To the Honourable the Committee of Safety

The Petition of William Price of the City of Philadelphia Mariner last Warr Lieutenant of the Ship of Warr Britania Capn McPherson Humbly Sheweth That your Petitioner deeply affected by the actual situation of this once happy and flourishing City and Province, and zealous to support the rights and liberties of the united American Colonies in general at the risque of his Life and Property, and deeply impressed with the shocking and piratical barbarities committed by some tenders belonging to the Men of Warr now cruizing on our coast, which in the opinion of your Petitioner might easily be. prevented, and the entrance of this river be rendered more open and less dangerous to Ves~els coming in and going out, He humbly proposes to this Hpnourable board. the fitting out two good sailing sloops or schooners each to .mount twelve six or four pounders with swivels and men in proportion whose destination shall be to cruize in the bay and along shore withii;i and about the shoals, as far North as Egg harbour and as far South as the Capes of Virginia, by which means they wiHbe sufficient to take and destroy seperately whatever tenders they have or may fit out, and prptect the Vessels going out or coming into this river, if this plan is approv[e]d of by your Honourable b[oa]rdyour petitioner if agreeable is willing to undertake the command of one of them, as he is capable of managing any Vessel of warr, and perswaded that those Vessels will be [e]ffectual against the Tenders, and in very little danger from the Men of Warr and frigates

And your petitioner will ever pray &c Wi[llia]m Price [Philadelphia April 1, 1776]2