion to the Public ー but we will be at all the Trouble attending it; we can procure a Vessell, & Commander & Men on suitable Encouragement & there are now in the pay of the Government, two Companies stationed in the Towns of Newbury & Newbury Port, out of which Companies, it is probable, a large Part of the necessary Complement wou'd readily engage. ー & we can also find, if necessary eight or ten Carriage Guns, a number of Swivels, & a small Quantity of Powder & Provissions ー the Committee, with the Leave of the Court, attend to, & Direct the Motions of such a Vessell, so that she shall neither remain inactive, nor run into needless Danger. ー Upon the whole, we beg leave to submit this our Proposal, to your wise Consideration, trusting that we will at least stand excused, for our good Intentions, & as in Duty bound, will ever Pray ー

Newburyport 27th Septr 1775.

P order & in behalf of said Committee

[Endorsed] In the House of Representatives Sept 29, 1775 Ordered, That Coll [Ebenezer] Thayer Mr. [William] Philips and Mr [John] Pitts, be a Committee to consider the foregoing Memorial and Report ー