State of the Massachusetts Bay

To the Honble. The Council and The Honble House of Representatives in General Court assembled Novr 1776

The Petition of John Manly of Boston
Humbly Sheweth —

That your Petitioner being appointed Commander of the Hancock Friggate now lying in the Harbour of Newbury Port thinks it is his Indespensable Duty when he foresees an approaching Danger to avoid it if possable, he therefore applys to your Honours for your assistance Your Petitioner would beg leave to Inform your Honors that it will be to the great Damage of sd. Friggate if she should remain in the Harbour of Newbury Port the approaching Winter Season which leads him to think that it will be for the Interest of the Continent as well as of this State that such a Valuable Ship should be preserved & Secured by her Removal from sd. Port to the Port of Boston which cannot be done with Safety unless, she is furnished with some Cannon —

Your Petitioner therefore Prays that your Honors would be Pleased to Permit the Honble. Thomas Cushing Esqr. the Continental Agent to send by Water those Guns that were lent him for the use of the Boston Friggate to Newbury Port to put on board sd. Hancock Friggate for her protection during her Passage from Newbury Port to Boston said Guns upon said Ships Arival to sd. Port of Boston to be delived over to Capt. Hector McNeil for the use of the Ship Boston aforesaid And your Petitioner as in Duty bound will ever Pray —

Boston Novr 9th. 1776 — 

[Endorsements]
In Council Novr 12th 1776 Read & thereupon Resolved that Moses Gill Esqr with such as the Honble. House shall join be a Comittee to take the above Petition under Consideration & Report —

sent down for Concurrence
John Avery Dpy Secy

In the House of Representatives Novr 12th 1776
Read and concurrd and Mr Dalton and Mr Cooper are joined —

J. Warren Spkr

In Council Novr 13 1776.

Resolved that the prayer of the within Petition be granted, and That Thomas Cushing Esqr the Continental Agent, be and hereby is Permitted to send by water, at the expence of the Continent, those Guns that ware lent by this State for the use of the Continental Frigate Called the Boston, to Newbury Port, and Cause the Same to be put on Board the Ship Hancock for her Defence during her Passage from Newbury Port to Boston, the said Guns upon the Ship Hancock's Arrival at the Port of Boston be deliverd to Capt Hector McNeal for the use of the Ship Boston and Capt Hector McNeal is hereby directed to Deliver the Guns before mentiond to the Honbl Thos Cushing Esqr or his order for the Purpose before mentioned

In Council Novr 13th 1776
Read & sent down — 

John Avery Dpy Secy

In the House of Representatives Novr 13. 1776
Read & pass'd Sent up for Concurrence

J Warren Spkr

In Council Novr 13t 1776 Read & Concurrd

John Avery Dpy Secy —