To the Honorable the Council of the State of
Massachusetts Bay in New England,

The prayer of your Petitioner humbly Shewethー

That they have fitted the Schooner called the General Gates in a Warlike manner mounting Eight carriage Guns and carrying Forty men whereof William Carlton is commander and John Gardner jun & Partners are owners, with an intention of cruising and making Captures of the Vessels belonging to the Enemies of the United States of America, therefore to Effect said purposes your Petitioners humbly beg a Commission may be granted to sd Carlton commander of sd Schooner to make captures of such Vessels as are abovementioned

and as in duty bound your Petitioners shall every pray

William Carlton John Gardner Junr Benj^a Goodhue

Salem 8th August 1776

N.B. Thirty Bls Provissions
five hundred Weight of Gun Powderー
[Endorsed] In Com[m]ittee of Council Augt 9th 1776 Read & Order'd that the above named Willm Carleton be com[m]issionated as Comr of the Schr call'd Genl Gates, he complying with the Resolves of Congress ²

Jn^o Avery Dpy Secy