Providence July 6th 1776.
Sir,
We the Subscribers of Providence and Newport in the Colony of Rhode Island Merchants, request your Honor to grant a Commission or Letters of Marque and Reprisal to William Chace Commander of the Sloop Diamond ー of which we are Owners, she is burthened about Sixty Tons, carries Six Carriage Guns Four Pounders, and Ten Swivel Guns, manned with Forty Men and fitted with a suitable Quantity of Muskets, Blunderbusses, Cutlasses, Pistols, Powder, Ball, and other Military Stores. She hath on board Twenty Eight barrels Beef and Pork, Fifteen Tierces Bread and Six barrels Flour with some Rice Beans Pottatoes &c. Benjamin Almy is First Lieutenant Henry Weedon Second Leiutenant, and Isaac Freeborn Master. We are with great Respect Sir [&c.]
William Chace John Brown2
To the Honorable Nicholas Cooke Esquire.
1. Maritime Papers, Letters of Marque, Petitions & Instructions 1776 ー 1780, R.I. Arch. The commission was issued the same day, and a copy of it is in Admiralty Papers. vol. 9, R.I. Arch.
2. Continental bond, $5,000, was executed this date. Bonds, Masters of Vessels, R.I. Arch.
