To the Honourable the Counsel & the House of Representitives, of the Colony of the Massachusets bay
[Watertown] Octor 5th 1775
The potition of Ivory Hovey in behalf of his Constitiants, humbly prays, ー (that whereas Powder Cannot be Obtained to fix out priviteers in the Eastern Settlements, at the Expence of the Colony at present), your potitiner therefore prays, that the Committees Appointed by this Honourable Court for the Eastern districts may, be direct[ed] to take into their Cair, the vessel or vessels that are allready Detaind, in their districts by this Honourable Court, and that thay be autherizd (If thay Can precure the Necessaries at their own Expence to fix them out as priviteers, your petitioners forthermore pray, (as it will be attended with a great expence to Send up to this Honourable Court, & thay Should fix Said vessels out), that your Honoures would be pleasd to graint him, Two Commissions to be left a Blank & that the Committee may appoint Commander, whome thay Shall think, most Capable, & worthy, of Such a Trust, forthermore, your potitiner should be glad, off your written Orders, that is to say, [illegible] weather the Commanders, of the Vessels, Shall take all British, Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland, Bottoms, assisting our UnNatural Enimies with Supplys, that the Commanders may Justly know how far their Commissions ext[end] your potitiner prays that your Honours be pleasd to dispach him with their orders as Soon as may be; which he will Strictly Obay, and your potitiner as in duty bound will ever pray —
Your P[etitio]ner f[a]rthermore prays that either of his Constituants may have Liberty of sending when they may think proper for Powder provoided He, or they first obtain a permit from the Committee whom your Honrs have appointed in the eastern Districts.