Honourd Sir/

I Trouble you with these Lines hoping that out of your accostomed goodness and Generosity to the destressd and Afflicted that you would lend a helping hand and herken with a Gracious Ear to the Petition and request of one whom it is likely may never have such an Oppertunity to address you on so Important an Affair as at this present time, As the Copy of my Tryal is not yet made publick to the World and many will be enquiring into my Conduct since I have been in the Fleet and under your Honours command And in particular in Regard to my being Broke for Crimes aledged to me at my Tryal the first of which is a Breach of Orders in not delivering some Wood at Ready Island which I thought was settled there  The Second crime laid to my charge is my not doing my duty on the Night we had the engagement with the Glasgow  I Beg the Comodore would enquire into my conduct after the Mate awaked me and I came on Deck whither there would be any room for to think me Backwards in fighting when there was Occasion for it  an Instance to the contrary was shewn by me when I hove my Top Sail to the Mast for Capt whipple to come up with me and Hailed him and Asked him if lie would go alongside of the Ship And if he would I would take the other side and would sink by her or be on Board of her  This no man on Board will deny  from this I beg your Oppinion and that you would report it accordingly  The third Crime is the Embezlement the greatest of all my Crimes in the light it now stands against me And I humbly Beg you would enquire and you will find it a Mear Triffle indeed ー The fourth Crime is my Disobeying Orders in not keeping under your Stern up Providence River which I hope you will set in as favourable light as it will admit as I understood you was going to Newport then when I left your Ship and will give my reason for what did happen then  at the time and when that is done I hope you will set the Circumstances of my conduct in as favourable a light as they will admit of  As it is likely I shall offer my services again in my Country's Service in some Capacity or another And as a few lines from under your hand may be of great Service to me as a Recomendation to the Publick as my Intention is to serve my Country and the Publick Cause whilst these Warrs continues if they think it proper to employ me and if not my abilitys will get me Employ elsewhere  And as Captain Saltonstall has Deprived me of many Priveledges which I ought to have had at my Tryal and as a proof of his partialty towards me I hear Send you a Copy of an Original I intend for him the first convenient oppertunity which is the usage I did receive from him at my Tryal and Since and to the Truth of which I am ready to attest and in Defence of which I am ready to face my Antogonest any day and to let him and the world know I am no Coward  and I likewise hear send you a Copy of my Tryal with the sum of the Evedences against me for your Inspection  as to my Evedences he has not give me the Copy of one or the least Remark of any in my favour nor the Writers Defence I made or a copy tho' demanded by me or you should have had it with these papers  So from these and your knowledge of the mater I Beg your Honour would recommend me to the Naval Comittee and to represent maters and Circumstance as they were or the particulars that was against me and your Oppinion of my Conduct since I have been in the Fleet and under your honours command and in particular about the Embezlement and hope you may see fit to recommend me to have a new Tryal as I do Desire I may for Sundry reasons and if you will not that you will Recommend me as far as I merit or Deserve and as to the usage I received from Mr President on my Tryal and since I Beg to be heard by you on the Affair as I am determd not to let it pass unoticed without you should think I am in the wrong and give me your Reasons for it Whose advice I would take and commands Obey as soon as any man in your Fleet would tho' I am now Broke for Disobeying them but my Conscience dont accuse me of doing it Knowingly or I should not Speak with the Boldness I now do and as you have acted the fatherly part towards me since I have been under your Honours command I Beg you will not this time Deny me my Request in this Affair that my Crimes meant appear in a worse light than the[y] ought to do and that allowances may be made for my Misconduct and that I may have a few lines from under your hand to Recommend me to the Naval Committee without which I cant expect any favours from them or any Body else And as I am in a Strange place and destitute of advice or friends to Councel me on Such an Affair, I Beg your honours advice on it which will be greatly acknowledged By me as I am Determ[in]ed not to leave the place till my Char[a]cter stands on some Better Foundation than it now does acording to the Questions of my Accusation Which will appear Blacker than they are if Circumstances of the proof against me are Omitted Especially to the Question of Embezlement and I Beg Sir for my Characters Seak you'd State Matters as in your own Judgement you think best for me And in so doing I remain your Honours Humble Servant to Command