Sir,

I the Subscriber late of the City and Colony of New-York, but now residing in Providence in the Colony of Rhode Island &c. request your Honor to grant a Commission or Letters of Marque and Reprisal to me as Commander of the Schooner Defiance of which I am Owner, She is burthened about Fifty Tons carries Four Carriage Guns Three Pounders and Eight Swivel Guns, manned with Fifty Men, and fitted with a suitable Quantity of Muskets, Blunderbusses, Cutlasses, Pistols, Powder, Ball and other Military Stores. She hath on board Twenty barrels Beef and Pork, Eight Casks Bread, with some Flour, Rice, Beans Pottatoes &c. James Bull is First Lieutenant, Barzaleel Smith, Second Lieutenant and William Tallman Master. I am with great Respect Sir, [&c.]